The papers, which accompany the letters, consist of genealogical accounts of several of the landed families of Scotland, and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Most of the letters that are addressed to individuals are to James Watson, who is described as `circulating library, stationer and bookseller` in the Edinburgh directories of the time.

The genealogies of the families of Johnstone of Gallabank (folio 62) and of Leslie of Findrassie (folio 70) and the pedigree of Andrew Lumisden (folio 80) are printed in ‘Analecta Scotica’, 2nd series, by James Maidment (Edinburgh, 1837), pages 32-50.

Two letters, 1800, of Major Christopher Seton (folios 128-130) are printed in ‘History of the Family of Seton’ by George Seton (Edinburgh, 1896), volume ii, pages 916-917.