The album includes letters from several prominent Edinburgh figures of the early 19th century such as Thomas Thomson, Deputy Clerk Register, and Edward W A Drummond Hay, Principal Clerk, Lyon Office. Both men appear to have been in regular correspondence with William Ford. Amongst the printed items is an "Inventory of Work done for the State by his Majesty's Printer in Scotland 1642-1647" (Edinburgh, 1815), edited by Thomas Thomson. There are also a number of newspaper reports of meetings of the Scottish Society of Antiquaries, 1828-1829, and some drawings of Edinburgh personalities and scenes.
