The commonplace book may have been the work of M. Massy, York Place, Edinburgh - the name inscribed in first page. The written material contains original and transcribed matter. It is bound in original decorative brown morocco with all page edges gilt. There are gilt inner dentelles with repeated flower and urn design. Gilt spine and cover designs.

There are clipped illustrations showing: the Gile Callum broadsword dance; Scottish Games, Tossing the caber; Clan Cameron; Clan Murray; Clan Robertson; Scotch reel; Holyrood Palace; Linlithgow Palace; Melrose Abbey; Dunkeld Cathedral; a 92nd Highlander; Mary Queen of Scots; Loch Tay; Loch Earn; Loch Acray; Loch Lomond; Loch Katrine; George Hotel, Melrose; Birnham Hotel, Dunkeld; Trossachs New Hotel; and, city and town views of Aberdeen, Stirling, Dunkeld, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ayr. There are also Irish views e.g. Wicklow and several hand-painted views.

There are several colour fashion illustrations with real material dresses that can be lifted to show the underclothing. In addition there are contemporary photographs including an unnamed woman and a photograph of the Hotel Royal, Nice.

The written contains: a transcription of a 'Dialogue between a cynic and a lover', dated 1864; and, lines from 'Gli occhi azzurri e Gli occhi neri' by Aurelio Bertola. There are also musings on friendship and cousins, and is transcribed in different hands.