This collection of romantic poetry includes material by Sir Whitelaw Ainslie (1767-1837), surgeon and writer, William Dudgeon (1753?–1813), poet, James Dudgeon and Jane Kellie.

Sir Whitelaw Ainslie, surgeon and writer on materia medica, was born in Duns, Berwickshire, on 17 February 1767. He became a surgeon with the East India Company in 1788. By 1814 he was superintending surgeon of the southern division of the Army, in the then Madras. He retired the following year, returning to Britain. He was knighted in 1835 and he died on 29 April 1837.

William Dudgeon born circa 1753 at Tyninghame, East Lothian. His father, a farmer, took out a thirty year lease of an extensive tract of land near Duns in Berwickshire for him. He cultivtaed it successfully, and it was given the name Primrose Hill. Dudgeon died on 28 October 1813, and was buried in the churchyard of Prestonkirk, East Linton, East Lothian.

James Dudgeon was a brother of William Dudgeon, and both were relations of the Ainslies.

Jane Kellie was an accomplished but little known poet.