The first manuscript page of Volume 1 states, 'Notes taken from the Lectures of Mr. D. Hume, Professor of Scotch law in the University of Edinburgh, delivered in the years 1814 and 15'. The first page is dated 26 October 1814.

The four volumes contain chapters or sections headed, e.g. Introductory lecture; Husband and Wife; Parent and child; Guardian and ward; Guardians to Idiots and Furious persons; Master and servant; Distinction of things; Contract of sale; Contract of Location - Tack; Inferior Contracts of Location - Horse hiring; Locatio operarum - Carriers; Charter Party; Contracts of Loan; Contract of Mandate; Contracts of Copartnery; Joint Adventure; Contract of Cautionry; Bills of Exchange; Ex Delicto - Assythment; Verbal injuries; Injuries; Quasi contracts - Restitution; Benevolence; Commonty; March fences; Nautae, Caupones, Statularii;Quasi ex Delicto; Preservation of growing trees; Assignation; Extinction of Obligations - by performance; Compensation; Retention; Negative prescription; Real right of property; Real right of servitude; Servitude of thirlage; Real right of Pledge; Real right of Hypothec; Real right of Tack; Feudal rights; Charter; Instrument of Sasine; Retrospect on the Charter and Sasine; State of the Superiors right; Resignation; Base rights; Defect of Author's title; Heritable bond; Adjudication; Positive prescription; Law of death bed; Strict deed of entail; Services of heirs; Passive titles; Executry; Latter will and testament; Legacies; Jurisdictions; Probation - by Oath of party; Probation - by Writing; Poinding; Personal diligence; and, many many more.

The name 'Gavin Alston Esqr WS' appears inside some volumes.