Although there are some family letters, notably from William, Earl Marischal (succeeded 1623) to his father, 1601-1623, there is much of political interest particularly concerning the Covenanting movement, the siege of Dunnottar Castle in 1651, and the Jacobite Rising of 1715. Much of the later correspondence concerns attempts by the Keiths of Dunnottar and Ravelston to restore the title and lands forfeited in 1715 and to Sir Alexander Keith's role as Knight Marischal during the visit of George IV to Edinburgh in 1822.