The papers consist of thirty-five documents; these are mainly letters received by Scott between 1868 and 1870 and there is a letter from Hercules Linton, 1877.

Administrative / biographical background
In 1868 Scott began a venture, financed initially by his father, that resulted in the shipbuilding partnership of Messrs Scott and Linton of Dumbarton. The company failed the following year, Linton blaming the creditors for preventing the completion of ships under construction, which included the CUTTY SARK.