Comprises letters written by Henry Holland to his father, Peter Holland, with a few letters to his [step] mother, Mary (née Whittaker). Some letters bear pencil marks/annotations as if for editing [it is unclear who may have made the edits, whether Henry or possibly Maria Edgeworth (see MS. 16087/2, letter from Saba Holland, 1847), or whether these were made much later] and many have partial typescript transcriptions (c.1962).

Early letters from Newcastle relate to Henry's education with Revd William Turner; those from Glasgow and Edinburgh relate to his time at University. As a society physician in London, Holland liberally regales his father with news of his acquaintances and patients. Arranged chronologically as far as possible, some letters undated (number of letters in square brackets):