The correspondence shed's considerable light on Scott’s career both prior to, during and after the Trafalgar campaign.

The volume contains an index of names A-Z. The contents begins with Scott's commissions and orders from 1770. Some of the correspondence refers to Nelson's last words at Trafalgar (his wishing to say his last words as the moment of victory was at hand; there are three references in the index to Lady Hamilton and several to Captain Sir Thomas Hardy. There are several references to Dr. W. Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury and a large section on the Scott family correspondence.

Administrative / biographical background
Nelson and Scott played chess together while on board the VICTORY (see LOA1714). Scott first met Nelson while in the Mediterranean. Nelson was at this time captain of the 64-gun HMS AGAMEMNON. Scott was offered the position of Nelson's chaplain, but declined it, instead moving aboard the 98-gun HMS ST GEORGE, followed by the 100-gun HMS BRITANNIA, then under Sir Hyde Parker. He was present at Nelson's victory at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, this time aboard the 98-gun HMS LONDON. After the battle was over, Scott helped to draw up the treaties subsequently presented to the Danish, and accompanied Nelson's party as an interpreter. After Parker's recall, Nelson asked for Scott to join him, but Scott could not bear to leave Parker and returned to England with him while Nelson remained in the Baltic. Nelson arranged for Scott to be transferred to his flagship, HMS VICTORY, in 1804 as his foreign secretary. He had decided that Scott's gift for languages would make him a desirable addition to his staff. Also aboard the Victory was another man named Scott, this was John Scott, Nelson's personal secretary. Nelson solved the problem by terming Alexander Scott, now installed as his chaplain, as 'Doctor Scott'. Scott was not actually a Doctor at this point, the award of the Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Cambridge came after Trafalgar. Scott often spent his time aboard Victory reading newspapers and letters captured from foreign prizes to Nelson. After Nelson had died and the surgeon, William Beatty was summoned, Scott was found to be still rubbing the chest. He accompanied the body back to England, was with Nelson during the lying in state at Greenwich Hospital and attended the funeral processions and the ceremony in St Paul's Cathedral. Nelson had hoped that if he were to die, that George Rose, then Vice-President of the Board of Trade, would help Scott with money. He also wished for his brother William Nelson to surrender his prebendal stall at Canterbury Cathedral to Scott, when William Nelson inherited. William however declined to.