The volumes contain carbon copies of diary-letters to a friend in Edinburgh, of which folios 51-65 are duplicated in MS.9759 by the retention of the originals. The journal contains a description of the sea voyage and the social life of his tour, but is notable for its detailed descriptions of visits to printing houses, particularly Donnelley's of Chicago (MS.9759, folios 51-65) and the Government Printing Office, Washington (MS.9760, folios 1-29).