The contents of the volume are as follows:

(i) Watercolour and pencil sketches made on a sailing trip round the west coast of Scotland in 1877, accompanied by notes of a mainly geological nature (folios 1-39).

(ii) Watercolour sketches, photographs and notes recording his visit to Egypt and Syria from January to April 1878 (folios 47-142).

(iii) Press cuttings and notes on the Argyllshire Election of 1878 in which Lord Colin Campbell participated (folios 149-158 verso).

(iv) Notes and press cuttings concerning the Glasgow Islay Association of which John Francis Camphell was Chairman, 1878 (folios 163-171).

Several weather charts have been pasted at the end of the volume.