These diaries, which were regarded by their author as of no value whatsoever, were preserved by his desire merely that his descendants might know something of the thoughts and feelings of one of their predecessors. They do not form a daily record, but consist of random reflections on current events, and a great many biographical and genealogical descriptions of families and individuals of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, chiefly in MS.1686, which has at the end a rough index of the persons mentioned. Many of the author's remarks on persons are caustic, and his account of himself is no less so (MS.1686, page 182). The diaries are frequently retrospective, describing or mentioning events prior to 1824.