The author starts from Newcastle and travels north by the east coast, Stirling-shire, Angus, and Perthshire; west by Loch Tay and Tyndrum to Dalmally; and south by Inveraray, Glasgow, the Borders, Ayrshire, Galloway, and Cumberland to Cambridge, where apparently he resided. The journal is written in a blank book printed for the purpose with a title-page, 'A travelling journal', J Deighton, London, 1789. There are unconnected personal observations written on the verso of the leaves.

Against the background of the Napoleonic wars Thomas Stewart Traill accompanied a friend on his journey to the south of Spain, and in these volumes he recorded his impressions of the scenery, geology, architecture and people of the country, remarking on the political situation and the changes which had taken place in Spain during the Peninsular war.

M Rayner was apparently a boy in the second of the three school parties, and the style of English and peculiarities of punctuation suggest that he was French or Swiss. The tour begins and ends at Bellerive. The journal is illustrated by a coloured plate showing the Great Seal of the Swiss Confederation and the cloaks worn by the officials of the different cantons (folio ii), by numerous postcards, and by a printed plan of the Alps (folio 49).

The journal describes a journey from Albury via Paris and Lausanne to Saas Fée in the Valais. Later, the party went on to Rieder Furka near the Aletsch Glacier before returning to England. Most of the journal describes walks in the Valais, with comments on the scenery, the Swiss people and fellow tourists.

According to the tour's anonymous (probably Irish) author, the tour party consisted of: ‘a man and his wife who deserted their children; a man in love; a married woman who absconded from the husband, and a young lady in search of one’. In Scotland they spend time in the Lowlands including Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Trossachs, Stirling, Dalkeith and Roslin. The tourists are interested both in Scotland’s scenery and its industry, particularly its textile manufacture.

The journey began in Liverpool, and places visited include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William and Inverness. There are appreciative comments on the architecture of the towns and the scenery of the Highlands.

The author and his brother Robert set off from Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, on 15 August 1812. They travel to Glasgow where they spend a couple of days (including visits to factories) and then on Dumbarton and Luss. The journal ends only a few days into their tour after their ascent of Ben Lomond.

The four volumes do not cover the entire period of the tour, and at points overlap.

The four volumes do not cover the entire period of the tour, and at points overlap.

The four volumes do not cover the entire period of the tour, and at points overlap.

The four volumes do not cover the entire period of the tour, and at points overlap.

The author, who is anonymous, travels from Bayonne to Paris in a north-easterly direction as far as Tours, passing through Dax, Bordeaux, Angoulême, Rochefort, and then due east through Blois and Orléans to Paris. He describes the condition of the roads, the scenery, the towns he passes through (especially Bordeaux), and the customs and appearance of the townspeople in each city.

The author sails from London to Dundee. Thence he travels by Perth, Dunkeld, Blair Atholl, Kingussie, and Aviemore to Inverness; thence down the Caledonian Canal and Loch Linnhe to Oban, and, after excursions to Tobermory, Staffa, and Iona, by the Crinan Canal to Glasgow; thence, after an excursion into Clydesdale, by Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine to Stirling, where he takes the steam-boat to Newhaven. After a short stay in Edinburgh he sails from Leith.

The Mure of Caldwell papers are chiefly of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some of the earlier papers belonged to the Mures of Glanderston, the two families having been united in 1710 by the succession of William, 4th Laird of Glanderston, to the Caldwell estates.

The journal describes a visit to Edinburgh, the sea voyage to Aberdeen, and the land journey northwards. The narrative breaks off at Elgin.

The journal is not in the hand of Peter MacDougal.