The autobiography is written in the third person. The portion covering 1833 to 1860, which comprises most of the manuscript, is based on John Dunlop's diaries (MSS.9261-9262) and includes long excerpts from them.

The manuscript was edited by John Graham Dunlop - ‘Autobiography of John Dunlop’ (London, 1932) - and his manuscript and typescript additions have been inserted.