The manuscript is in various hands.

Title page, including an epigram, in Latin, of Cicero (folio iii).

'Chap. I The Authors Parentage.' Information concerning MacNeill’s grandfather and father (pages 1-9).

'Chap. II. An unfashionable picture of Domestic Life.' An account of the MacNeills’ domestic life at their home at Rosebank, near Roslin, and subsequently near Loch Lomond (pages 9-17).

'Chap. 3d. Some account of the Author.' Information concerning MacNeill’s education (pages 18-22.

'Chap. 4th. The author leaves his Parental home'. Details concerning MacNeill’s uncle, unnamed, who was a factor for West India planters (pages 22-28).

'Chap. 5. The author departs to the West Indies.' Information on MacNeill’s time in Bristol, including a proposal that he should join a slave trading voyage to Africa, and also details on his voyages to St Kitts and Guadeloupe (pages 29-35).

'Chap. 6. Guadaloupe'. Details concerning MacNeill’s tenure in Guadeloupe (pages 35-52).

'Chap. 7. Antigua.' An account of MacNeill’s stay in St John’s, Antigua (pages 52-62).

'Chap. 8. Grenada.' Details of MacNeill’s stay in Grenada, with a brief mention of the sale of enslaved people by public auction (pages 62-73).

'Chap. 9. Preparations for Revisiting Britain.' The chapter includes observations on MacNeill’s views on slavery (pages 73-90).

'Chap. 10. A Return to a Paternal home.' Details concerning MacNeill’s financial difficulties (pages 91-100).

'Chapter XI. An Introduction to New Scenes, Manners [and] Characters.' Details of MacNeill joining Admiral Francis Geary’s fleet in June 1780 (pages 100-107).

'Chapter XI [sic]. The Boatswain.' A vignette of life aboard HMS Victory in 1780 (pages 108-116).

'Chapter XVII. A small specimen of old Naval Discipline. 1780.' Description of the flogging of a sailor on board HMS Victory in 1780 (pages 116-132).

'Chapter XIX. The Admiral.' A description of MacNeill’s meeting with Admiral Francis Geary (pages 133-146).

'Chapter XX.II. A Second Cruise.' A description of MacNeill’s second cruise aboard HMS Victory, including observations on the treatment of sailors in contrast to enslaved people (pages 147-170).

'Chap: 22. Captain and Seamen.' Details concerning the punishments for misbehaviour aboard Royal Navy vessels (pages 170-188).

Bill, 1912, of M'Culloch [and] Sons, Taxidermists, Glasgow, on the verso of which are recorded notes, in pencil, concerning the manuscript (folio iv).