Primarily comprises of botanical specimens in the form of pressed flowers and plants accompanied by manuscript descriptions giving the date and location at which the specimen was collected, with biblical, historical and personal context sometimes provided. References are made to 'quarantine quarters' in Malta, and going 'on shore with our guns' in Egypt, indicating that the author may have been working for the Royal Navy.
Locations visited by the author of the journal include
Egypt (January- March 1846), including a scrap of papyrus found in the 'catacombs of Sioul', a parrot feather and fabric from 'a child mummy', Luxor (13 February), Cairo (28 February 1846); Palestine and Israel (March), including Rafah (18 March), Gaza (19 March), Jerusalem (23-28 March, 30-31 March 1846), Bethlehem (28 March 1846); Bethany (31 March 1846); Jordan (1 April 1846); Bethel (2 April 1846); Ephraim (2 April 1846); Schechem (2 April 1846); Sychar (3 April 1846); Samaria (4 April 1846); Nazareth (4-6 April 1846); Mount Fabor (7 April 1846); Cana of Galilee (7 April 1846); Mount Carmel (8 April 1846); Caipha (9 April 1846); St Jean de Acre (9 April 1846); Tyre (10 April 1846); Sidon (11 April 1846); Beyrout [Beirut] (16 April 1846); Malta (27 April 1846).