The journal is in two parts, separated by blank leaves. It is mainly concerned with Nevill's reading, including history, literary collections, novels, several works on the French Revolution, and numerous works of poetry. She analyses and reviews her reading, and includes extensive extracts. The first part, paginated 2-418, begins in Bath, 16 Nov 1802. On 20 May 1803 she is in London (p. 172) where she records (pp. 172-321) her notes on a series of lectures she had attended in Bath (see p. 39) on the 'Elements or Philosophy of Chemistry', given over 17 days by Dr Archer. The journal continues in Tunbridge Wells, 18 Aug 1803 (p. 322), and London, 7 Dec 1803 (p. 405), where the language of the journal switches to French as she discusses 'les Oeuvres de Boileau' (to p. 418). The second part, paginated 1-202, begins in London, 6 Mar 1804; continues in Glassenbury, Kent, 24 July (p. 99), and Ramsgate, Kent, 31 Aug (p. 109). The last dated entry (p. 176) is 24 Nov [1804].