The calligraphic title page reads 'Mary Ann Darton, London, MDCCCXXX'. Though Mary Ann evidently began this volume in 1830, the earliest dated entry was made in 1827 and pasted in later. The entries consist of contributed verse and prose, alongside two topographical Baxter prints, watercolour and pencil sketches and one cut paper silhouette scene. The written entries tend to be pious in nature and, alongside some original contributions, include selections of verse by William Cowper, James Montgomery and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as quotes from the Bible and the American Friends Review. Some of the poems and drawings were contributed from young girls, including Ellen and A.E. Horne (aged 8 and 10 respectively) and 'S.S.H... Aged 7 years'. Many of the contributions are signed by initial only, though a few have later annotations noting change of name (i.e. through marriage) and/or death dates, suggesting a good number of the entries were by young, unmarried women. There is a prominence of surnames beginning with D, presumably other members of the Darton family, but other names that crop up include William Rickman, M.A. Theobald (with a painting of wood sorrel), Phebe Allen, M.A. King, Maria Reynolds, Mary Ann Kekwick and Emma Reeve (later Lloyd). Places represented include Dover, Rochester and Wanstead; there is a pressed [?fern] leaf from Margaret Marriage's Pease Hall, Springfield, Chelmsford, dated 20 Feb 1859 and the last entry, by M.A. Darton on 14 Oct 1860 was made at Stamford Hill. An additional pencil note follows the last entry, stating that it was 'Written about 8 months before the beloved Writer entered into her everlasting rest.'

Approx. 110pp. 8vo volume of contemporary polished calf, gilt tooled and edged, with marbled endpapers.