The diarist begins with collection of a passport from the Dutch ambassador in London, and then he takes the packet boat from Dover to Ostend, arriving 12 July. The diary then (fols. 6v-19v) describes visits to Bruges, Ghent, Waterloo battlefield, Brussels, and Liege, and a tour along the Rhine, beginning 21 July (fols. 12-19v) via Cologne, Bonn and Coblenz. Fols. 20-45v are blank, apart from very brief entries dated 22 July (fol. 27) and 23 July (fol. 30v), the day 'we quitted Coblenz'. The tour, and text, then continues via Carlsruhe to Basle on 1 August. The remainder of the diary (fols. 47-88v) comprises a detailed account of touring in Switzerland from 1- 24 Aug, ending in Domo d'Osola (Domodossola). The Swiss section is illustrated with prints of Swiss views engraved by Peter Birmann, apparently a set bought in Birmann's shop in Basle on 1 August (fol. 47). There are 57 small (approx. 100 x 70 cm) , and 7 large coloured engravings (approx. 95 x 135 mm), and 2 small and 2 large folding engravings of Swiss mountains, interspersed with the diary text, and (fols. 127-132v) 21 small coloured engravings (approx. 100 x 70 mm) pasted onto blank pages. Fols. 90-126v are blank. There is an itinerary at the beginning of the diary which indicates that the tour was originally to have started in the Netherlands, and to have included journeys in northern Italy, southern France and Paris after leaving Switzerland. The handwriting of the diary is small and neat, which together with the blank pages suggests that further parts of the itinerary were meant to have been written up, perhaps from notes made on the journey. The diarist shows attention to the landscape and cultural landmarks, particularly churches and paintings - Van Eyck's Ghent alterpiece is described as 'rather an extraordinary than a pleasing picture' (fol. 7). He is also interested in current affairs, noting the effects of the recent Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and the attitude of the Belgians to Dutch rule (see for example fol. 9 where the dislike of the House of Orange is mentioned); and occasionally mentions economic and technical developments, noting on fol. 11 that 'jealousy against the success of English manufacturers which is so much owing to our steam engines, & superior knowledge of chemistry, prevails universally in Germany…’. In Swizerland he does a lot of walking and mountain climbing, visiting waterfalls and glaciers and noting the ‘sublime & romantic scenery’.