The contents are as follows:

(i) Journal, chiefly in James Stuart's hand, from 17 May-27 September 1782, relating events in a military expedition against the French and Hyder Ali (folio 1);

(ii) 'Narrative' of events following the surrender of Bidanore, April 1783, and the imprisonment of British officers by Tippoo Sultan (folio 105);

(iii) Draft by James Stuart of a memorandum, 1783, in reply to personal criticism in the minutes of the Committee of the Madras Presidency (folio 119);

(iv) Copy of a memorandum, 1783, by James Stuart, concerning personal criticism in the minutes of the Committee of the Madras Presidency, sent to Basil Cochrane (folio 129);

(v) Fragment of a diary kept by James Stuart, June-July 1784 (folio 150);

(vi) Memorandum, ?1785, entitied 'The Case of Lord Macartney', concerning Stuart's dismissal from the East India Company's service (folio 158).