The manuscript was composed circa 1760, but it was not published until 1818 when John Murray II issued the work as "Political and Literary Anecdotes of his Own Times".

The manuscript is made up of :

(1) a wrapper, contemporary (WM 1818) with the publication of the work, on which are written the title and other notes;

(2) a fragment of the "Advertisement", or introduction, to the published work;

(3) William King`s manuscript, but wanting folios 25-29 and 44-55 (of the original foliation).