The contents are as follows: Notebook, 1791-1792, of John Rennie: Stowmarket canal, Ipswich harbour, Rochdale canal, Shadwell new steam-engine, Lancaster canal, southernmost mill at Dartford (MS.19841);

Notebook, 1792, of John Rennie: Crinan canal, Thurso bridge, harbours at Scrabster, Kiess, Staxigoe, and Wick, mills on the Hempriggs Burn, spring at Taymouth, Glennie's mill (MS.19842);

Notebook, 1792, of John Rennie: Agreement with Goodey, brickmaker in Ipswich, Aylesford bridge, Caine cornmill, Caton silk combing mill, flaxmill possibly at Tatham, Blackhill inclined plane for coal wagons, description of a journey from Oban to Fort William (MS.19843);

Notebook, 1792, of John Rennie: Sunderland's ore mine at Ulverston, Rochdale canal, and a note on the evidence submitted by mill owners on the River Irk with regard to the Rochdale canal (MS.19844);

Notebook, 1792, of John Rennie: Kings Lynn harbour, Old Bedford river, Denver sluice (MS.19845);

Notebook, 1793, of John Rennie: Notes on various mine pumps in the Manchester area and south Lancashire with a view to using mine water as a canal reservoir, Rochdale canal, River Arun navigation, Iver cotton mill (MS.19846);

Notebook, 1793, of John Rennie: Kennet and Avon canal (calculations and notes connected with water supply), notes concerning the sugar trade in London (MS.19847);

Notebook, 1793, of John Rennie: Lock on the Bath navigation, dimensions of Rennie's house in Stamford St Southwark, Lancaster canal, Rochdale canal, Sabatier's cotton press, dimensions of vessels at Greenock, soundings in Ardrishaig Bay, Wiltshire and Berkshire canal, Huddersfield canal, Crinan canal, Kennet and Avon canal, Crofton mill (MS.19848);

Notebook, 1793, of John Rennie: River Ouse at York, Foss navigation, Castle Mills at York (MS.19849);

Notebook, 1794, of John Rennie: Summerhouse on Duniquoich Hill at Inveraray, Robert Adam's bridge over the Esk at Dalkeith, Smeaton mill, Crinan canal, drawings of the Kelvin aqueduct, conversation with Scott, a shipbuilder in Greenock, concerning the depth of the Crinan canal, dredgers on the Clyde, Lancaster canal (MS.19850).