A series of travel letters records journeys through several American states and the neighboring Canadian provinces, offering on-the-spot descriptions of cities, harbors, public buildings, and rural landscapes. The author combines practical observations on roads, inns, commerce, agriculture, and milling with social commentary on manners, amusements, and institutions. Engraved views and sketches illustrate notable sites such as Mount Vernon and Niagara and a ground plan of the precipice. The narrative repeatedly contrasts conditions in the United States and the British provinces and conveys personal impressions shaped by a youthful, candid, and often critical eye.