The material filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project includes: letters covering Meryon's schooling, English lessons, reading, his interest in a naval career, the death of his mother, his naval service, attendance at the Naval School at Brest, friends, his life at Toulon, experiences in the navy, travels including to New Zealand, financial difficulties, training and artwork, ideas for a novel, experiences during the 1848 Paris revolution, his illnesses and internment at the asylum at Charenton St Maurice (1858-59) and various sketches.