The collection comprises ten handwritten letters by Francis Macnab and his family members dated from 1839 to 1844. These letters provide news of a recent immigrant of his life in Australia to family members in Scotland. Six letters signed by Francis Macnab with four further letters of Macnab family correspondence. They give his social and economic impressions of the time, including the absence of women, the availability of artifacts he was sending home, (such as a Chinese mandarin's hat, a pair of Tartar women's slippers, and a pair of Chinese lady shoes), recreational activities on the Hawkesbury and in the Domain, and the economic situation. In the letters to Francis' mother contain a variety of business commentary, family communications, and observations on life in Sydney. There is also one letter written by Francis Macnab from Melbourne.