The journal was written by John Tillery, a lower deck member of HMS TIGRE, and it is an account of the Egyptian and Syrian campaigns from an English perspective. In the journal Tillery recounts events starting from HMS TIGRE's capture by the French at Acre in March 1799, until his release in December and his journey to England on HMS THESEUS.

Administrative / biographical background
John Tillery, an American sailor, served on board the ‘Tigre’ under Sir Sidney Smith, a charismatic commander. Tillery and 18 shipmates were captured by the French at Acre on 21 March 1799. Initially, they were well treated – Napoleon even sent them a bottle of Jew’s Brandy and a share of his provisions. Tillery was interrogated by Napoleon himself and asked to identify the body of a dead marine. However, after Napoleon’s failure at Acre, the prisoners were marched to Egypt and kept in appalling conditions. Tillery wrote personally to Napoleon to ask for mats to sleep on but his request was ignored. The prisoners were released on 22 December and returned to England on board HMS THESEUS.