This collection contains the diary of John Page, a member of a Nile expedition headed by Lord Abercromby. Dated October 23, 1857 to February 16, 1858, the journal is 41 pages long, with approximately 10,000 words and titled, Nile Journal 1857-58. The diary covers the expedition from Alexandria to Cairo and, eventually, up the Nile. It is a narrative of place, people, ancient culture, as well as contemporary customs, daily events, and occurrences during the trip. There are no private thoughts or tangents recorded, weather reports or any other information not directly connected to the expedition. Recorded are encounters with monuments and ruins observed by Page, as well as encounters with crocodiles, female slaves taken on board, and native conflict. The diary closes with, "Illness prevented me continuing my journal." J.P.

It is possible that the Lord Abercromby, head of the expedition, mentioned in the diary, is the grandson of Sir Ralph Abercromby, a hero of the campaign that drove the French out of Egypt and cost him his life.