Undated manuscript by Bulloch County, Georgia, entomologist John Abbot (1751-1840) describing his early life in England, how his interest in collecting and drawing insects developed, his emigration from England to Virginia, and his settlement in Georgia. He writes of his memories catching an pinning a Libella (Libellula, or small red damselfly), meeting entomologist and Linnean Society president Dru Drury (1724-1803) in London, and developing his collection, including the acquisition of a Purple Emperor (Apatura iris). Other topics include his voyage to America and life and travels in Virginia and North Carolina. While Abbot was boarding with William Goodall in Virginia, a fever spread through the area, killing one of Goodall's slaves and many neighbors, Abbot writes. At the conclusion of the manuscript, Abbot indicated he intended to continue the account "with many curious Anecdotes of the Times."

Undated autobiography written by Bulloch County, Georgia, entomologist John Abbot (1751-1840) describing his early life in England, how his interest in collecting and drawing insects developed, and his emigration from England to Virginiain 1773. He writes about his memories of capturing and pinning a Libella (libellula, or small red damselfly), meeting entomologist and Linnean Society president Dru Drury (1724-1803) in London, developing his collection, including the acquisition of a Purple Emperor (Apaturairis), and books that influenced him, such as Mark Catesby's The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. He also writes about his voyage to America and people he met on board the ship, including Hanover County, Virginia, merchant William Goodall, with whom he would later board. The manuscript was apparently prepared for Savannah, Georgia, pharmacist Augustus G. Oemler.

This revised edition incorporates the additions and corrections recorded by Erwin Panofsky until the time of his death in 1968. Gerda Panofsky-Soergel has updated the commentary in the light of new material, and the bibliography that she has prepared reflects the scholarship on St.-Denis in the last three decades. She has obtained some additional and more recent photographs, and the illustrations include a new ground plan and a new section of the chevet of the Abbey Church, both drawn under the supervision of Sumner McKnight Crosby.