Received Smith's letters of 21 August and 13 September 1786. Hopes for personal and professional knowledge Smith will take from his tour; confident Smith will not waste his time, health, or money. His principle Italian correspondents for Smith to call upon. Cousin Thomas Wordsworth died recently. Dr Cooper struggling to find success. Pleasure of Smith's poetry. Detailed news of the Norwich election, including a riot. A fungus grew under the lilac tree, which under [John] Pitchford's advice they have buried in dry earth until Smith's return. News of the Lord Chancellor; in very bad health.

Recent letter exchanges. Extension of Smith's journey to include Rome and Naples, where he has letter of introduction to Sir William Hamilton [(1731-1803)], ambassador to Naples. Warns Smith against taking a boat from Marseilles to Genoa or Genoa to Naples, for fear of shipwrecks, pirates, and quarantines. Introductions for Genoa and Milan. Warns against dangers of Vesuvius, subterranean journies, and extravagant pursuits of curiosity.

Received Smith's letter of 18 [November 1786]; their delight at Smith's account of his travels. Sharp start to winter in northern Europe. Dr [John] Hope dead, succeeded by Dr Rutherford. Various enquiries after Smith's "Thesis"; [Nicholas] Gwyn praises the Latin. Norwich news. October issue of "Monthly Review" very high in its praise of Smith's last publication. Reported that convicts are not to be sent to Botany Bay as the country is so extensive it may prove "too big for control", so are sent to New Norfolk Island. Price of silk falling.

Received his father's letter. Sorry to hear of John's [brother of Smith] disappointment but glad to hear of scheme for him to go into trade. Had various intentions of where to go but now intends to spend all his time in Paris, especially as Broussonet has so many connections. His possession of Linnaean collections of more use to him here than in England, as here everybody looks to him for information and eager to communicate; feels danger of becoming too vain. Not pleased with the national character here.

Excursions: disappointed by Versailles gardens; saw the King [Louis XVI (1754-1793)] and family; horror at the "daubing of the ladies cheeks"; visited Marechal de Nouailles, whose companion, Mr Le Breton, is translating his two pamphlets into French; a hunt by the King; coffin of James II. [Richard] Salisbury has returned to England.

Received his father's letter of 24 August [1786], has not yet received Lady Jernegan's packet. Has now given up remaining in Paris and intends to go to Montpelier with Broussonet, and then on to Genoa to visit the Marquis Durazzo and Turin, and return through Switzerland before returning to Paris, to arrive in London in April. Paris "wonderfully like" Edinburgh in some respects. Beauty of some of the places in Paris; notes that the marble statues are not damaged by the populace; no "perfectly pleasing morsel of architecture"; odd monuments to monarchs; picture collections. Asks for news of the Lord Chancellor, said to be in Paris. Hopes his father not displeased at criticism of his work in "Critical Review" for June; he is flattered by it.

Account of his and Dr Younge's journey from Paris to Montpelier, via Lyons, including details of people they stayed with, inns, and country. Account of their activities in Montpelier, staying with Professor Broussonet, father of Paris friend [Pierre Marie Auguste Broussonet].

Thanks his father for "liberal provision of money". Reasons for journeying to Rome and Naples. Their route to Genoa.

His last letter was from Montpelier 18 November [1786]. Account of their journey from Montpelier to Marseilles, via Nismes, Avignon, where they had an excursion to the "prostituted" fountain of Vaucluse, and Aix. His favourable opinion of inhabitants and town of Marseilles. Cheapness of travelling.

Introductions for his father's cloth business; competition from Manchester and Yorkshire riders. Saw a funeral procession "with all sorts of mummery".

Arrived in Genoa evening before last, receiving his father's letters of 6 November and 7 December [1786]. Account of his [and William Younge's] journey from Marseilles to Genoa, including stop at Cottignae, where they met [Louis] Gerard, "one of the most famous European botanists of the Linnaean school", who gave him copies of two letters from Linnaeus, with leave to publish them, arranged future correspondence. Precipitous road from Nice to Genoa. Magnificance of the Marquis Durazzo's house. Dined with Mr Brame, the English consul; met Dr Batt, who gives no hopes of Mr Marsh's recovery. Keeping a full journal of his tour. His "Thesis" so incorrectly printed he is ashamed to send it out. Friendliness of the populace towards the English.