His last letter was of 26 March 1787, and recently received his father's of 4 January 1787. Religious liberty in Europe: has felt perfectly at ease in both Marseilles and Rome, and thinks people here "more liberal & less persecuting" than the Scottish; an impudent friend. Fears he has only made useful commercial connections for his father in Montpelier. Concerned for Miss Donne. His letters to Sir Joseph Banks. Does not enjoy Italian bread. Concerned for parcel of books he sent via [Nicholas] Gwyn. Account of his [and William Younge's] activities in Rome, including trip to the palace Borghese, list of artworks seen, criticism; visit to St Peter's, description of interiors and opinion of the Pope. Distinguished foreign visitors. Fireworks at St Angelo.

Anxious to receive letter his father promised. Shortly leaving Rome, from whence he [and William Younge] are travelling to Bologna, Venice, and Milan. Met Mr Marsh; symptoms of his illness. Has met [Anthony] Aufrere several times at Rome. Difficulties of acquiring money at Rome. Informed by Broussonet that he has been elected a member of the Paris Royal Agricultural Society. Account of their activities in Rome, including visits to churches. Usefulness of Lady Miller's letters for ease of travelling here.

Last wrote to his father on 24 April [1787]. Account of his [and William Younge's] journey from Rome to Bologna, via Loreto; has never left any place "with half so much regret"; details of the route and country, including holy shrines of Loreto, and visit to Ancona. Account of their time in Bologna. Setting out for Venice shortly, and then Milan. He is "never better than when travelling or running about", and has not had a cold for a very long time.

Received his father's letter of 29 March [1787] and mother's of 19 March [1787], and his last letter was of 7 May [1787]. Responds to news in his parents' letters. His intended future movements in Italy. Account of his [and William Younge's] journey from Bologna to Milan, via Venice, account of their time there, Padua, Verona, Mantua, and Parma. Their movements after leaving Milan.

Received his parents' letters of 16 May, 21 May, and 28 May [1787]. Sending books home. Sorry to hear of Molly Standard's "folly & misfortune" [Smith's housekeeper; she had become pregnant]. Conduct of cousin Thomas Smith and his sister fills him with "surprise & indignation [...] shame & contempt". Has advised Mr Marsh to take a ship home to England, realising that he will never get well on land, and his father demands his return as he has spent over £600 in the last 6 months. Details of his and [William] Younge's parting of ways. "Very well pleased" with a servant he hired at Milan, though he "dresses hair badly".

During his time at Pavia met Scopoli, who having heard he intends to publish some works of Linnaeus, offered all his notes; had his suspicions about Spalanzani and Scopoli fully justified; account of Spalanzani; overlooking translation of his publication into Italian [probably his Leyden dissertation]. Time spent with the Marquis Durazzo. Suffered a slight health scare but now better.

Discusses their friends: Miss Louisa Lane, Mrs Howorth's brother, Mary Evans, Louisa [Mrs Howorth's daughter], Douglas [Mrs Howorth's son]. Cannot recommend any Italian poetry, but has learnt to like Italian music, enchanted with Rome, unable to draw any views of Switzerland. Her reflections on [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau [(1712-1778), philosopher] and Socrates are excellent and just. Very much "chargrined" at the situation in Chelsea [pregnancy of his housekeeper, Molly Standard], and has made "no provision for a groaning". Since arriving in Genoa has had a little pleurisy, which was immediately removed by bleeding.

Sent on 23 [July 1787]. Received his father's letter of 2 July [1787], sorry his letter of 8 June [1787] took so long in reaching Norwich. His reasons for extending his stay in Genoa. Forced to buy himself a new outfit at Genoa. Lists all the sums of money he has taken since leaving Paris. Pleasure of travelling with [William] Younge. Responds to points in his father's letter regarding his travels. Has met Mr Caffarena, who reports that England is in danger of a war from "the folly of our booby King [George III (1738-1820)]; Mr [William] Pitt [(1759-1806), prime minister 1783-1801] will be very popular for his conduct"; hopes the King will not be able to do without him. His time with the Marquis Durazzo. Dreams of his future house being a place of relaxation for his parents.

Sent 4 [August 1787]. Hot weather has set in, exceeding anything experienced in England, but not intolerable. Received his father's letter of 19 July [1787]; sorry to hear state of things at Chelsea have caused his parents so much trouble [pregnancy of Smith's housekeeper, Molly Standard]; expects to be in London by Michaelmas [29 September]. Concerned for fate of his friend Cooper, and "melancholy state" of [Robert] Batty, whose death would be the "first real misfortune" he ever felt. Glad his father has read [Jean-Jacques] Rousseau's [(1712-1778), philosopher] "Confessions"; their reputation for shock; other book recommendations. Notes on silk business and prices for his father's bales.

Hopes his father received his letter of 4 August [1787]. Kindness of Messrs Malanot and Maghit; their regard for his father. His calls on cloth merchants and investigations into silk production. Mr Malanot so excessively hospitable as to make him uneasy. Invited by de Sousa, the Portuguese ambassador, to meet all the corps diplomatique. Has met a Milanese boy who is "such a treasure" he intends to bring him back to England, and is so clever he intends to "make him earn" what he costs [François Borone]. Account of a botanical excursion he made to Mount Cenis with de Sousa and other botanists and natural philosophers. Account of his arrival in Geneva, which "swarms with English people"; so far has only met Professor Zimmerman; meeting Mr Bonnet tomorrow. After Geneva will visit the glaciers, Lausanne, Berne, Basle, and Strasbourg, before reaching Paris.

Delighted by most recent letters he received from his father, including news of [Robert] Batty's recovered health, his family's pleasant stay in Chelsea, and plan for his parents to stay for longer than first planned. His hopes for Richard [Smith's brother] and business planned for him. Pleased by plan for Francis [Smith's brother] to meet him in Paris. His chief occupation in Paris is to finish examining Tournefort's herbarium, to which he has access through Broussonet's interest, to describe all the unknown plants. Directions for Francis' arrival, including dress.

[Note by Frances Smith on reverse of letter] detailing forwarding of letter and social engagements.

Confusion over Stelarzani business, following letters from [Giovanni Antonio] Scopoli and Seraphin Volta. [Charles Louis] L'Héritier [de Brutelle] is in England being difficult with specimens. Value of [Olof] Swartz's herbarium, "the best botanist [Banks] has seen since dear Solander's death". Appointments at the British Museum and comments on Richard Penneck, Keeper of the Reading Room. Proceedings at the Royal Society; an account from [Sir Frederick William] Herschel of volcanoes burning on the moon.

[Charles Louis] L'Héritier [de Brutelle] is still in England, amusement at his behaviour. Cautions Smith against showing Linnaeus's herbarium to L'Héritier as he will try to find, and publish, faults and lower its value, "which ought not to be as it must be the real standard to prove the meaning of Old Linnaeus's works". Thinking of bringing forward publication of William Aiton's catalogue of "the garden" [Kew] to preempt possibility of L'Héritier not acknowledging them in his own work. Queen Charlotte's botany lessons with Aiton. The ship being sent to bring the breadfruit to the West Indies will bring many plants from there. Comments on the gardens at St Vincent's and Bengal and hopes for another to be established soon in Madras. Remarks that [Olof] Swartz is the best botanist he has seen since Solander and hopes to have him supply König's place in India [Johann Gerhard Koenig (1728-1785) German botanist].

Separate note requesting Smith to bring seed of 'Racine de disette'.

No summary available.

Replies to Smith's letters of 2 October [1786] and 12 February [1787]; pleased that Smith still thinks of his Norwich friends; thanks for Bulliard [plates for "Histoire des champignons" (1791-1812)] and offer of Leers' "Flora". Comments on [Anders Jahan] Retzius' [(1742-1821)] output. Thanks for 'Gnaphalium luteo-album' and 'Agrostis minima'. Smith's access to so many famed herbariums like "taking a journey to Jupiter or Saturn". Smith's 'Senecio acanthifolius' must be "magnificent". If Smith travels through Switzerland recommends consulting [Albrecht von] Haller's [(1708-1777)] herbarium as useful for a "Flora Anglica" considering so many Swiss plants are native to England. Comments on Smith's account of his travels, including visit to [Louis] Gerard, time in Genoa with Marquis [Ippolito Durrazo], Florence, and [Lazzaro] Spallanzani's [(1729-1799), Roman Catholic priest and natural historian] disgrace, and the non-reviews of Smith's tract attacking "so great a personage".

Has not found any new cryptogamia this winter but [James] Dickson's expedition to Scotland produced 150 new species of mosses, jungermanniae, and lichens, though many were lost when [James] Crowe's portmanteau was stolen. Saw Smith's mother in Norwich who informed him of [Robert] Batty's relapse, including vomiting blood. An election declared void on account of bribery by House of Commons following petition by Sir T Beever, details of reelection. Death of his father-in-law, Mr Manning; short confinement after long decline from diabaetes.

Heard of Smith's arrival in Paris, agreeable tour to Mount Cenis, and travels in the Alps; discusses Saussure's "Voyage dans les Alps"; thanks for promise of Alpine specimens to complete English series. Will show [James] Pitchford Smith's account of 'Malampyrum sylvaticum', though is convinced the other is 'M. pratense'; infallibility of [John] Ray and [William] Hudson. [James] Crowe found 3 specimens of 'Ophyrs loeselii' on St Faith's bogs, [William] Sole found them near Cambridge, roots sent to [William] Curtis and [James] Dickson.

Difficulties of Dickson's new Scottish botanical discoveries. Keen to learn more about 'Fucus', at Cromer, [Norfolk], saw 'Ulva plumosa', 'Ulva fistulosa', and 'Fucus verracosa'; observations. Discusses acquisition of books: Leers' "Flora", Retzius' fasciculus, and Bulliard's plates ["Histoire des champignons" (1791-1812)].

Discusses Smith's living arrangements for near future. Asks Smith to pick up parcel from [William] Withering for him; contains a variety of 'Carex panicea'. List of London commissions for Smith to carry out for him including books and desiderata list [extant, 4 pages of plant names, some have been marked].

Smith's imminent establishment of a botanical society [Linnean Society, founded 1788]; discusses possibility of writing a paper on 'Lycoperdon' and difficulties of its current classification, and suggests additional paper on 'Cryptogamia'. Message for [Samuel] Goodenough: waiting for response from his Yarmouth, [Norfolk], friend on 'Fucus'.

Received Smith's letter of 2 [February 1787]. Regrets not seeing their "mutual best friend", [Samuel] Goodenough, as much as he would like to; they have described about 200 new British insect species but struggle without reference to the Linnaean collections. He has not said anything of the new Society [Linnean Society] other than to [John] Lyon of Dover, [Kent], who has despaired of the present one [Society for the Promotion of Natural History] and is committed to the new.

Showed Sir Joseph Banks the section of Smith's letter concerning [Lazzaro] Spallanzani [(1729-1799), natural historian] [on dispute between Spallanzani and Giovanni Scopoli over mismanagement of the Univsersity of Pavia museum; Smith was a supporter of Scopoli]; Banks read it aloud to the gentlemen present, including [William] Hudson, L'Héritier, [Olof] Swartz, and [Jonas] Dryander. Swartz has been collecting Jamaican plants and is comparing them with Banks' West India herbarium.

Thanks Smith for obtaining some of his 'Lepidotera' desiderata; requests further species. Progress of [William] Jones figures of same; received parcel of insects from China but only contained two 'Papilio' not yet figured by Jones. Discusses [John] Latham's "Le Courent Bris" from his ["General synopsis of birds"]. [James] Dickson had a successful natural history excursion in north of Britain but all his findings were lost in wreck off Dutch coast. A valuable new entomological correspondent, and others.

Publication of [William] Curtis' "Botanical Magazine". Recent appointments, including at [Society for Promotion of Natural History] and East India Company. Wishes he could have joined Smith on his "7 golden days" in Florence; wishes he had an independent fortune of his own and thinks Smith's situation a "most enchanting one". Comments on Spallanzani and Scopoli dispute.

No summary available.

Received Smith's Rome letter of 19 February. Was worried Smith was offended with him for not embracing his "scheme" [formation of Linnean Society] with same ardour as Smith and others. Confesses he feels too much ignorance when with the "ingenious and scientific" to be a part of it. Repeats remark by [Conyers Middleton (1683-1750) Church of England clergyman] that the journey to Italy is like the "the common stages and journey of life". Mentions a traveller in Sciliy who though the large 'Aloes' there were indiginous, recalls Smith's remarks and his own observations of plants on the coast being able to survive severe weather. Request from [John] Latham for Smith to acquire a good description of the "Courier" bird, described by several but seen only by Aldrovandus [Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) Italian naturalist]. Looking forward to Smith and [William] Younge's return to London, [Samuel] Goodenough and [Thomas] Marsham are well.

Long rhapsody on Smith's friendship and difficulties of finding true friends. [Thomas] Marsham miffed that Smith wrote to Jones unpressed but not to Marsham or [Samuel] Goodenough who solicited "anxiously". Critiques the clergy, including [Samuel] Goodenough for being, "friends to persecution and [...] not [allowing] a liberty of conscience". Fears Goodenough and Marsham will "banish [Jones] to Coventry" if he does not unite in the [Linnean] Society, hopes to mollify them by offering a collection of 'Lepidoptera' he is gathering to Goodenough, and giving Marsham scientific information for his book ["Entomologia Britannica"]. [Johan Christian] Fabricius in London and correcting his [Jones'] drawings but will be gone by time Smith returns. Has heard nothing of [William] Younge.