222 
to our king. I received great civility from the Da- 
nish ambassador, who is a botanist, and who was 
earnest with me to correspond with him. Saturday 
last, March 17th, we left Naples for Caserta, where 
the court resides. We spent that day and the next 
with Sir William Hamilton and the queen’s gar- 
dener, who was sent over by Sir Joseph Banks; and 
on Monday a very bad road brought us to Monte 
Cassino, the chief of the Benedictine convents, to 
which we were well recommended, and where we 
were most hospitably and elegantly received: ’tis 
well worth seeing, but I must postpone a descrip- 
tion of it for the present. We spent Tuesday there; 
and in three days more a very bad road, through a 
most beautiful country, brought us to Rome. We 
passed through Frescati (Tusculum), and saw the 
ruins of Cicero’s Villa, and the Villa Aldobrandini, 
with some other gardens. Yesterday and today we 
have seen the antiquities of the Capitol, and today 
ascended to the top of Trajan’s noble column. We 
stay here a month. 
I am, honoured Sir, your dutiful Son, 
J. E. Smiru. 
Mr. Smith to J. E. Smith, Milan. 
My dear Son, Norwich, March 29, 1787. 
Your letters, my dear James, give us the most 
exquisite pleasure: but although the narrations are 
so pleasing, and the reception you meet with makes 
your parents’ hearts exult with joy; though we con- 
template the advantages you may derive from your 
