Letter received by Banks from James Edward Smith, 2 April1787 (Series 72.158) - No. 0001

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Rome April 2d 1787

Dear Sir

         Being unwilling to trouble you unnecessarily I deferred thanking you for your last kind favor with the letters to Sr. W. Hamilton & Mr Græffer till I had been at Naples, from which place I returned a few days ago.  I had the greatest reason to be satisfied with Sr. William's attention which was extremely polite & very particular, such as I know I could not have had but from such an introduction as yours.  I spent two days at Caserta very pleasantly & was extremely pleased with Mr. Græffer, who is in great favor with the Queen, & his performances are much approved;  indeed with such a situation, soil & climate what may we not expect english taste to produce?  Mr Shalanbusch the Danish Envoy at Naples was very civil to me, & desired one to present his compts [compliments] to you saying he owed much to your politeness when in England;  he is a zealous botanist, but wants companions.  There is an Abbe Pacifico who seems to be not without knowledge, & who is going to publish a fasciculus of plants soon, of which you will have a copy;  Cyrilli is likewise going to publish, but I think he might as well let it alone.  A Don Cavolino is working very assiduously on marine animals, with good success;  he has already published 3 memoirs in italian w.ch [which] perhaps you may have seen.  Mr Graeffer shewed me a very fine new Daphne wild in flower, of w.ch [which] I have specimens for you.  I am afraid you will think me negligent because I have got scarcely any of your desiderata in the book way, yet I assure you 'tis not, for want of enquiry;  my companion (Dr Younge) & myself have your catalogue almost