Letter received by Banks from James Edward Smith, 5 July 1787 (Series 72.159) - No. 0002

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Museum at Pavia many of them having his own hand writing with the original tickets upon them.   At this time Spalanzani was at Constantinople.  An affidavit was drawn up & laid before the government at Milan & from thence communicated to the Emperor.  Spalanzani was written to;  he continued to accuse Scopoli, & being advised to say that "he had only retained the specimens there for a time to study them", he disdained any such excuse, but dared the government to prosecute him.  Scopoli finding how he had been used told the fact to every body.  Volta being a very irresolute pusillanimous man, would write nothing himself, so the letter to Planta was written (Scopoli says) by Fontana the Mathematician in Volta's name;  every body allows that it contains nothing but facts, but Volta's fears made him desire to have it returned, for which he was heartily scolded by Scarpa in my hearing.  In the mean time the government were dilatory.  The Archduke thought ye loss of the specimens was of less moment than the loss of such an able man as Spal.ni [Spalanzani], & he has many other good friends at Milan:  3 or 4 months elapsed during which all the stolen goods were withdrawn, & when some people were sent officially & with great eclat to examine the collection at Scandiano nothing was to be found.  The affair was therefore hushed up, & poor Volta blamed for being too officious.  Spalanzani however presuming too much on the favour of the Emperor, went to Vienna at his return from his