Kim Sloan, of the British Museum, has attributed the present diary to "Miss Forbes" (see: A dictionary of British and Irish travelers in Italy, 1997, p. 370). The attribution is based in part on a letter from Lady Phillipina Deane Knight of 2 May 1781, in which she refers to visitors (at Rome) who may have included the diarist of this manuscript: "We had this spring at Rome a young gentleman of the name of Fuller, with his sister a Miss Forbes, they were recommended to us by Sukie Knight. We received them both with utmost pleasure. They seemed both to be patterns of goodness, but are, I fear, but a short time for this world. I have some hopes that they will take my house in town upon their return to England; they are upon their journey" (Lady Knight's letters from France and Italy, 1905, p. 100). The author of the diary mentions frequent associations with Lady Knight and her daughter Miss Cornelia Knight, so it makes sense that Lady Knight might mention her in her letters. The author and her brother were both young, as were the gentleman named Fuller and his sister Miss Forbes who Lady Knight mentions. Also, both the author of the diary and her brother, as well as Fuller and Miss Forbes, spent part of the springtime in Rome.
Subject Terms:
Forbes, Miss. | Knight, Ellis Cornelia, 1757–1837. | Grand tours (Education) | Ocean travel -- 18th century. | Voyages and travels -- 18th century. | Women travelers -- 18th century. | Europe -- Description and travel. | France -- Description and travel. | Italy -- Description and travel. | Switzerland -- Description and travel. | Belgium -- Description and travel. | Luxembourg -- Description and travel. | Rome (Italy) -- Description and travel.
Form/Genre:
Diaries -- 1780-1781. | Travel literature -- 1780-1781.