Diary written by Mary Addison during a European tour, 1771-1772

The diary recounts Mary Addison's journey through Europe. This began in London on 2 June 1771 andpassed through Dover, Calais, Amiens, Paris (where she spent 15 days), Basle, Berne, Geneva, Lyons,Aix, and Leghorn. The account ends on 30 May 1772 in Florence. The diary contains brief entries foreach day of the trip describing places visited and events that took place. There are also subjectiveobservations of places visited, fashion, roads, and hotel accommodation. Addison records the namesof people with whom her party stayed such as fellow guests or hosts.

The diary contains two other elements which have no clear connection with the travel entries.They comprise a few entries later in the diary, written in another hand, and two pressed leaves,enclosed in the volume and attached to writing paper. The leaves on writing paper are annotated withremarks about their provenance and are dated 1864.

No details about Mary Addison are as yet known. Her high standard of literacy, her participationin an extensive European tour and her proximity to the lives of members of the British and Europeanaristocracy suggests something of her background and history.

No archival arrangement has been necessary.

ACCESS: Pending full cataloguing, access is limited andit is possible only for registered users by advance notice and agreement.

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in thedescription belongs to The University of Nottingham.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposesonly, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be soughtin advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections(email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.

There is nor record of the history of ownership of the diary before it came into the custody ofThe University of Nottingham.