These letters from Wriothesley Russell are largely written to his mother Rachel, Lady Russell around 1698-99, when he travelled with Mr Sherrard and Mr Hicks across Europe. Some letters are also written to his sister and brother-in-law (Rachel and William Cavendish) and his grandfather the 1st Duke of Bedford; the Earl of Orford and, Bishop of Exeter. The letters to his mother whilst abroad give an insight into who he was meeting, what they saw and Lord Tavistock's impressions of the cities he came to as well as how they travelled and the customs they encountered. He writes to his mother in a verbose way and is often begging for her forgiveness for losing money gambling and resolving to abstain or reduce his habits or requesting more money in order to be able to live in a manner that upholds the honour of the family.
The topics of the letter to Lord Cavendish include: the bad weather, hunting at Woburn Abbey and a visit from Mr Charlton.
The letter to his uncle Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford includes an account of his reception in Rome.
The letter to his sister Lady Hartington includes his congratulation on the birth of her son and the gladness that Lord Hartington has recovered from his accident.
The copy letter to the Bishop of Exeter concerns the Tavistock elections.
The topics of the letters to Rachel, Lady Russell written whilst at Oxford include: his gladness at Lady Russell's recovery from ill health; his aunt Alington's misunderstanding of his comment about his grandfather as a desire to stay at Woburn longer; his comment to the Lord Bishop being about his gladness to resume his studies in Oxford and not his displeasure of town and country; the news of his sister's birth to a boy; his reassurance to Lady Russell that he has not lost his reputation at Oxford or anywhere else as Mr Hicks has suggested to her; his assurance that she need not worry about his love for gambling as he thinks losing a lot of money is foolish; forgetting guineas for the christening and being glad Lady Russell gave Mr Blake a guinea; intending to talk to Mr Spencer about paying Lady Russell back.
The topic of the letters written to Lady Russell whilst on his grand tour include: his safe passage to the Hague; the fireworks and large court at the Hague; playing loo with the King and Prince Vaudemont; the King's intention to stay until after his birthday celebrations; his visits to English ambassadors and Lord Villers and Lord Pembroke; Lady Russell's concern about his companion Mr Fatio and Lord Tavistock's assertion that he is much better at discourse abroad when he feels less likely to offend foreigners than he does the English; his plea for Lady Russell not to interfere and replace Mr Fatio; a fight between Lord Silkirk and Lord Raby; his apologies for losing money at play and promising to play only little which he believes is as good as not playing at all though he promises not to play at all if that is really what she wants; a letter from Lord Orford which contains kind words and advice he wishes to adhere to as much as possible; his approval of Lady Russell's character description of Mr Sherrard; their intention to return to the Hague in a few days; the beauty of Leyden but the disorderliness of the university; his intention to visit Monsieur le Fort the Moscovy ambassador who does not wish to talk about the Tsar [Peter I of Russia]; the encounter Madam Franconi had with the Tsar; the Tsar's daily visits to work with the seaman at a port called Soerdam [Zaandam]; his approval of Lady Russell taking on Mr Sherrard; his wish to travel to Italy; the matter of Mr Fatio being dismissed by Lady Russell and the worry that it will not look good for Mr Fatio despite him having done his duty to Lord Tavistock and Lady Russell; Lord Tavistock's regret at how he treated Mr Fatio in the past; Mr Sherrard being very helpful and no need for Mr Spencer; travelling by a Berlin coach; very cold snowy weather; travelling through Westfalia; the limited food; wine and meat freezing in the coach; receiving letters; Mr Fatio being angry about his treatment; visit to the English Envoy to the Court of Zell Hanover, Mr [Cresset]; play with Duchess of Zell and Monsieur Danchelman, Envoy to the court of Brandenburg (whose father is disgraced and in prison); visit from Sir Paul [Ricaul] envoy to the king in Hamburg regarding Danchelman's father's situation; Lord Tavistock being made a freeman of Hamburg; description of Hamburg; his surprise at Lady Russell's dissatisfaction with their plan to be at Venice by ascension day for the ceremony of the Doge marrying the sea; their intention to travel to Rome for summer should Lady Russell allow it; Lord Townsend and Lord Anglesey being at Rome in summer; Mr Sherrard's view that Rome is best for the summer; a list of reasons to be in Rome in the summer; rejection of Lord Hartington's suggestion of Verona in the summer; his surmising that his grandfather has been misinformed that Rome is dangerous; the Elector of Hannover's death; the Duke of Zell's presence at the death of the elector; description of the opera; his discussion with Mr Spencer about returning home to buy horses; disappointment at Mr Fatio's character description of him to Lady Russell; frozen ink; the court in Berlin being in mourning; a description of Mr Sherrard's good qualities as a travelling companion and comparison with Mr Fatio; visiting the cardinals; being received by Cardinal Ottoboni as he received ambassadors; having to wait to be introduced to the assemblies after he has visited all the cardinals; description of nights in Rome; a fuller account of Rome from Mr Hicks; a description of Italian people and their conversations and customs; their great expenditure; a visit from Cardinal Bouillon; visiting the Emperor's ambassador and the ambassadress who he has joined at her Conversations and to play piquet; French gallies and men of war at the coast for the Pope's protection; a letter sent to Mr Thornton concerning rumours being spread by jealous Englishmen in Rome that the Cardinals and Father Colmus have treated Lord Tavistock so well because they wish to convert him to Catholicism; a description of how religion is little spoken of in Rome and his differing Protestant beliefs not being an issue; a suggestion that Lady Russell ask Lord Townsend and Anglesey for a character reference of Father Colmus; a serenade held at Lord Tavistock's house to which the Emperor's ambassador and ambassadress, the Countess of Athleide and some other ladies came, despite it not being the custom for ladies to visit an unmarried man's house; a serenade being held in his honour by the Countess Bolognetti; thunderstorms that resulted in gun powder in Turin and Naples catching alight and exploding, killing hundreds of people; learning to fence with a French master; having an upset stomach; a ride out to Villa Pamphilia with the Emperor's ambassador and ladies; musical diversions; an opera created by Cardinal Ottoboni for Lord Tavistock; the company in Rome leaving for the countryside; renting a house in Frescati; having much company every night; Constable Collina and his wife who is lying in; his plans for seeing the carnival; the operas at the carnival in Naples; a request for Lady Russell to send ribbon, fine muslin, head dresses, plain Indian fans, and any other little things she and his sister think make nice presents for women; a request for Lady Russell to send two or three pounds of good tea and a snuff box of plain tortoiseshell; Indian quilts being too valuable to send; a suggestion from Mr Sherrard for more pocket watches - two silver and one gold; money he has asked to be paid to Lord Normanby and Sir John Luson; asking Lady Russell and Lord Hartington to pay a bill of £200 to Mr Samuel Foot, for presents he has bought because he does not wish to ask Mr Sherrard for the money; being in the company of Cardinal Bouilloni and the German ambassador in Frescati; less ceremony in the countryside; a letter to the Cardinal Bouilloni from Cardinal D'Arquien concerning the Queen of Poland's visit to Rome; his intentions to travel to Naples and then back to Rome for the winter and to the other courts of Italy in the spring; increasing enjoyment of the conversations and assemblies now that he can speak the language and the Italians are more easy with him; reminding Lady Russell to check his letters are always sealed with his coat of arms when she receives them; a character reference for Mr Worseley; his gratefulness that Lady Russell did not believe the reports of his turning to Roman Catholicism and his wish that she would ignore reports of him losing much money at play because they are false and spread by people who do not have his honour in mind; his request that Lady Russell not try to guess who he refers to regarding false reports of his behaviour; assurance that he will speak more plainly in the future; his intention to travel to Naples; his intention to see the Pope just before he leaves Rome; the publication of The Journal of Frescati in which he features; the affair between the Emperor and the Pope; Pasquinade sent to Lord Hartington; preparations for the marriage of the King in Vienna; plenipotentiaries gone from Vienna; his apologetic pleas for forgiveness from Lady Russell concerning the incident of the £200 bill; pleas that Lady Russell not tell Mr Sherrard about the incident of the £200 bill for fear of his angry humours; his predicament of feeling obliged to buy presents for the honours he has received from various company; the risk to his honour and reputation should the expense not be covered; his promise to repay Lady Russell for the debt he has caused her; two silver pots decorated with flowers that he has bought for Lady Russell; money he owes to friends in England; his regret over his faults; a description of an oratory of music made by Cardinal Ottoboni at one of the churches with 116 voices and instruments; gifts of sweetmeats from Cardinal Ottoboni; the approaching carnival in Rome; the German ambassador's visit to Don Livio Odeschalchi's house; receiving the sacrament on New Year's Day; Mr Hick's wish to be excused from letter-writing in the holy days; assurance that he is no longer gambling and that Mr Hicks can confirm this; his resolution to keep away from the temptation of gambling; asking Lady Russell to write to Father Cosmus to thank him for the service he has done to Lord Tavistock; intention to leave Rome for Florence accompanying Father Cosmus; an invitation to be received by the [Grand] Duke in Florence; a visit to the Pope; a gift from the Pope of a gold and silver medal for his family; an opera at Regio he intends to see; a Conversation at his house with the cavalier (master of the house) and all the English who are in town; greater expenses required on account of his need to maintain the honour of his family; travelling from Leghorn; hunting with the Great Duke and other merchants; arrival at Pisa; staying at the Great Duke's palace in Pisa; visiting Lucca; Father Cosmus returning to Florence; visiting Lerici and travelling via Porto Fino due to bad winds; arrival in Geneva and visits from all the English in the city including Sir Nathanial Napier; intention to travel to Milan, Turin and across the Alps into France; an enclosed letter in French for Lady Russell to pass on to Lord Galway; intention to go to court at Turin; the princess of Vaudemont insisting he gamble with her (he lost 30-40 pistols); invitation to dine with the prince and princess since being acquainted with them at court in the Hague; his pleasure that Lady Russell is happy he will be coming home; telling Mr Hicks he will make haste to Paris; his intention not to stay in Paris owing to the temptation of gambling and the expense of being in Paris; his wish to avoid Flanders hearing that Brussels is dull; a visit from the governor of the town and the Marquis of Nesmond; a trip in the captain of the port's boat to see the magazines, men of war and the port; intention to travel to Montpellier and Lyon; his happiness that Lady Russell is better from her indisposition; his intention to travel on the Diligence to Paris; unseasonal weather in France; the hot weather being good for the grapes; enjoying muscat grapes; colonels received orders to be with their regiments in Paris; captains being ordered to recruit only tall men to the regiment in France; his impressions of Paris; a visit to Lord and Lady Manchester; Lord Byron being expected; meeting several acquaintances who were in Turin; the court at Fontainebleau; his lack of letters from his grandfather [Duke of Bedford]; reassuring Lady Russell that there are no cases of smallpox in Paris and she ought not to fear it for people say it is not dangerous; asking Lady Russell what she and his sister would like to receive from Paris; Lord Manchester being very ill; Mr Hoskins and his wife being well though she does not like Paris; reports of his behaviour that have reached Lady Russell and that he refutes; Lady Salisbury also being accused of such [unspecified] behaviour; his denial of the truth of the report Lord Galway has heard that Lord Tavistock left Cardinal Bouillon owing him money; his admission that he has concealed some of his misfortunes in gambling from Lady Russell but that he will explain on his return to her; Lord Tavistock being unwell; an explanation of how Cardinal Bouillon might perceive that Lord Tavistock owes him 200 pistols; his request that Lady Russell and Lord Galway come to a solution of what to do about Cardinal Bouillon's letter to Lord Galway.
The topic of his letters to Lady Russell and Rachel Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, after his return to England include: a matter concerning his wife and Mrs Howland; a visit from his sister; a message from Sir James Forbes about his sister's travel plans; begging his sister to come and visit and not to delay her visit because of the opera.