Scope and content
The fonds is chiefly composed of five-volume fair copy of a manuscript travel journal prepared by Forbes described his journeys and stays in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland during 1796 and 1797. Entries describe the climates, cultures, art, monuments, and historical sites of the places he visited. Some entries also reflect on current events, such as the French Revolution, and comparison between the places he visited and his native England. The fonds also contains a letter to Forbes from his grandson, the Count of Montalembert. The journals were prepared by Forbes ostensibly for his daughter, to whom the first volume contains a dedication. The fifth volume contains an addendum dated 1799.