Monday marked the 10th anniversary of this blog (yikes!), and found me on a train to Rome. Although this was not a research trip, I was nevertheless following in the footsteps of William Macintosh, who visited the city in 1790 possibly for an audience with the Pope.

Like any dutiful tourist, I visited the Vatican and, in passing the entrance to the Apostolic Archive, did wonder idly if Macintosh’s presence might be recorded somewhere in there. It is, however, an avenue I have decided not to explore in the hope of actually being able to finish the book one day.

While in Rome, I received the very welcome news that an application I had made for a research sabbatical in the first term of 2022/23 had been approved. This is a huge relief, and a terrific privilege (since sabbaticals are awarded less routinely these days), and will give me a pretty clear run at the book from late June until Christmas.