(a) Leonard Smelt, Bedale to John Courtney, Beverley: encloses a bill for £20: Sale of leases. Payment of Mrs. C's fortune. 13 October 1769

(b) Leonard Smelt, London to John Courtney, Beverley: family news. 16 May 1771

(c) Elizabeth Cayley, Hull to John Courtney, Beverley: family news. 1 October 1780

(d) Sir Thomas Frankland, Thirsk to John Courtney, Beverley. Also his wife, Lady Dorothy, to her sister, Mrs. Mary Courtney: a purchase of Kirk Deighton living. Family news and gossip. Social life in Thirsk. 14 October 1790

(e) Sir Thomas Frankland, Thirkleby, to Rev. John Courtney: distress following son's illness (death?). Proposes going abroad. 5 August 1801

(f) Mrs. Ann Jessie Cholmley, 61 Wimpole Street, to Mrs. Mary Courtney, Beverley: family news. 17 November 1805

(g) Mrs. Dorothy Goulton (Barton?) to Mrs. Mary Courtney: family news. 8 December 1805

(h) Mrs. Ann Jessie Kitchingman, Carlton, to Mrs. Mary Courtney: thanks for present of sliver forks. Death of Rev. Pierson (of Coxwold?). Family news. 10 December 1805

(j) Elizabeth Smelt, York, to Mrs. Mary Courtney: family news. 12 December 1805

(k) Mrs. Margaret Smelt, Gedling, to Mrs. Mary Courtney (her sister): family news. 17 December 1805 (l) Lady Dorothy Frankland, Thirkleby, to Mrs. Mary Courtney: family news; Sir James Pennyman (6th Baronet) and his daughters. 18 December 1805

(m) Lady Dorothy Frankland, Dover Street, to her nephew, Rev. John Courtney, Sanderstead, Croydon: board wages for servants; his new neighbours Mr. Hatsell and Mrs. Barton. 19 May 1806

(n) Lt. Col. Cornelius Smelt, Castle Rushen, Isle of Man (Lt. Governor of I.O.M.) to Rev. John Courtney, Beverley: has received a mourning ring, a legacy from John Courtney father of Rev. John Courtney. His son Leonard in trouble at Harrow ('impertinence to his Dame') along with Lord Euston's son. Advice on marriage. 4 July 1806

(o) Mrs. Margaret Smelt, Gedling to [same]: marriage of her son Philip. 5 November 1806

(p) Sir Thomas Frankland to same, Sanderstead: encloses letter (missing) about the living of Kirkby Knowle from Mr. Serjeantson. 4 November 1806

(q) Copy. Major William Smelt, Quebec, to his sisters: Canada most beautiful, but has nothing else to recommend it. Everything dear. Women 'eminently ugly'. Winters hard, and snowshoes needed. Houses infested with rats and bugs and, being wooden, there are many fires. War with 'Yankies' has broken pout - 'we have a parcel of old fogies of Generals here'. Hopes Government will send some young able ones. Extraordinary that almost all Heads of Department's and Staff in Canada are Americans. 3 August 1812 Later: Commanding a flank battalion on the advanced posts. Yankees 20 miles away, but not 'disposed to let us have the opportunity of giving them a good threshing'. Hopes for an offensive in the Spring. Asks for fishing rods for salmon and trout. Excellent woodcock shooting. Hears Sir. J Warren has arrived at Halifax with 5 sail of the line and 10 frigates 'if so Jonathan will begin to open his Eyes and make proposals for peace. I hope however Government will give him a good licking first for his insolence... Their Army deserts faster than they can recruit and are most wretchedly off for every sort of necessaries and very ill paid. They are ten thousand times worse than a Nottingham Mob'. 30 September (1812)

(r) Lieut. Leonard Smelt, Bombay [Mumbai] to (Rev. John Courtney, Sanderstead): His shortage of money prior to embarkation. Sickness on ship during outward voyage, 'We committed to the deep 42 people'. Is to report to Madras [Chennai] for duty. Route he will take. Has shot 'an infinity of Snipes' near Surat in last 2 months. High mortality at Surat 'the Grave for Europeans'. Chances of promotion slight. Hopes to return to Europe. 'No Emoluments now to be got in India, Wars generally speaking having entirely ceased so that serving here is merely a loss of time and Constitution'. 1 December 1814

(s) Mrs. F.H. Bacon, Castle Rushen, Isle of Man, to Rev. John Courtney: family news: with a postcript from her father Lt. Col. Cornelius Smelt. 27 November 1828

(t) Notes of Sir Christopher Courtney on the above letters, and a pedigree by him to illustrate the relationship of the correspondents. 1972