E-text prepared by Desmond Grocott
Lady M——y W——y M——e;
Persons of Distinction, Men of Letters, &c.in different PARTS of EUROPE.
Which contain, among other curious Relations,ACCOUNTS of the POLICY and MANNERSof the TURKS.
Drawn from Sources that have been inaccessible toother Travellers.
I WAS going, like common editors, to advertise the reader of thebeauties and excellencies of the work laid before him: To tell him,that the illustrious author had opportunities that other travellers,whatever their quality or curiosity may have been, cannot obtain; anda genius capable of making the best improvement of every opportunity.But if the reader, after perusing one letter only has notdiscernment to distinguish that natural elegance, that delicacy ofsentiment and observation, that easy gracefulness, and lovelysimplicity, (which is the perfection of writing) and in which theseLetters exceed all that has appeared in this kind, or almost inany other, let him lay the book down, and leave it to those who have.
THE noble author had the goodness to lend me her MS. to satisfy mycuriosity in some inquiries I had made concerning her travels; andwhen I had it in my hands, how was it possible to part with it? Ionce had the vanity to hope I might acquaint the public, that itowed this invaluable treasure to my importunities. But, alas! themost ingenious author has condemned it to obscurity during her life;and conviction, as well as deference, obliges me to yield to herreasons. However, if these Letters appear hereafter, when I am inmy grave, let this attend them, in testimony to posterity, that amongher contemporaries, one woman, at least, was just to her merit.
THERE is not any thing so excellent, but some will carp at it; andthe (sic) rather, because of its excellency. But to such hypercritics Ishall not say ************.
I CONFESS, I am malicious enough to desire, that the world should seeto how much better purpose the LADIES travel than their LORDS;and that, whilst it is surfeited with Male travels, all in the sametone, and stuffed with the same trifles; a lady has the skill tostrike out a new path, and to embellish a worn-out subject withvariety of fresh and elegant entertainment. For, besides thevivacity and spirit which enliven every part, and that inimitablebeauty which spreads through the whole; besides the purity of thestyle, for which it may justly, be accounted the standard of theEnglish tongue; the reader will find a more true and accurate accountof the customs and manners of the several nations with whom this ladyconversed, than he can in any other author. But, as her ladyship'spenetration discovers the inmost follies of the heart, so the candourof her temper passed over them with an air of pity, rather thanreproach; treating with the politeness of a court, and the gentlenessof a lady, what the severity of her judgment could not but condemn.
IN short, let her own sex at least, do her justice; lay asidediabolical Envy, and its brother Malice [Footnote: This fair andelegant prefacer (sic) has resolved that Malice should be of themasculine gender: I believe it i