THERE is not any thing fo excellent, but fome will carp at it; and the rather, because of its excellency. But to fuch hypercritics I shall not fay ******** I CONFESS, I am malicious enough to defire, that the world fhould fee, to how much better purpose the LADIES travel than their LORDS; and that, whilft it.. is furfeited with Male travels, all in the fame tone, and stuffed with the fame trifles; a lady has the fkill to ftrike out a new path, and to embellish a worn-out subject with variety of fresh and elegant entertainment. For, befides the vivacity and spirit which enliven every part, and that inimitable beauty which spreads through the whole; befides the purity of the ftyle, for which it may juftly be accounted the ftandard of the English tongue; the reader will find a more true and accurate account of the customs and manners of the feveral nations with whom this lady converfed, than he can in any other author. But, as her ladyfhip's penetration difcovers the inmoft follies of the heart, fo the candour of her temper paffed over them with an air of pity, rather than reproach; treating with the politeness of a court, and the gentleness of a lady, what the feverity of her judgement could not but condemn, In short, let her own fex, at least, do her juftice, lay afide diabolical Envy, and its brother Malice *), with all their accursed company, fly whispering, cruel backbiting, fpiteful detraction, and the reft of *) This fair and elegant prefacer has refolved, that Malice fhould be of the mafculine gender: [ believe it is both mafculine and feminine, and I heartily wish it were neuter. of that hideous crew, which, I hope, are very falfely faid to attend the Tea-Table, being more apt to think they frequent thofe public places, where virtuous women never come. Let the men malign one another, if they think fit, and strive to pull down merit, when they cannot equal it. Let us be better natured, than to give way to any unkind or disrespectful thought of fo bright an ornament of our fex, merely because she has better sense; for I doubt not but our hearts will tell us, that this is the real and unpardonable offence, whatever may be pretended. Let us be better Christians, than to look upon her with an evil eye, only because the giver of all good gifts has entrusted and adorned her with the moft excellent talents. Rather let us freely own the fuperiority of this fublime genius, as I do, in the fincerity of my foul, pleafed that a woman woman triumphs, and proud to follow in her train. Let us offer her the palmi which is fo juftly her due; and if we pretend to any laurels, lay them willingly at her feet. December 18. 1714. M. A. Charm'd into love of what obfcures my fame, thing át } You fee, Madam, how I lay every your feet. As the tavtology fhews the poverty of my genius, it likeways fhews the extent of your empire over my imagination. May 31. 1725. LET. I LETTER I To the Countess of Rotterdam, Aug. 3. O. S. 1716. FLATTER myself, dear fifter, that I fhall give you fome pleasure in letting you know that I have fafely passed the sea, though we had the ill fortune of a ftorm. We were perfuaded by the captain of the yacht to fet out in a calm, and he pretended there was nothing fo eafy as to tide it over; but, after two days flowly moving, the wind blew fo hard, that none of the failors could keep their feet, and we were all Sunday night toffed very handfomely. I never faw a man more frighted than the captain. For my part, I have been fo lucky, neither to fuffer from fear nor fea fickness: though, I confefs, I was fo im patient to see myself once more upon dry land, that I would not ftay till the yacht could get to Rotterdam, but went in the long-boat to Helvoetfluys, where we had voitures to carry us to the Briel. I was charmed with the neatnefs of that little VOL. I. A town; |