Of the RIGHT HONOURABLE Lady M-y W-y M-e: Written during her TRAVELS in EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA, ΤΟ Perfons of Diftinction, Men of Letters, etc. WHICH CONTAIN, Among other CURIOUS Relations, ACCOUNTS of the POLICY and MANNERS Drawn from Sources that have been inacceffible I PREF A CE, BY A LADY. WAS going, like common editors, to advertise the reader, of the beauties. and excellencies of the work laid before him: To tell him, that the illuftrious author had opportunities, that other travellers, whatever their quality or curiofity may have been, cannot obtain; and a genius capable of making the beft improvement of every opportunity. But if the reader, after perufing one letter only, has not difcernment to diftinguish that natural elegance, that delicacy of fentiment and obfervation, that eafy gracefulness,. and lovely fimplicity, (which is the perfection of writing) and in which these. X(2 Let Letters exceed all that has appeared in this kind, or almoft any other, let him lay the book down, and leave it to those who have, THE noble author had the goodness to lent me her MS. to fatisfy my curiofity in fome inquiries I had made concerning her travels; and when I had it in my hands, how was it poffible to part with it? I once had the vanity to hope I might acquaint the public, that it owed this invaluable treasure to my importunities. But, alas! the most ingenious author has condemned it to obfcurity during her life; and conviction, as well as deference, obliges me to yield to her reafons. However, if these Letters appear hereafter, when I am in my grave, let this attend them, in teftimony to pofterity, that among her contemporaries, one woman, at leaft, was juft to her merit. THERE |