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Of the RIGHT HONOURABLE

Lady M--y W---y M----e:

Written, during her TRAVELS in

EUROPE, ASIA AND AFRICA,

TO

Perfons of Diftinction, Men of Letters, &c.
in different PARTS of EUROPE.

WHICH CONTAIN,

Among other CURIOUS Relations,

ACCOUNTS of the POLICY and MANNERS
of the TURKS;

Drawn from Sources that have been inacceffible to
other Travellers.

DUBLIN:

Printed for P. WILSON, J. HOEY, Junior, and
J. POTTS, Bookfellers. MDCCLXIII.

PREFACE,

BY A

L

A D

Y.

I

Written in 1724.

WAS going, like common editors, to ad vertise the reader of the beauties and excellencies of the work laid before him: To tell him that the illustrious author had opportunities, that other travellers, whatever their quality or curiofity may have been, cannot obtain; and a genius capable of making the best improve ment of every opportunity. But if the reader, after perusing 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 thefe Letters exceed all that has appeared in this kind, or almost in any other, let him lay the book down, and leave it to those who have.

The noble author had the goodness to lend! me her M. S. to fatisfy my curiofity in some in

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quiries 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 treafure 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 reasons. However, if these Letters appear hereafter when I am in my grave, let this attend them, in teftimony to pofterity, that among her cotemporaries, one woman, at leaft, was just to her merit.

There is not any thing fo excellent, but some will carp at it, and the rather, because of its excellency. But to fuch hypercritics, I shall only fay

I confefs, 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 ftuft with the fame trifles; a lady has the fkill to strike out a new path, and to embellish a worn-out fubject, with variety of fresh and elegant entertainment. For befides the vivacity and spirit which enlivens every part, and that inimitable beauty which spreads through the whole; befides the purity of the style, for

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which it may be justly accounted the standard 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 discovers the inmost 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 severity of her judgment could

not but condemn.

.In fhort, let her own fex, at least, do her juftice, lay afide diabolical Envy, and its Brother Malice*, with all their accurfed company, fly whifpering, cruel back-biting, fpiteful detraction, and the rest of that hideous crew, which I hope are very falfely said to attend the Tea-Table, being more apt to think they frequent those public places where virtuous women never come. Let the men malign one another if they think fit, and ftrive to pull down merit when they cannot equal it. Let us be better natured, than to give way to any unkindor disrespectful thought of fo bright an orna

*This fair and elegant prefacer, has refolved, that Malice fhould be of the Mafculine Gender: I believe it is both Mafculine and Feminine, and I heartily wish it were Neuter..

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