poffible to part with it? I once had the vanity to hope I might acquaint the publick, that it owed this invaluable treasure to my importu, nities. 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 least, was just to her merit.

There is not any thing foexcellent, but some will carp at it; and the rather becaufe of its excellency. But to fuch hypercriticks I fhall not 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 ftuffed with the fome trifles; a lady has the fkill to ftrike 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 enliven every part, and that inimitable beauty which fpreads through the whole; befides the purity of the ftyle, for which it may justly be accounted the ftandard of the English tongue; the reader will find a more true

and

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 ladyship'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 politenefs of a court, and the gentlenefs of a lady, what the feverity of her judgment could not but condemn.

In fhort, let her own fex, at least, do her justice, lay aside diabolical Envy, and its brother Malice *, with all their accurfed company, fly whispering, cruel back-biting, fpiteful detraction, and the reft of that hideous crew, which, I hope, are very falfely faid to attend the Tea-Table, being more apt to think they frequent those publick 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 unkind or difrefpectful thought of fo bright an ornament of our fex, merely because she has better fenfe; for I doubt not but our hearts will tell us, that this is the real and unpardonable

any

This fair and elegant prefacer has refolved, that Malice fhould be of the mafculine gender: believe it is both mafeu line and feminine, and I heartily with it were neuter.

pardonable offence, whatever may be pretended. Let us be better Chriftians, than to look upon her with an evil eye, only because the giver of all good gifts has entrusted and adorned her with the most excellent talents. Rather let us freely own the superiority of this fublime genius, as I do, in the fincerity of my foul, pleased that a woman triumphs, and proud to follow in her train. Let us offer her the palm which is so justly her due; and if we pretend to any laurels, lay them willingly at her feet.

December 18. 1724.

M. A.

Charm'd into love of what obfcures my fame,
If I had wit, I'd celebrate her name,
And all the beauties of her mind proclaim.
Till Malice, deafen'd with the mighty found,.
Its ill-concerted calumnies confound;
Let fall the mafk, and with pale Envy meet,
To afk, and find, their pardon at her feet.

You fee, Madam, how I lay every thing at your feet. As the tautology fhews the poverty of my genius, it likewife fhews the extent of your empire over my imagination.

May 31. 1725.

A.D VER

ADVERTISEMENT

O f THE

EDITOR.

THE editor of thefe Letters, who, during

his refidence at Venice, was honoured with the esteem and friendship of their ingenious and elegant author, presents them to the publick, for the two following reasons :

First, Because it was the manifest intenti on of the late Lady My Wy Me, that this SELECT COLLECTION of her letters fhould be communicated to the publick; an intention declared, not only to the editor, but to a few more chosen friends, to whom fhe gave copies of the incomparable let

ters.

The fecond, and principal reason, that has engaged the editor to let this Collection fee the

the light, is, that the publication of these letters will be an immortal monument to the memory of Lady My Wy Me; and will fhew, as long as the English language endures, the fprightliness of her wit, the folidity of her judgment, the extent of herknowledge, the elegance of her tafte, and the excellence of her real character.

The SELECT COLLECTION, here publifhed, was faithfully tranfcribed from the ́original manuscript of her ladyship at Venice.

The letters from Ratisbon, Vienna, Drefden, Peterwaradin, Belgrade, Adrianople, Conftantinople, Pera, Tunis, Genoa, Lyons, and Paris, are certainly the moft curious and interesting part of this publication, and, both in point of matter and form, are, to say no more of them, fingularly worthy of the curi ofity and attention of all men of tafte, and even of all women of fashion. As to thofe female readers, who read for improvement, and think their beauty an infipid thing, if it is not seasoned by intellectual charms, they will find in these letters what they feek for, and will behold in their author, an ornament and model to their fex.

LET