PREFACE,

I

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 best improvement of every opportunity. But if the reader, after perufing one letter only, has not discernment to distinguish 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 Let

Letters exceed all that has appeared in

this kind, or almost 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 least, was juft to her merit.

THERE

THERE is not any thing fo excellent, but fome will carp at it; and the rather, But to fuch

because of its excellency.

hypercritics I fhall 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, whilst it is furfeited with Male travels, all in the fame tone, and stuffed with the fame trifles; a lady has the skill 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 spreads through the whole; befides the purity of the ftyle, for which it may juftly be 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 ladyship's penetration discovers 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 gentlenefs of a lady, what the severity of her judgement 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 accursed company, fly whispering, cruel backbiting, spiteful detraction, and the reft

of

*) This fair and elegant prefacer has refolved, that Malice should be of the masculine gender: I believe it is both mafculine and feminine, and I heartily wifh it were neuter,