dear particularly to your Grace, for being the birth-place of a great Princefs, whose eminent virtues adorn the throne of thefe realms, and. captivate the affections of a brave and loyal people. They contain the out-lines of courts not unworthy of your curiofity; where, amidst all the fplendid embellishments of fociety, truth, honour, and fincerity, are ftill the prevailing principles of a numerous and ancient nobility. And here a way fairly opens itself before me, to draw a parallel between the auguft theatre where your Grace acts fo fhining a part, and thofe foreign courts, whofe characters I have been fo happy as to observe and admire. But the task is too arduous. Were I to attempt to defcribe the ornaments of the British court, I might place your Grace in the foremost

foremost rank, and expatiate on the paft glories of your renowned fancef tors, whose virtues, as well as large poffeffions, you happily inherit: Il might endeavour to paint those conjugal perfections, which endear you to your truly noble and generous confort, and render you a complete model of domeftic felicity: I might extol your splendor and magnificence, by which you fupport the dignity. and name of the Great PERCIES: I might delineate your goodness, your affability, your generofity, your

But the confideration of

your delicacy ftops my pen; and I am apprehenfive of offending, when I only mean to court your patronage. My ambition is fatisfied; the ambition of fheltering these papers under your aufpicious name, and of being

per

T

permitted, thus publicly, to declare

the profound veneration and efteem

and with which I have the honour to

fubfcribe myself, hent

ernet at fter -dul no

SMADAM, eidt toth

thu to some N

St & bas

.

ΚΟΙΤΑ ΡΙΟ ΠΟ

ADVERTISEMENT.

TH

5 swoborg HE following letters were committed to the prefs, exactly in their native fimplicity. This, perhaps, has occafioned a few repetitions, and a recital of particulars, which may appear uninterefting to fome readers. The author, however, on submitting them to public view, did not chuse to make any alteration in their drefs: this would have too much the appearance of art; and letters to a friend, fuch as thefe, fhould discover none. They are the effusions of a heart warmed with fentiments of affection. The taste of readers is various; and what appears minute and trifling to many, is to others, at least, a matter of entertainment. The author's defign in going abroad, was to improve his 'Hiftory of Vandalia, by inveftigating things at the fountain-head. This has induced him carefully to ftudy the various fcenes of life, and the humours and characters of men, from the prince to the cotager; agreeably to the words of a very ingenious female traveller*, Pour connoitre au vrai les mœurs des païs, nous examinons les cabanes. If we view things in a philofophic light, are not the occupations of the farmer, the gardener, and the artificer, as inftructive and interefting a fubject, as plays,

* Madam de Boccage.

operas,

operas, and other fafhionable entertainments? These the author, however, has not omitted, when they came in his way, merely in compliance with the prevailing taste. A traveller generally makes himself the hero of his piece, by reciting his hardships and fuferings, ὡς μαλα πολλα πλαγχθη: the author has followed the example of his predeceffors; and if this has fometimes rendered him too perfonal, he humbly hopes for the reader's indulgence. Though no poet, he is an admirer of the Mufes, and has been naturally led to interfperse these Letters with feveral paffages from our best writers, which helped to footh fome toil some scenes, and, perhaps, will contribute to enliven the narration. This is all he thinks proper to mention by way of apology; the neceffity of any farther preface is fuperfeded by the beginning of the first letter.

P. S. Since the author's departure from Strelitz, he has received the melancholy news, that Madam de Dewitz and Mademoifelle de Rauchbar are no more. The latter was ripe for her diffolution; but the incomparable Madam de Dewitz was fnatched away in the bloom of youth, to the inexpreffible grief of all who had the happiness of knowing her. Among the reft the author pays his fincere tribute of tears to her revered and much lamented manes.

LET