2 time, if you had set out Saturday afternoon as you say you intended. I hope you have left Wharncliffe; but however will continue to write, 'till you let me know you have done so. Dr. Clarke1 has been spoke to, and excused himself from recommending a chaplain, as not being acquainted with many orthodox divines. I don't doubt you know the death of Lord Somers, which will for some time interrupt my commerce with Lady Jekyl. I have heard he is dead without a will; and I have heard he has made young Mr. Cox his heir; I cannot tell which account is the truest. I beg of you with great earnestness, that you would take the first care of your health, there can be nothing worth the least loss of it. I shall be, sincerely, very uneasy till I hear from you again; but I am not without hopes of seeing you to-morrow. Your son presents his duty to you, and improves every day in his conversation, which begins to be very entertaining to me. I directed a letter for you last post to Mr. B- I cannot conclude without once [more] recommending to you, if you have any sort of value for me, to take care of yourself. If there be any thing you would have me do, pray be particular in your directions. You say nothing positive about the liveries. Lord B.'s lace is silk, with very little silver in it, but for twenty liveries comes to £110.-Adieu! pray take care of your health. 1 No doubt Dr. Samuel Clarke, the learned divine.-T. 2 That is, a chaplain to the embassy to Constantinople.-T. 3 Lord Somers died April 26, 1716, which gives the year in which this letter was written.-T. 4 The liveries were for Mr. Wortley's servants who attended him on his embassy to Turkey, for which he was now preparing. It appears by the official correspondence that much embarrassment was subsequently caused to the ambassador by the non-arrival of these important articles at Constantinople.-T. H LETTERS DURING MR. WORTLEY'S EMBASSY TO CONSTANTINOPLE. [1716-1718.] [THE following is a copy of the Title-page of the manuscript copy of these Letters said to have been given by Lady Mary to Mr. Molesworth.-T.] THE TRAVELS OF AN ENGLISH LADY IN Being a series of Letters written by the Right Honourable Lady M. W. Montagu to her friends in several parts of Europe, giving a curious account of many entertaining circumstances relative to Germany, Hungary, Adrianople, Constantinople, &c., and particularly concerning some of the manners and customs of the Turks far beyond what any other Traveller has ever done, faithfully transcribed from her original copy at her Ladyship's desire. Your elder sister in the Lists of Fame And wear a laurel that is all your own; Still keep concealed this bright and learned store; Let the male authors, with an envious eye, I read with transport, and with joy I greet M. A.1 I PREFACE.1 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 illustrious author had opportunities that other travellers, whatever their quality or curiosity may have been, cannot obtain; and a genius capable of making the best improvement of every opportunity. But if the reader, after perusing one letter only, has not discernment to distinguish that natural elegance, that delicacy of sentiment and observation, that easy gracefulness and lovely simplicity (which is the perfection of writing), in which these 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 MS. to satisfy my curiosity in some enquiries I had made concerning her travels; and when I had it in my hands, how was it possible 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 obscurity 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 testimony to posterity, that, among her cotemporaries, one woman, at least, was just to her merit. There is not any thing so excellent, but some will carp 1 This Preface does not appear to the copy of the Letters in Lady Mary's handwriting, but is found prefixed to the Molesworth manuscript copy, from which it is now added. It was prefixed, with slight variations, to the unauthorised edition of 1763.-T. 100681B at it; and the rather, because of its excellency. But to such hypercritics I shall only say ********** I confess, I am malicious enough to desire, that the world should see to how much better purpose the LADIES travel than their LORDS; and that, whilst it is surfeited with male Travels, all in the same tone, and stuffed with the same trifles, a lady has the skill to strike out a new path, and to embellish a worn-out subject with variety of fresh and elegant entertainment. For, besides the vivacity and spirit which enliven every part, and that inimitable beauty which spreads through the whole; besides the purity of style, for 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 several nations with whom the lady conversed, than he can in any other author. But, as her ladyship's penetration discovers the inmost follies of the heart, so the candour of her temper passed over them with an air of pity, rather than reproach; treating with the politeness of a court and gentleness of a lady, what the severity of her judgment cannot but condemn. In short, let her own sex, at least, do her justice; lay aside diabolical Envy, and its brother Malice, with all their accursed company, sly whispering, cruel backbiting, spiteful detraction, and the rest of that hideous crew, which, I hope, are very falsely said to attend the Tea-table, being more apt to think they attend those public places where virtuous women never come. Let the men malign one another, if they think fit, and strive to pull down merit, when they cannot equal it. Let us be better-natured, than to give way to any unkind or disrespectful thought of so bright an ornament of our sex merely because she has better sense; for I doubt not but our hearts will tell us, that this is the real and unpardonable offence, whatever may be pretended. Let us be better Christians, 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 sublime genius, as I do in the sincerity of my soul; 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. Charm'd into love of what obscures my fame, M. A.1 You see, madam, how I lay every thing at your feet. As the tautology shews the poverty of my genius, it likewise shews the extent of your empire over my imagination. May 31, 1725. 1 Attributed to Mrs. Mary Astell. See Lady Louisa Stuart's Introductory Anecdotes.-T. [See also Stephens's Dict. Nat. Biog., where it is stated that this lady (b. 1668: d. 1731) was the daughter of a merchant at Newcastle-on-Tyne; was educated by her uncle, a clergyman ; came to London soon after she was twenty, and became an authoress. She lived at Chelsea, where she was long a neighbour and acquaintance of Dean Atterbury, an intimate friend of the excellent Lady Elizabeth Hastings, and a correspondent of John Norris of Bemerton.] |