appears in the fact that mere errors of transcription or printing, in the dates in that edition, though palpable, from the very position of the letters, have been copied in every subsequent publication. The letters written during Mr. Wortley's embassy are now printed exactly from the Sowden manuscript, such information as could be supplied respecting the parties addressed, or other circumstances, being given in notes. An account of these letters will be found in the Memoir. Some letters and poems not included in previous editions, are added, and in every section it has been endeavoured to ascertain from internal evidence the exact periods at which the undated letters were written, and to arrange them accordingly; a labour which, though less productive of visible results, no one who has had experience of such duties will be inclined to rate lightly. Of other portions of Lady Mary's writings, not derived from the Wortley manuscripts, some account is required. The letters to Mrs. Hewet were appended by Mr. Dallaway to his fifth edition of 1805, from a source explained in the note to the first letter of the series. The letters to the Countess of Oxford, though not alluded to in Lord Wharncliffe's Preface among the novelties in his edition, were I believe published by him from the originals for the first time; as were also the letters to Lady Pomfret and to Sir James and Lady Steuart, to which his Lordship alluded in the following passage. "Of the authenticity of these letters there can be no doubt. Those to Lady Pomfret have been copied from the originals in Lady Mary's handwriting, and kindly communicated to the Editor by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Campbell, who received them from his mother, a descendant of the Pierrepont family. Those to Sir James Steuart and Lady Frances, have been carefully preserved by the present Sir James. They were some years since printed at Glasgow for private circulation, and the Editor has to thank Sir James for their having been placed at his disposal for the purpose of this publication." The poems, with exceptions explained in each case, were published by Mr. Dallaway and Lord Wharncliffe from a manuscript volume which appears, from a fac-simile published by the former, to have borne the following memoran dum in Lady Mary's own handwriting. "All the verses and prose in this book were wrote by me, without the assistance of one line from any other. Mary Wortley Montagu." The volume is now unfortunately not to be found among the manuscripts, and the poems are therefore given on the authority mentioned. The letters in the appendix to Lord Wharncliffe's edition, are now incorporated with the letters to Lady Mar, and such portions of Lord Wharncliffe's arguments as are not now superseded are quoted in the notes and Memoir. With regard to the freedom of expression in which Lady Mary indulged, particularly in the familiar letters to her sister Lady Mar, Lord Wharncliffe justly remarks that she wrote at a period when the feeling upon such subjects was by no means so nice as it now is; and that expressions, with which we now find great fault, might then be used by persons of the greatest propriety of conduct, and would only be considered as painting freely, and more keenly ridiculing, the vices and follies of the society in which the writer found herself, and not as used for the purpose of indulging in grossness of language." It requires but small familiarity with the originals of the private correspondence of those days, to perceive that Lady Mary's standards of delicacy and propriety were simply those of her time. Even in the present day considerable differences on these points are observable among nations equally civilised; and wonderment at the unconsciousness betrayed by the one of the feeling of the other, is frequently to be found on both sides. In the gradual change of manners the English people of Lady Mary's time have become to us, in some degree, as aliens and objects of curious observation, whose points of divergence from our standards it is in like manner hard to forgive. It is not of course pretended that good morals are dependent upon time or place; but we may learn at least from these analogies that it is unwise to expect that any men or women should in these matters be far above the spirit of the society in which it is their lot to live. I cannot omit to acknowledge the obligations I am under to the Earl of Harrowby, for his great liberality and kindness in affording me the opportunity of publishing a correct text of Lady Mary's writings, no less than for the facilities accorded me for examining the large mass of the Wortley papers at Sandon for the objects of this edition. To the Right Honourable James Stuart Wortley I am also greatly indebted for similar favours. March 28th, 1861. W. MOY THOMAS. CONTENTS. cxxxix 3 15 Account of the Court of George the First at his Accession No date.-Count Turrucca's ball-Learning Italian-Marriage Sept. 1709.-Madame Dunoyer's letters-Mr. Selwyn's success Oct. 1709.-The New Atalantis-Reported marriage of Lady Nov. 1709.-Thanks for favours received-Character of Mrs. 1711.-Mr. Resingade-Madame Dunoyer's Memoirs-The Opera-Nicolini in Hydaspes-Marriage of Lord Willoughby -An acquaintance after the manner of Pyramus and Thisbe 31 1711.-Prospects of a peace-Domestic affairs-The Spectator 32 March, 1712.-Fire in Arlington-street-Escape of Mr. and |