Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M-y W-y M-e

Letters of the Right Honourable
Lady M—y W—y M—e

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M--y
W--y M--e, by Lady Mary Wortley Montague
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Title: Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M--y W--y M--e Written
during Her Travels in Europe, Asia and Africa to Persons of Distinction,
Men of Letters, &c. in Different Parts of Europe
Author: Lady Mary Wortley Montague

Release Date: January 15, 2006 [eBook #17520]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS
OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY M--Y W--Y M--E***
E-text prepared by Desmond Grocott

LETTERS
OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
Lady M----y W----y M----e;
WRITTEN DURING HER TRAVELS IN EUROPE, ASIA, AND
AFRICA,
TO
Persons of Distinction, Men of Letters, &c. in different PARTS of
EUROPE.
Which contain, among other curious Relations, ACCOUNTS of the
POLICY and MANNERS of the TURKS.
Drawn from Sources that have been inaccessible to other Travellers.
A NEW EDITION, COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.
LONDON; PRINTED FOR THOMAS MARTIN,
M.DCC.XC.

PREFACE,
BY A L A D Y.
WRITTEN IN 1724.
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 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) and 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 inquiries 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 contemporaries, one woman, at
least, was just to her merit.
THERE is not any thing so excellent, but some will carp at it; and the
(sic) rather, because of its excellency. But to such hypercritics I shall
not 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 the style, for which it may justly, 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 several nations
with whom this 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 the gentleness
of a lady, what the severity of her judgment could not but condemn.

IN short, let her own sex at least, do her justice; lay aside diabolical
Envy, and its brother Malice [Footnote: This fair and elegant prefacer
(sic) has resolved that Malice should be of the masculine gender: I
believe it is both masculine and feminine, and I heartily wish it were
neuter.] with all their accursed company, sly whispering, cruel
back-biting, 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 frequent 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