very
moderate rates, all things being here in great abundance, especially
the best wild-fowl I ever tasted. I have already been visited by
some of the most considerable ladies, whose relations I know at
Vienna. They are dressed after the fashions there, after the manner
that the people at Exeter imitate those of London; that is, their
imitation is more excessive than the original. 'Tis not easy to
describe what extraordinary figures they make. The person is so much
lost between head-dress and petticoat, that they have as much
occasion to write upon their backs, "_This is a Woman_," for the
information of travellers, as ever sign-post painter had to write,
_"This is a Bear_." I will not forget to write to you again from
Dresden and Leipzig, being much more solicitous to content your
curiosity, than to indulge my own repose. I am, &c.

LET. XV.

TO THE COUNTESS OF ----.

_Leipzig, Nov_. 21. O. S. 1716.

I BELIEVE, dear sister, you will easily forgive my not writing to you
from Dresden, as I promised, when I tell you, that I never went out
of my chaise from Prague to this place. You may imagine how heartily
I was tired with twenty-four hours post-travelling, without sleep or
refreshment (for I can never sleep in a coach, however fatigued.) We
passed, by moon-shine, the frightful precipices that divide Bohemia
from Saxony, at the bottom, of which runs the river Elbe; but I
cannot say, that I had reason to fear drowning in it, being perfectly
convinced, that in case of a tumble, it was utterly impossible to
come alive to the bottom. In many places, the road is so narrow,
that I could not discern an inch of space between the wheels and the
precipice. Yet I was so good a wife, as not to wake Mr W----y, who
was fast asleep by my side, to make him share in my fears, since the
danger was unavoidable, till I perceived, by the bright light of the
moon, our postilions nodding on horse-back, while the horses were on
a full gallop. Then indeed I thought it very convenient to call out
to desire them to look where they were going. My calling waked (sic)
Mr W----Y, and he was much more surprised than myself at the situation
we were in, and assured me, that he passed the Alps five times in
different places, without ever having gone a road so dangerous. I
have been told since, that 'tis common to find the bodies of
travellers in the Elbe; but, thank God, that was not our destiny; and
we came safe to Dresden, so much tire