e weather is colder than I believe it ever was, any where,
but in Greenland.--We have a very large stove constantly kept hot,
and yet the windows of the room are frozen on the inside.--God knows
when I may have an opportunity of sending this letter: but I have
written it, for the discharge of my own conscience and you cannot now
reproach me, that one of yours makes ten of mine. Adieu.

LET. XXV.

To HER R. H. THE PRINCESS OF WALES
[Footnote: The late Queen Caroline.]

_Adrianople, April_ 1. O. S. 1717.

I HAVE now, madam, finished a journey that has not been undertaken by
any Christian since the time of the Greek emperors: and I shall not
regret all the fatigues I have suffered in it, if it gives me an
opportunity of amusing your R. H. by an account of places utterly
unknown amongst us; the emperor's ambassadors, and those few English
that have come hither, always going on the Danube to Nicopolis. But
the river was now frozen, and Mr W---- was so zealous for the service
of his Majesty, that he would not defer his journey to wait for the
conveniency of that passage. We crossed the deserts of Servia (sic),
almost quite over-grown with wood, through a country naturally
fertile. The inhabitants are industrious; but the oppression of the
peasants is so great, they are forced to abandon their houses, and
neglect their tillage, all they have being a prey to the janizaries,
whenever they please to seize upon it. We had a guard of five
hundred of them, and I was almost in tears every day, to see their
insolencies (sic) in the poor villages through which we
passed.--After seven days travelling through thick woods, we came to
Nissa, once the capital of Servia, situated in a fine plain on the
river Nissava, in a very good air, and so fruitful a soil, that the
great plenty is hardly credible. I was certainly assured, that the
quantity of wine last vintage was so prodigious, that they were
forced to dig holes in the earth to put it in, not having vessels
enough in the town to hold it. The happiness of this plenty is
scarce perceived by the oppressed people. I saw here a new occasion
for my compassion. The wretches that had provided twenty waggons for
our baggage from Belgrade hither for a certain hire, being all sent
back without payment, some of their horses lamed (sic), and others
killed, without any satisfaction made for them. The poor fellows
came round the house weeping and tearing their hair and beards in a
most