from their power, but
very few. You may imagine how I laughed at this discourse; but all
the women are of the same opinion. They don't pretend to any
commerce with the devil; but only that there are certain compositions
adapted to inspire love. If one could send over a ship-load of them,
I fancy it would be a very quick way of raising an estate. What
would not some ladies of our acquaintance give for such merchandize?
Adieu, my dear lady ----. I cannot conclude my letter with a subject
that affords more delightful scenes to the imagination. I leave you
to figure to yourself the extreme court that will be made to me, at
my return, if my travels should furnish me with such a useful piece
of learning. I am, dear madam, yours, &c. &c.

LET. XXXVIII.

TO MRS T----.

_Pera of Constantinople, Jan_. 4. O. S.

I AM infinitely obliged to you, dear Mrs T---- for your entertaining
letter. You are the only one of my correspondents that have judged
right enough, to think I would gladly be informed of the news amongst
you. All the rest of them tell me, (almost in the same words) that
they suppose I know every thing. Why they are pleased to suppose in
this manner, I can guess no reason, except they are persuaded, that
the breed of Mahomet's pigeon still subsists in this country, and
that I receive supernatural intelligence. I wish I could return your
goodness with some diverting accounts from hence. But I know not
what part of the scenes here would gratify your curiosity, or whether
you have any curiosity at all for things so far distant. To say the
truth, I am at this present writing, not very much turned for the
recollection of what is diverting, my head being wholly filled with
the preparations necessary for the increase of my family, which I
expect every day. You may easily guess at my uneasy situation. But
I am, however, comforted in some degree, by the glory that accrues to
me from it, and a reflection on the contempt I should otherwise fall
under. You won't know what to make of this speech; but, in this
country, 'tis more despicable to be married and not fruitful, than
'tis with us to be fruitful before marriage. They have a notion,
that whenever a woman leaves off bringing forth children, 'tis
because she is too old for that business, whatever her face says to
the contrary. This opinion makes the ladies here so ready to make
proofs of their youth, (which is as necessary, in order