tified here to the full; but it is blended so with the surly
spirit of despotism in one of the parties, and with the dejection and
anxiety which this spirit produces in the other, that, to one of my
way of thinking, it cannot appear otherwise than as a very mixed kind
of enjoyment. The women here are not, indeed, so closely confined as
many have related; they enjoy a high degree of liberty, even in the
bosom of servitude, and they have methods of evasion and disguise,
that are very favourable to gallantry; but, after all, they are still
under uneasy apprehensions of being discovered; and a discovery
exposes them to the most merciless rage of jealousy, which is here a
monster that cannot be satiated but with blood. The magnificence and
riches that reign in the apartments of the ladies of fashion here,
seem to be one of their chief pleasures, joined with their retinue of
female slaves, whose music, dancing, and dress, amuse them highly;
but there is such an air of form and stiffness amidst this grandeur,
as hinders it from pleasing me at long-run, however, I was dazzled
with it at first sight. This stiffness and formality of manners are
peculiar to the Turkish ladies; for the Grecian belles are of quite
another character and complexion; with them, pleasure appears in more
engaging forms; and their persons, manners, conversation and
amusements, are very far from being destitute of elegance and ease.

I RECEIVED the news of Mr Addison's being declared secretary of state
with the less surprise, in that I know that post was almost offered
to him before. At that time he declined it; and I really believe
that he would have done well to have declined it now. Such a post as
that, and such a wife as the Countess, do not seem to be, in
prudence, eligible for a man that is asthmatic; and we may see the
day, when he will be heartily glad to resign them both. It is well
that he laid aside the thoughts of the voluminous dictionary, of
which I have heard you or somebody else frequently make mention. But
no more on that subject; I would not have said so much, were I not
assured that this letter will come safe and unopened to hand. I long
much to tread upon English ground, that I may see you and Mr
Congreve, who render that ground _classic ground_; nor will you
refuse our present secretary a part of that merit, whatever reasons
you may have to be dissatisfied with him in other respects. You are
the three happiest poets I ever hea