for the march of an army; and, notwithstanding the story of Baldwin earl of Flanders being overthrown in these straits, after he won Constantinople, I don’t fancy the Germans would find themselves stopped by them at this day.  ’Tis true, the road is now made (with great industry) as commodious as possible, for the march of the Turkish army; there is not one ditch or puddle between this place and Belgrade, that has not a large strong bridge of planks built over it; but the precipices are not so terrible as I had heard them represented.  At these mountains we lay at the little village Kiskoi, wholly inhabited by Christians, as all the peasants of Bulgaria are.  Their houses are nothing but little huts, raised of dirt baked in the sun; and they leave them and fly into the mountains, some months before the march of the Turkish army, who would else entirely ruin them, by driving away their whole flocks.  This precaution Secures them in a sort of plenty; for such vast tracts of land lying in common, they have the liberty of sowing what they please, and are generally very industrious husbandmen.  I drank here several sorts of delicious wine.  The women dress themselves in a great variety of coloured glass beads, and are not ugly, but of a tawny complexion.  I have now told you all that is worth telling you, and perhaps more, relating to my journey.  When I am at Constantinople, I’ll try to pick up some curiosities, and then you shall hear again from Your’s, &c.

LET.  XXVIII

To THE COUNTESS or B——.

Adrianople, April 1.  O. S. 1717.

AS I never can forget the smallest of your ladyship’s commands, my first business here has been to enquire after the stuffs you ordered me to look for, without being able to find what you would like.  The difference of the dress here and at London is so great, the same sort of things are not proper for caftans and manteaus.  However, I will not give over my search, but renew it again at Constantinople, though I have reason to believe there is nothing finer than what is to be found here, as this place is at present the residence of the court.  The grand signior’s eldest daughter was married some few days before I came hither; and, upon that occasion, the Turkish ladies display all their magnificence.  The bride was conducted to her husband’s house in very great splendor (sic).  She is widow of the late vizier, who was killed at Peterwaradin, though that ought rather to be called a contract than a marriage, since she never has lived with him; however, the greatest part of his wealth is hers.  He had the permission of visiting her in the seraglio; and, being one of the handsomest men in the empire, had very much engaged her affections.—­When she saw this second husband, who is at least fifty, she could not forbear bursting into tears.  He is indeed a man of merit, and the declared favourite of the sultan, (which they call _ mosayp_) but that is not enough to make him pleasing in the eyes of a girl of thirteen.