The reflection on the great gulf between you and me, cools all news that come hither.

I can neither be sensibly touched with joy nor grief, when I consider that possibly the cause of either is removed before the letter comes to my hands.

But (as I said before) this indolence does not extend to my few friendships; I am still warmly sensible of yours and Mr.Congreve's, and desire to live in your \ remembrances, though dead to all the world beside." There is no doubt that it was to her pen that Lady Mary had recourse in her endeavours to overcome ennui.

A perusal of the letters written during this first sojourn in Europe shows that nothing escaped her eye, trivial or serious, from the washing of the Rotterdam pavements to the dwarfs at the Court of Vienna, from the palaces of the great to the cosmetics used by the women.
Occasionally Lady Mary became impatient at the ignorance of her friends as regards the Near East.
"I heartily beg your ladyship's pardon; but I really could not forbear laughing heartily at your letter, and the commissions you are pleased to honour me with" (she wrote to one of her acquaintances from Belgrade Village in June, 1717).
"You desire me to buy you a Greek slave, who is to be mistress of a thousand good qualities.

The Greeks are subjects, and not slaves.