“Upon my word, I have spoken my real thoughts in relation to Venice; but I will be more particular in my description, lest you should find the same reason of complaint you have hitherto experienced” (she wrote in November to Lady Pomfret).  “It is impossible to give any rule for the agreeableness of conversation; but here is so great a variety, I think ’tis impossible not to find some to suit every taste.  Here are foreign ministers from all parts of the world, who, as they have no Court to employ their hours, are overjoyed to enter into commerce with any stranger of distinction.  As I am the only lady here at present, I can assure you I am courted, as if I was the only one in the world.  As to all the conveniences of life, they are to be had at very easy rates; and for those that love public places, here are two playhouses and two operas constantly performed every night, at exceeding low prices.  But you will have no reason to examine that article, no more than myself; all the ambassadors having boxes appointed them; and I have every one of their keys at my service, not only for my own person, but whoever I please to carry or send.  I do not make much use of this privilege, to their great astonishment.  It is the fashion for the greatest ladies to walk the streets, which are admirably paved; and a mask, price sixpence, with a little cloak, and the head of a domino, the genteel dress to carry you everywhere.  The greatest equipage is a gondola, that holds eight persons, and is the price of an English chair.  And it is so much the established fashion for everybody to live their own way, that nothing is more ridiculous than censuring the actions of another.  This would be terrible in London, where we have little other diversion; but for me, who never found any pleasure in malice, I bless my destiny that has conducted me to a part where people are better employed than in talking of the affairs of their acquaintance.  It is at present excessive cold (which is the only thing I have to find fault with), but in recompense we have a clear bright sun, and fogs and factions things unheard of in this climate.”

Certainly everybody did the utmost to make Venice agreeable to Lady Mary.  With all her good opinion of herself and of her position, she found herself treated with more distinction than she “could possibly expect.”  When, on Christmas Eve, she went to see the ceremony of High Mass celebrated by the Doge, she was surprised to find that he had set aside for her and the Prince of Wolfenbuttel a gallery, to which none were admitted but their parties.  “A greater compliment could not have been paid me if I had been a sovereign Princess.”  To her husband she wrote:  “It is impossible to be better treated, I may even say more courted, than I am here.”

All the English who came to Venice, as a matter of course paid their respects to Lady Mary.