When Lady Mary had been abroad for a year, she became homesick and began to long for England.  It was really very dull for her in Turkey, even though she could pass the time of day in the language of the country.  Supervising the nurses of her child did not take a large share of her tune; and she found only a mild excitement in going into the bazaar in native woman’s attire to collect Oriental rugs and whatnot.

“To say truth, I am sometimes very weary of this singing, and dancing, and sunshine, and wish for the smoke and impertinencies in which you toil, though I endeavour to persuade myself that I live in a more agreeable variety than you do; and that Monday, setting of partridges—­ Tuesday, reading English—­Wednesday, studying the Turkish language (in which, by the way, I am already very learned)—­Thursday, classical authors—­Friday, spent in writing—­Saturday, at my needle—­and Sunday, admitting of visits, and hearing music, is a better way of disposing the week, than Monday, at the drawing-room—­Tuesday, Lady Mohun’s—­ Wednesday, the opera—­Thursday, the play—­Friday, Mrs. Chetwynd’s, &c., a perpetual round of hearing the same scandal, and seeing the same follies acted over and over, which here affect me no more than they do other dead people.  I can now hear of displeasing things with pity, and without indignation.  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).