98 Notes and Sketches. 



might be got by diverging a few miles from his 

 wonted route, did not scruple to make the necessary 

 detour, correspondingly lengthening both the journey 

 and the time occupied by it. 



Whether, and how far, the increased exertions of 

 the proprietor of the only original Caravan in providing 

 an improved service, may have been stimulated by 

 threatened opposition would be a curious inquiry. 

 Only a week after the announcement of Scorgie's 

 extended operations, Alexander George, a " chaise 

 letter " in Huntly, and lessee it is believed of the 

 Gordon Arms Inn there, announced that he, too, had 

 commenced running a caravan between Aberdeen and 

 Huntly. He also ran on alternate days, but so as the 

 caravans must have crossed, in place of maintaining a 

 side by side competition. The Huntly chaise letter stated 

 that his conveyance was "fitted up in such a manner as 

 to afford every comfort and convenience to passengers, 

 and inferior to no vehicle of the kind travelling in this 

 part of the country ;" and he charged the moderate 

 fare of " seven shillings the whole way, and any inter- 

 mediate distance in proportion." 



The rival Caravan men had been justly regarded as 

 postal celebrities ; and the name of each lived up to 

 probably quite the average " immortality" secured to 

 men whose deeds have made them locally famous. 

 The tradition even yet remains of how the Marquis of 

 Huntly, afterwards " Duke George" (of Gordon), 

 wanting to reach Pitmachie on a day of smart snow- 

 storm, would trust to nobody but Alexander George 

 to post him through the wild and dreary Glens of 

 Foudland. George acted post-boy to his Grace ac- 

 cordingly ; and on the return journey, having stopped 

 at Bainshole, a small hostelry in the Glens, for refresh- 

 ment, the Duke was surprised to find a pair of fresh 

 horses turned out, wherewith to resume his journey 

 without loss of time. " Please your lordship, this is 

 my stick o' help," said the enterprising chaise letter 



