NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 229 



Watson, of Keillor, a piece of plate, as a testimonial of esteem 

 and mark of approbation for their exertions in the establishment 

 and continuance of the Defiance coach, running between Edin- 

 burgh and Aberdeen, through Strathmore. The chair was taken 

 by Lord Arbuthnot, in the absence of the Earl of Kintore (who 

 was prevented from attending by ill health), and his lordship 

 discharged the duties with his usual tact and good taste. Cap- 

 tain Rait, of Arniston, was croupier ; and among the party 

 were the Honourable Captain Arbuthnot, Major Swinburn, of 

 Marcus, Major Wemyss, Captain Cheape, of Wellfield, Captain 

 Scott, R.N., Mr. Wright, of Lawton, Mr. Ains worth, Mr. Nairn, 

 Messrs. Proctor, Dalgairns, &c. Lord Panmure, a steady friend 

 to the coach, was prevented from attending by indisposition ; 

 ^and letters were received from him, and from several gentlemen 

 in the district, highly approving of the object of the meeting, and 

 regretting their inability to be present. 



After the usual loyal toasts had been given, the Chairman 

 gave the toast of the day ; and in drinking prosperity to the 

 coach, remarked upon the great utility of the conveyance to the 

 district through which it passed, and pointed out the benefit 

 which was received from it by all classes of the community. 

 His lordship contrasted the Defiance with the old Fly, which 

 took three days in going between Edinburgh and Aberdeen and 

 with the more recent conveyance, the Telegraph, between 

 Perth and Aberdeen, through Strathmore, and the spavined 

 cattle by which these coaches were drawn ; and, after pointing 

 out the celerity, comfort, and safety of the present conveyance, 

 and that what formerly took three days was now done in twelve 

 hours, he passed a just eulogium on the Defiance the splendour 

 of its appointment the civility of the servants of the establish- 

 ment and the manner in which the whole concern had been 

 conducted, from the time of its starting, now six years ago, to 

 the present day. 



His lordship stated, that he had much pleasure in being the 

 person through whom the testimonials on the part of the gentle- 

 men of the district were to be presented. He noticed in appro- 

 priate terms the trouble and risk which, at the commencement 

 of the undertaking, Mr. Barclay and Mr. Watson had necessarily 

 encountered ; and his lordship then presented to these gentlemen 

 two handsome silver bowls, of the value of ^50 each, as a mark 

 of esteem and approbation on the part of the gentlemen of the 

 district. 



Mr. Barclay and Mr. Watson made suitable replies, stating 

 that they had set on foot the coach more with the view of accom- 

 modation to the public than to individual profit ; and that the 



