NIMROHS NORTHERN TOUR. 231 



Although Captain Barclay and Mr. Watson are the sole pro- 

 prietors, and answerable for the entire ground being covered 

 with stock, still they have the power to sub-let part of it, and it 

 is in consequence worked by three innkeepers one at each end, 

 and the other at the ferry ; also by Captain Shelton of Kinross, 

 and the three guards over the middle ground. 



There had nearly been an obstacle to this coach coming on 

 the road, in the excessive amount of tolls. For example, from 

 Perth to Edinburgh they are ^3 per day, and from Perth to 

 Aberdeen only half toll is exacted a favour granted to the pro- 

 prietors. Its earnings have commonly amounted to ^5 per mile 

 in six weeks (or thirty-six days, taking the Sundays out), which 

 a London proprietor would call " respectable" but nothing more. 



It won't do to be fastidious in matters of this nature ; still, on 

 that excellent principle of old Johnson, that what is worth 

 doing at all is worth doing well, and that we should not be 

 content with mediocrity when excellence can be attained. I 

 have a word to say to the proprietors of this celebrated drag. It 

 occasionally leaves Edinburgh with the last journey's dirt upon 

 it. Now, no unwashed coach should ever leave a metropolis, or 

 indeed any other place, and for two good reasons : first, it looks 

 slow, and, next, an unwashed coach is an un-overhauled coach ; 

 and although it may be said this only goes a short distance one 

 stage to the ferry nevertheless, under such circumstances, it 

 may go this short distance without having a screw loose for nine 

 hundred and ninety-nine times and drop short on the thousandth. 

 About three sets of new harness were wanting when I was in the 

 country, there being about that number of very antique appear- 

 ance, with plated furniture, &c. That on the Captain's ground 

 was all right, having been ordered for him by Sir Henry Peyton; 

 and I saw one set with Sir Henry's own crest, purchased of him 

 by the Captain, which reminded me of old times. The build of 

 the coaches is good. In fact, they are chiefly London built; and 

 such as are not are from the yard of a good builder at Perth, and 

 after the London pattern, with patent axles, and well fitted up 

 inside, with cushions, blinds, &c. 



Wednesday, 8th. The morning of this day was passed in a 

 way that could not fail being agreeable to one who, like myself, 

 is partial to agricultural proceedings, in the inspection of first-rate 

 stock. I estimated my morning's walk with the Captain at 

 upwards of twelve miles, although we were not off the domain ; 

 on which I saw some excellent specimens of good practice, es- 

 pecially in deep ploughing where it was wanting, and that sine 

 qua non of improvement of land deep and effectual draining. 



I have good reason to believe that if we led more natural lives 



