272 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



It is possible that some of my readers may not have heard or read of 

 the renowned Defiance coach from Edinburgh to Aberdeen — the 



Wonder* of Scotland — which rightly indeed may it be called. Any 



person, however, who may chance to be at Edinburgh, and to step into 



the coach oflSce of the Waterloo hotel, will see announced, amongst 



many others, though this stands first on the list, — " The Defiance 



Coach to Aberdeen, matchless for speed and safety, at half past five 



o'clock every lawful morning." And '' matchless" no doubt it has been 



in this part of the world ; for despite of a wide ferry to cross, unloading 



one coach and loading another, breakfast and lunch on the road, it has 



been remarkable for keeping its time^ both in winter and summer, with 



unusual punctuality at all periods of its ground ; which time is only 



twelve hours and thirty-five minutes, which will be found to be within 



a minute fraction of the rate of ten miles an hour, taking the ferry and 



stoppages out of it ! 1 And to whom has Scotland been indebted for 



this " wonderful coach," which has been on this road upwards of seven 



years, having started July 1st, 1829? Why, to that wonderful man. 



Captain Barclay of Ury, " the man vot walked a thousand miles in a 



thousand hours," and who continues to walk more miles every day than 



any postman in the country. But to be serious. This coach reflects 



great credit on the Captain and all others concerned in it ; and I am 



sorry to hear that the cheap conveyance by steam, coastwise, is likely 



seriously to injure it. Hitherto — the fares having been good, namely 



21. 10s. inside, and 11.6s. out — it has paid pretty well, averaging 51. 



per double mile, which is as much as could be expected from the pace, 



which requires a horse to a mile, and the Defiance had something over 



that number when I was in the country it travels through. So com- 



* I'he Shrewsbury and London Wonder Coach is considered the best in England 

 for that length of ground j and was so called, because it was the first that was 

 attempted to be worked over such a distance — 152 miles in one day. 



