NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 333 



in the working of this coach. Although Captain Barclay and Mr. Wat- 

 son are the sole proprietors, 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 Edin- 

 burgh, they are 31. per day, and from Perth to Aberdeen only half toll 

 is exacted — a favour granted to the proprietors. Its earnings have 

 commonly amounted to 51. per mile in six weeks (or thirty-six days, 

 taking the Sundays out), which a London proprietor would call " re- 

 spectable,"" 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 J 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 appearance, with plated furniture, &c. That on 



