EDINBURGH. 9 



proved a short one, for the coach left 

 early next morning for Edinburgh, 

 where we arrived about eleven at 

 night. 



We took up our quarters at the hotel 

 where the coach stopped, and were con- 

 ducted to the very top of one of the 

 lofty houses in the old town of Edin- 

 burgh. The room we were conducted 

 to for our domicile, with its furniture, 

 was of the meanest description, and void 

 of every comfort; and I went to sleep 

 with but a poor opinion of the cleanli- 

 ness of the inhabitants of the modern 

 Athens, when I lay down on what was 

 not worthy to be called a bed. 



In the morning I awoke in the 

 greatest fright, for on my eyelids gra- 

 dually relaxing, my sight rested on an 

 immense rat on my shoulders, that sat 

 gazing full in my face. My shouts of 

 fear or horror drove the hateful vermin 



