DOWN THE ROAD IN DAYS OF YORE 51 



not to ride on horseback : they could then enjoy 

 the pleasures of the morning, snuff the perfumes 

 of the fields, hear the music of the grove and 

 the concert of the wood. 



These reflections were cut short by the crossing 

 of the Tyne by ferry. The bridge had fallen on 

 November 17th, 1771, and the temjiorary ferry 

 established from the Swirl, Sandgate, to the 

 south shore Avas the source of much inconvenience 

 and delay. The coach was j^ut across on a raft 

 or barge, but in directing operations to that end, 

 the ferryman Avas not to be hurried. One had to 

 wait the pleasure of that arbitrary little BashaAV, 

 Avho would not move beyond the rule of his 

 oAvn authority, or mitigate the sentence of those 

 who Avere condemned to traA^el in a stage-coach 

 Avithin a ferry-boat. 



Our author, as he hated every idea of slavery 

 and oppression, Avas not a little offended at the 

 expressions of authority used on this occasion by 

 the august legislator of the ferry. The passengers 

 Avere noAV in the barge, and obliged to sit quiet 

 until this tyrant gave orders for departure. The 

 vehicle for carrying coach and passengers across 

 the rlA^er Avas the most tiresome and heaA'y that 

 ever AA^as invented. Eour roAvers in a small boat 

 dragged the ponderous ferry across the river, 

 very slowly and Avith great exertions, and almost an 

 hour Avas consumed in thus breasting the yelloAv 

 currcMit of the broad and swiftly-running Tyne. 

 Meanwhile, there Avas plenty of time to reflect on 

 what might hapx^en on the passage, and abundant 



