EDINBURGH 177 



fund of amusement, aided as he was by a comic expression 

 of countenance. 



xlt Newcastle we slept, and very glad was I to get a 

 night's rest, though it proved a short one, for the coach 

 left early next morning for Edinburgh, where we arrived 

 about eleven at nio-ht. 



We took up our quarters at the hotel where the coach 

 stopped, and were conducted to the very top of one of the 

 lofty houses in the old town of Edinburgh. The room we 

 were conducted to for our domicile, with its furniture, 

 was of the meanest description, and void of every com- 

 fort ; and I went to sleep with but a poor opinion of the 

 cleanliness of the inhabitants of the modern Athens, when 

 I lay down on Avhat was not worthy to be called a bed. 



In the mornino; I awoke in the o:reatest frio;ht, for 

 on my eyelids gradually 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 away, and roused my brother from his 

 slumbers, who jumped to my assistance, supposing I had 

 suiFered some grievous injury. I soon recovered my 

 senses, and, hastily dressing ourselves, we beat a retreat 

 from this filthy cock-loft. 



On remonstrating with the landlord on the badness of 

 our accommodation, and assurins; him we were neither 

 recruits nor tramps, he apologized by saying he was gone 

 to bed when the coach arrived, and was not aware what 

 part of the house had been allotted for our dormitory. 



I then presented him with one of my father's cards, 

 and stated we were going to call on the Messrs. 

 Ballantyne, if he would have the goodness to direct us. 



VOL. I. N 



