22 Avidity for Public News. 



and many other peculiarities are observable 

 among them, as strictly and distinctly and ex- 

 clusively belonging to each only. 



Annan has one regular well-built street. There 

 appeared here to be an absence of that bustle of 4 

 business, which always accompanies profitable 

 employment, and conveys an idea of a wealthy 

 community. 



The times have made politicians in all ranks 

 of the people. An avidity for public news pre- 

 vails every where. Not a town or scarcely a 

 village, that has not its reading room, where 

 the daily papers in some, and the periodical 

 publications in all, are to be found. Strangers 

 are generally made welcome to a draught from 

 these fountains whence the concerns of all the 

 world are made to flow. To those travelling 

 with their own horses these resources are parti- 

 cularly agreeable for the hour, which otherwise 

 would be heavily passed at the inn. 



At five in the morning to-morrow we pur- 

 pose to leave Annan. Early starting is the 

 only way to get pleasantly forward. A stage, 

 and sometimes two, before breakfast, gives an 

 opportunity for great refreshments to one's 

 horses, and prevents the day's-work becoming 



