232 ON THE TRACK OF THE MAIL-COACH 



Besides, the transaction, no doubt in all cases, gave 

 rise to animated family correspondence, and unless 

 the unpaid letters written on the subject ^Yere all 

 rejected by the addressees, an elopement clearly 

 brought grist to the postal mill. 



The author of the Gretna method of tying the 

 hymeneal knot is said by McCuUoch to have been 

 Paisley, a tobacconist, who began to adopt it about 

 1750 and died in 1814, full at least of years, and it 

 may be of honour. At any rate, the trade was too 

 simple — anyone could qualify for it at a moment's 

 notice — and too profitable — two couples a day on the 

 average eloped from England into Scotland — to be 

 let drop. Other craftsmen than tobacconists took a 

 lesson from the forge, and welded bonds indissoluble 

 while life endured. 



Gretna Hall — formerly known as Gretna Hotel — 

 was the chief marrying establishment (if such a 

 phrase will pass) when the mail-coaches ran. The 

 coaches going to Glasgow passed it on the right-hand 

 side, a furlong beyond the post-office. 



The down-mail w^as due at Gretna Green about 

 early breakfast-time, which w^as a convenient hour 

 for a young couple to commence housekeeping. If 

 they were in a hurry to return to the parental roof, 

 the up mail was due about tea-time, and they might 

 have a long day by the gentle ripple of the Sark, and 

 yet be soon enough to book two ' insides ' for the mail- 

 coach to Carlisle. 



Arrivals by post-chaise came in at any time ; they 



