按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER。
* ＇Note…This Preliminary Chapter originally formed the first of the Novel； but
* has now been printed in italics on account of its introductory character。＇
So down thy hill； romantic Ashbourn； glides
The Derby dilly； carrying six insides。
Frere。
The times have changed in nothing more （we follow as we were
wont the manuscript of Peter Pattieson） than in the rapid conveyance
of intelligence and communication betwixt one part of Scotland
and another。 It is not above twenty or thirty years； according to
the evidence of many credible witnesses now alive； since a little
miserable horse…cart； performing with difficulty a journey of thirty
miles _per diem；_ carried our mails from the capital of Scotland to
its extremity。 Nor was Scotland much more deficient in these
accommodations than our rich sister had been about eighty years
before。 Fielding； in his Tom Jones； and Farquhar； in a little
farce called the Stage…Coach； have ridiculed the slowness of these
vehicles of public accommodation。 According to the latter authority；
the highest bribe could only induce the coachman to promise to
anticipate by half…an…hour the usual time of his arrival at the
Bull and Mouth。
But in both countries these ancient； slow； and sure modes of
conveyance are now alike unknown； mail…coach races against mail…coach；
and high…flyer against high…flyer； through the most remote
districts of Britain。 And in our village alone； three post…coaches；
and four coaches with men armed； and in scarlet cassocks； thunder
through the streets each day； and rival in brilliancy and noise the
invention of the celebrated tyrant：…
Demens； qui nimbos et non imitabile fulmen；
re et cornipedum pulsu； simularat； equorum。
Now and then； to complete the resemblance； and to correct the
presumption of the venturous charioteers； it does happen that the
career of these dashing rivals of Salmoneus meets with as undesirable
and violent a termination as that of their prototype。 It is on such
occasions that the Insides and Outsides； to use the appropriate
vehicular phrases； have reason to rue the exchange of the slow and
safe motion of the ancient Fly…coaches； which； compared with the
chariots of Mr。 Palmer； so ill deserve the name。 The ancient
vehicle used to settle quietly down； like a ship scuttled and left to
sink by the gradual influx of the waters； while the modern is
smashed to pieces with the velocity of the same vessel hurled against
breakers； or rather with the fury of a bomb bursting at the conclusion
of its career through the air。 The late ingenious Mr。 Pennant；
whose humour it was to set his face in stern opposition to these
speedy conveyances； had collected； I have heard； a formidable list of
such casualties； which； joined to the imposition of innkeepers； whose
charges the passengers had no time to dispute； the sauciness of the
coachman； and the uncontrolled and despotic authority of the tyrant
called the guard； held forth a picture of horror； to which murder；
theft； fraud； and peculation； lent all their dark colouring。 But
that which gratifies the impatience of the human disposition will be
practised in the teeth of danger； and in defiance of admonition； and；
in despite of the Cambrian antiquary； mail…coaches not only roll
their thunders round the base of Penman…Maur and Cader…Idris； but
Frighted Skiddaw hears afar
The rattling of the unscythed car。
And perhaps the echoes of Ben Nevis may soon be awakened by the
bugle； not of a warlike chieftain； but of the guard of a mail…coach。
It was a fine summer day； and our little school had obtained a
half…holiday； by the intercession of a good…humoured visitor。 I
* His honour Gilbert Goslinn of Gandercleugh； for I love to be precise in
* matters of importance。…J。 C。
expected by the coach a new number of an interesting periodical
publication； and walked forward on the highway to meet it； with the
impatience which Cowper has described as actuating the resident in
the country when longing for intelligence from the mart of news。…
… The grand debate；
The popular harangue；…the tart reply；…
The logic； and the wisdom； and the wit；
And the loud laugh；…I long to know them all；…
I burn to set the imprisoned wranglers free；
And give them voice and utterance again。
It was with such feelings that I eyed the approach of the new
coach； lately established on our road； and known by the name of the
Somerset； which； to say truth； possesses some interest for me； even
when it conveys no such important information。 The distant
tremulous sound of its wheels was heard just as I gained the summit
of the gentle ascent； called the Goslin…brae； from which you command
an extensive view down the valley of the river Gander。 The public
road； which comes up the side of that stream； and crosses it at a
bridge about a quarter of a mile from the place where I was standing；
runs partly through enclosures and plantations； and partly through
open pasture land。 It is a childish amusement perhaps；…but my
life has been spent with children； and why should not my pleasures
be like theirs？…childish as it is then； I must own I have had great
pleasure in watching the approach of the carriage； where the openings
of the road permit it to be seen。 The gay glancing of the equipage；
its diminished and toy…like appearance at a distance； contrasted with
the rapidity of its motion； its appearance and disappearance at
intervals； and the progressively increasing sounds that announce its
nearer approach； have all to the idle and listless spectator； who has
nothing more important to attend to； something of awakening interest。
The ridicule may attach to me； which is flung upon many an honest
citizen； who watches from the window of his villa the passage of the
stage…coach； but it is a very natural source of amusement notwithstanding；
and many of those who join in the laugh are perhaps not
unused to resort to it in secret。
On the present occasion； however； fate had decreed that I should
not enjoy the consummation of the amusement by seeing the coach
rattle past me as I sat on the turf； and hearing the hoarse grating
voice of the guard as he skimmed forth for my grasp the expected
packet； without the carriage checking its course for an instant。 I
had seen the vehicle thunder down the hill that leads to the bridge
with more than its usual impetuosity； glittering all the while by
flashes from a cloudy tabernacle of the dust which it had raised； and
leaving a train behind it on the road resembling a wreath of summer
mist。 But it did not appear on the top of the nearer bank within
the usual space of three minutes； which frequent observation had
enabled me to ascertain was the medium time for crossing the bridge
and mounting the ascent。 When double that space had elapsed； I
became alarmed； and walked hastily forward。 As I came in sight
of the bridge； the cause of delay was too manifest； for the Somerset
had made a summerset in good earnest； and overturned so completely；
that it was literally resting upon the ground； with the roof undermost；
and the four wheels in the air。 The ‘‘exertions of the guard
and coachman；'' both of whom were gratefully commemorated in the
newspapers； having succeeded in disentangling the horses by cutting
the harness； were now proceeding to extricate the insides by a sort of
summary and Csarean process of delivery； forcing the hinges from
one of the doors which they could not open otherwise。 In this manner
were two disconsolate damsels set at liberty from the womb of the
leathern conveniency。 As they immediately began to settle their
clothes； which were a little deranged； as may be presumed； I concluded
they had received no injury； and did not venture to obtrude my services
at their toilette； for which； I understand； I have since been reflected
upon by the fair sufferers。 The _outsides；_ who must have been discharged
from their elevated situation by a shock resembling the
springing of a mine； escaped； nevertheless； with the usual allowance
of scratches and bruises； excepting three； who； having been pitched
into the river Gander； were dimly seen contendin