Norfolk Street we wanted. Andrew stormed at this--but I discerned
it was all owing to our own inexperience, and put an end to the
contention, by telling the man to take us to Norfolk Street in the
Strand, which was the direction we had got. But when we got to the
door, the coachman was so extortionate, that another hobbleshaw
arose. Mrs. Pringle had been told that, in such disputes, the best
way of getting redress was to take the number of the coach; but, in
trying to do so, we found it fastened on, and I thought the
hackneyman would have gone by himself with laughter. Andrew, who
had not observed what we were doing, when he saw us trying to take
off the number, went like one demented, and paid the man, I cannot
tell what, to get us out, and into the house, for fear we should
have been mobbit.

I have not yet seen the colonel's agents, so can say nothing as to
the business of our coming; for, landing at Gravesend, we did not
bring our trunks with us, and Andrew has gone to the wharf this
morning to get them, and, until we get them, we can go nowhere,
which is the occasion of my writing so soon, knowing also how you
and the whole parish would be anxious to hear what had become of us;
and I remain, dear sir, your friend and pastor,

ZACHARIAH PRINGLE.


On Saturday evening, Saunders Dickie, the Irvine postman, suspecting
that this letter was from the Doctor, went with it himself, on his
own feet, to Mr. Micklewham, although the distance is more than two
miles, but Saunders, in addition to the customary TWAL PENNIES on
the postage, had a dram for his pains. The next morning being wet,