Six Of Those Fellows, Tucked Up Above The Middle, With
Long Poles In Their Hands, Took Charge Of Our Coach, And By Many
Windings Guided It Safe To The Opposite Shore.
Indeed there was
no occasion for any; but it is a sort of a perquisite, and I did
not choose to run any risque, how small soever it might be, for
the sake of saving half a crown, with which they were satisfied.
If you do not gratify the searchers at St. Laurent with the same
sum, they will rummage your trunks, and turn all your cloaths
topsy turvy. And here, once for all, I would advise every
traveller who consults his own case and convenience, to be
liberal of his money to all that sort of people; and even to wink
at the imposition of aubergistes on the road, unless it be very
flagrant. So sure as you enter into disputes with them, you will
be put to a great deal of trouble, and fret yourself to no manner
of purpose. I have travelled with oeconomists in England, who
declared they would rather give away a crown than allow
themselves to be cheated of a farthing. This is a good maxim, but
requires a great share of resolution and self-denial to put it in
practice. In one excursion of about two hundred miles my fellow-traveller
was in a passion, and of consequence very bad company
from one end of the journey to the other. He was incessantly
scolding either at landlords, landladies, waiters, hostlers, or
postilions.
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