Travel Diaries and Journals

Edinr. to York

I must part with my mother. Oh what a trial to leave & part with her whom I loved [struck through: better than] so dearly & my father too & Jessie Mary, Robert & William I assumed composure I was far from feeling. My heart was ready to burst but I must tear myself away. the hour has come & I must go My father Robt. Wm. Taylor, Fred, James T. Banks at the station bade me good bye & off we went Left N.B. Station at 9.15 Stopped Dunbar 5 minutes Berwick 10 minutes . I went outside the station at Berwick but it being dark I could see very little, however I saw the Tweed & could make out the general appearance of the town We stopped again at Newcastle & York at the latter we had 20 minutes & I went into the refreshment rooms to have a cup of coffee for which I paid 1/ rather scalped. I saw the Cathedral A young fellow sitting opposite me in the train & I went to see it, it is a

Lincoln to London

the country every field almost was covd. with water the grain some cut & some uncut lying steeped in it. At Lincoln we were obliged to change the line of rail. we got on to the Lincoln & Boston line the N.B. line being flooded The guard told us that a train had gone right on the N.B. line the day before was driven of the rails. Some passengers hurt & one nearly killed. As it was the line which we went on the train went through water nearly a mile (I believe it was mostly owing to the bursting of a large canal in Lincoln) We were detained 2 hours behind time of arriving in London by this means On arriving in London at King's Cross I was astonished to see the bustle & stir everywhere the whole side of the station lined with Cabs one of which I engaged & drove to the Waverly Hotel in Cheapside. I shortly after called on Mr Nisbet at Guy's Hospital He told I would require to be off immediately to Southampton as our vessel would sail early on Saturday morning.

9.15 P.M. 3 Strangers with us in the carriage. one a Mr. Batters of Cornhill who promised to assist us in the (City affair) without being asked. had a pleasant journey down. At the North British Station lost Portobello train by an incivil guard see accompanying letter written to "Scotsman" after my return to London

[newspaper clipping pasted onto page] [Publication title and date pasted vertically] THE SCOTSMAN FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1863.

NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY SERVANTS. London, August 24, 1863. SIR,- A short time ago I arrived at Edinburgh per Great Northern Railway from London on a Sunday morning; and being anxious to proceed at one to Porto- bello, I inquired of the only guard who was to be seen on the platform, "Whether a train would soon leave for that place?" I received no reply to my query, but the mas busied himself about some baggage. As I was unwilling to harass him by questions, I waited until he appeared to be disengaged before repeating my question. Still I received no answer, but he simply turned his back and went somewhere else. Catching sight of him a third time, I repeated my question somewhat peremp- torily, and had the satisfaction this time at anyrate of getting a reply - that being that there was a train; but as it was just leaving, I could not catch it, and, as he spoke, the puff of an engine on the opposite side, as the train moved slowy out, convinced me that what he said was true. I was naturally indignant, but as I could see no distinguishing mark about the guard, I was unable to report his conduct in the proper quarter. A simple "Ay" from him, when I first or even secondly questioned him, would have enabled me with east to have caught the train. The result was that I had to hire a cab to Portobello which cost me 4s., besides causing me considerable loss of time and annoyance. I am induced to sent this to you as I have heard several complaints of similar incivility on the part of the servants of the North British Railway at Edinburgh, and I consider it ought to be part of their duty to assist by every reasonable means passengers from a distance, who are not to be supposed to know the times of starting of local trains. - I am, &c. A.J.

on my way down the N.B. Canongate in the Cab Saw Willie going up the side of the Carlton Hill. he got in & we drove to Portobello. found the house in Grove Place let temporarily & Jessie & Willie in a room in Portobello Road. Went to Mansons Inn in Portobello & left luggage & walked to Portobello Road saw Jessie. remained in all day expecting my father from Mary's did not come to a walk down in the evening & saw him at Marys he had tried to find the house in Portobello Road but could not manage. (My father is now very lame & feeble.) returned to Portobello Road On [3 changed to] 2nd went with Willie to Edin Called on Carr at the "Clarence" Met Alexander. went to call

gone over the hill. [Written above: took quarters at] Whites with Willie & Jessie August 5th. Dressed & went to Edin. to attend Alexanders wedding. Was kept 1/2 an hour later than intended by the non arrival of the Portobello train & so missed Carr. took a cab at the N.B. Station went to the "Clarence" for Carr found him gone drove to the Church (Trinity Church Dean Bridge) found the party assembling. Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Mrs. Tait Mrs. Heriot Dr. & Mrs. Struthers Mr. & [Struck through:Heriot][Written above: Miller John Alexander Lucy Allen David McGibbon Mary & Janie Renford Hindmarsh Dr. Brown Carr Annie Greig Geo Hughes Mrs. Allen M.K.Heriot Wm. Sanders M. Heriot L.A.Miller Mr. Faithful & Heriot John Allen Wm. Greig Alex Allen