Ossian Collection > Journal of a tour in Scotland in

70 JOURNAL OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND
adventures have proved so hazardous, monied
men have thought it safer to embark their
property in building ; and thus the number of
houses which are here in progress, becomes,
hke the late high price of stocks, a fallacious
measure of the general prosperity. The
capital however is well employed for the
public and for the town, whatever it may
be for the owners.
Saturday, August 28. — Having for a time
lost my kind surgeon, I went into the nearest
apothecary's to have my volcano drest. A
good looking man performed, but told me
withal that his brother who was of the
medical profession would be within the next
morning— that is this day. Mr Telford had
told me a story of an Englishman who broke
his leg in the Highlands, and the two High-
landers who were carrying him to the nearest
town laid him down by the way, and bargained
for the reward of their services, one of them
saying to the other in Gaelic, which was
understood by the poor stranger's servant,
" We must ask enough, for it is not every
day that an Englishman comes here and
breaks a leg!" The medical brother re-
minded me a little of this anecdote. He