A Fortunate Expedient
A GENTLEMAN of Trinity College, travelling through France, was annoyed
at the slowness of the pace, and wishing to urge the postilion to
greater speed, tried his bad French until he was out of patience. At
last it occurred to him that, if he was not understood, he might at
least frighten the fellow by using some high-sounding words, and he
roared into the ear of the postilion: Westmoreland, Cumberland,
Northumberland, Durham! which the fellow mistaking for some tremendous
threat, had the desired effect, and induced him to increase his speed.