The names of the proprietors of the various mansions described have been carefully compared with Burke's Peerage, Baronetage, and History of the Landed Commoners. In consequence of the frequent changes in the possession of the smaller. mansions and villas, it has been deemed better to omit the names of the occupants of these, than to give information which a short period of time might render inaccurrate. The memorable incidents mentioned in connection with the various localities have been carefully selected from the best county histories and other topographical works of authority. In describing the scenery most worthy of the attention of strangers, the Editor has endeavoured to give a plain and intelligible account of what he considered worthy of notice, without aspiring to picturesque or eloquent delineation. He has thus been enabled to incorporate with the topographical and descriptive matter, a considerable portion of literary, historical, and traditionary illustration, which may prove at once interesting and instructive to the reader. The expense of travelling, and the gratuities paid to servants at hotels, are subjects so materially influenced by the habits of the traveller, and the style of the establishment at which he sojourns, that it is difficult to afford precise information in regard to them. At the same time, the Publishers have reason to believe that a few particulars on those heads will be generally acceptable to tourists, and they have accordingly embodied in the following note, the result of the inquiries which they have made upon the subject. HOTEL CHARGES. THE following scale shows the average charge for the several items which enter into the traveller's bill. The prices in the first division of the scale are rarely exceeded in any of the ordinary Hotels, while, in some, charges even more moderate may sometimes be met with. The prices in the second division show the charges in Hotels of the highest class in the principal cities. Brandy or other spirits, per measure, 6d. If the Traveller requires his table to be furnished beyond the ordinary scale of comfort, he must be prepared for a proportionate increase of charge. The payment of the gratuities to servants at Inns is a source of great annoyance to travellers. It largely contributes to the tourist's comfort when the charges under this head are included in the bill. This practice has now been adopted by many Hotel-keepers. When this is not done, the following rules will enable the tourist to calculate the charges for himself. GRATUITIES TO SERVANTS. A single gentleman, taking the general accommodation of the Hotel for one or two meals as a passing traveller, Waiter, Boots, and Chambermaid, 6d. This includes the removal of any reasonable weight of luggage; but extra messages and parcels are charged separately. 2. A single gentleman, staying a day and night, and taking his meals in the hotel, 1s. 6d. or 28. for servants, and if he stays several days, 18. or Is. 6d. per day. 3. A gentleman and his wife, occupying a sitting room and bed-room, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per night for servants. If accompanied by sons or daughters, or other relatives, half this rate from each; but no charge for children under nine years of age. 4. A party of four or six for one night about 1s. 6d. each. In country and village inns, even the lowest of the payments above quoted may be unnecessarily liberal, while in some of the fashionable hotels in London, the highest may be considerably under par. |
