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PREFACE.

ACCURACY, conciseness, and a just discrimination of the importance of the several objects described, being the qualifications most valued in a Guide-Book, it has been the aim of the Editor to devote his most anxious attention to the attainment of these requisites; and it is believed that the present work will be found to contain a larger amount of well-digested information than has ever been presented in any volume of such convenient size.

To have given all the roads of England within the limits of such a volume as the present was obviously impossible. Only the main roads have therefore been described, although the distances between places on the various tours by the cross-roads are very generally given. By reference to the maps and charts, the routes by the cross-roads will readily be ascertained, and by turning to the index, the reader will be directed to the pages where all the places of any importance are described.

The names, position, and distances of the various places have been copied from the maps of the Ordnance Survey; and the same valuable authority has been the basis of the several charts and district-maps with which the volume is illustrated.

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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. The population is given according to the census of 1851.

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.

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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.

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... 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.
1.

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, 1s. 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 might 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.

HINTS TO ALL RAILWAY TRAVELLERS.

LET your name and destination appear legibly on your luggage; and if you wish to be safe against all chances of loss, put your name and address inside also of each package.

Be at the station fifteen minutes before the time.

Get your ticket (by paying your fare), and be careful to understand exactly how far that ticket frees you. On some railways you keep that ticket to the end of your journey; on others you are called on for it at starting. In either case be ready with it, remembering that, if you cannot produce it, you may be called upon to pay your fare again.

See where your luggage is placed, and if on the top of a carriage, prefer that it should be on that in which you are to be seated, if practicable; see also that the company's ticket or luggage number be affixed to each package, or you may be called on to pay the carriage of it.

The extent of luggage (not being merchandise) carried free with each passenger is generally 100 lbs. for 1st class, 60 lbs. for 2d class, and 56 lbs. for 3d class. Excess of these weights charged by weight.

Take your seats as soon as you have made all needful arrangements; you may have with you a carpet-bag, hat-box, or other luggage, if it be not so bulky as to annoy your fellow-passengers.

Do not open the carriage doors yourself; and do not at any station, except those where refreshments are provided, attempt to leave the carriage for any reason whatever, without the knowledge of the guard, lest you be injured by some accident, or left behind.

Neither smoking nor dogs are allowed in the carriages; the latter are conveyed under proper arrangements, and at a small charge, which may easily be learnt at each station.

Female attendants will be found at each terminus, and at the refreshment station, to wait on ladies and children.

Children under ten years of age are conveyed at half-price; only infants unable to walk are carried without charge.

Invalids and decrepit persons commonly receive very considerate attention from the persons employed at the stations and on the line; but they must calcu late on none which would materially interfere with the general working of the establishment, except they have expressly applied for, and been assured of it beforehand.

Carriages of various kinds, special and public, suitable to the different localities, will be found at both the termini, and at nearly all the stations.

On change of carriage, or leaving the train, be careful to see what becomes of your luggage.

Each person employed on the line has a distinguishing number on the collar of his coat; if you have any complaint to make, write to the Secretary, designat ing the offender by his number.

Railway servants are enjoined to the observance of civility and attention to all passengers, and they usually fulfil these duties very cheerfully when treated with common propriety. They are forbidden to receive any fee or gratuity.

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