tainment in advance, and Americans would do well to follow in this respect the example of their British cousins.

Travellers intending to leave by early morning conveyances, should see that proper notice to that effect is given to the porter, and that the hotel bill is presented, before they retire for the night.

of

The author deems it proper to add that recommendations hotels or other establishments in this Guide Book cannot be obtained by purchase; and that no person has been, or will be, authorised to contract with hotel-keepers or other persons for favourable notices therein.

VALETS DE PLACE.

T is if the traveller is not accompanied by a courier who is

I thoroughly acquainted with the chief cities upon the Continent,

to employ at once, upon his arrival, a competent local guide, or valet de place. They can always be found at the principal hotels. If a little care is taken to ascertain if the ralet is competent to point out the objects best worth seeing, and to give correct information in relation to them, his employment will not only be a source of saving, but will add greatly to the interest of the traveller's visit. As much may generally be seen in a single day under the guidance of a competent valet as in two days if the traveller makes his way unaided. An experienced valet will frequently procure admission to places which are ostensibly closed to the public, and he generally pays much less for pour boire, or gratuities, than the traveller himself would pay. Caution should be exercised in making purchases at shops recommended by culets, as they are naturally disposed to favour those who pay them the highest rate of commission upon sales to persons introduced by them. These commissions are, of course, added to the price of the articles purchased. In a few of the Routes the author has given the names of valets de place who are known to him to be competent and trustworthy. The wages usually demanded are from five to seven francs per day.

THE

LANGUAGES.

HE tourist who would receive the maximum of advantage and of pleasure from a tour in Europe, should be familiar with the languages of the countries which he visits. He who has no knowledge of them will derive much less pleasure from his travels than he who possesses a little; but let no one hesitate to undertake the tour of Europe if circumstances have rendered it impossible for him to acquire even a smattering of its tongues. The English language is spoken at all the leading hotels frequented by strangers upon the Continent; in every city, valets de place who speak English are to be found, and, at terminal stations upon the great lines of travel, interpreters, licensed or employed by the companies, are present, to assist travellers on their arrival and departure.

ΤΗ

FUNDS.

HE most convenient way of carrying money for use in Europe is by a traveller's "letter of credit," issued by a banker who deals in credits of that kind. These letters are available in every part of Europe. American travellers may procure them of

several banking houses in New York; among others, of Brown, Brothers, & Co., Morton, Bliss, & Co., John Munroe & Co., * Kountze Brothers. English travellers may procure letters of credit from any of the leading London or provincial bankers.

A very convenient as well as economical and safe way of carrying money is in circular notes, which are issued in denominations of £10 and £20, and in larger denominations, by Brown, Shipley, & Co., the Union Bank of London, the London and Westminster Bank, and several of the leading banking houses. These notes are available throughout Europe.

English sovereigns pass currently in Belgium, Holland, and Germany; but the most advantageous coins in any part of the Continent are Napoleons, which are everywhere current.

The American Exchange in London and Paris will cash American drafts on the above-mentioned houses for a trifling commission.

We will end our chapter of advice by quoting from a well-known editor the following advice to travellers (taking the liberty of changing a word or two):-" We advise the traveller to make up his mind beforehand what line of route he proposes to follow, and gain some acquaintance with the countries before setting out, by perusing the best works descriptive of them; that he should lay in such a stock of good temper and patience as is not likely to be exhausted whatever mishaps may befall him; and that he should divest himself as soon as possible of his prejudices, and especially of the idea of the amazing superiority of his own over all other countries, in all respects."

THE BEST SEASONS FOR VISITING THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF EUROPE.

IDSUMMER is the most agreeable season for England, Ire

Mland, and Scotland, Northern France, and Germany; May,

June, July, August, and September are all good months for Switzerland. The winter months are the best for Southern France, Italy, and Malta.

The great majority of tourists visit Switzerland in the heat of summer, when the hotels and public conveyances are crowded to excess, and when prices are at the highest. Not only are the early and later parts of the season more agreeable in that delightful country, but persons resorting there before the middle of July, and after August, besides avoiding the crowd, have the advantage of the greatly reduced tariff of prices during the periods named, which has been adopted by all the best hotels.

* This firm has a branch establishment at Paris.

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1

25

1

4

0 60

0 60

0

98

1

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5

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2

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Additional information in relation to money is given at the beginning of the description of each country.

TH.. NEW YOU FOOL C LIBRANT

A-TOR, LENOX AND

NN FONDAT ONE.

APPLETON'S EUROPEAN GUIDE BOOK.

"SPECIALTIES" OF EUROPEAN CITIES.

ANY towns in Europe are noted for the production of "specialties," which being generally of good quality and reasonable in price at the places of production, are habitually purchased by tourists. Below is a partial list of these articles.

The names of tradesmen are given in this list only when such tradesmen are known to the editor or publishers to be reliable. Proof of unfair dealing on the part of any house mentioned in this chapter will exclude it from our pages.

AMSTERDAM.-Antiquities and curiosities. Paintings of the Dutch school. Diamonds.-Van Praag Bros., Nieuwe Heerengracht, near the Amstel.

ANTWERP.-The heavy black silks of Antwerp are famous, and may be had at any good shop. Antwerp has of late years become an excellent picture market.

BERLIN has no specialty of note. Oil paintings of a high class may be had of Lepke, a reliable house, 4 Unter den Linden. Berlin wools and jewellery. There are a few good shops for rare books and antiquities.

BRUSSELS.-Brussels lace. Best house, Boval-de Beck, 74 Rue Royale. Travellers are particularly cautioned against the recommendations of commissionaires and guides whose interest it is to recommend second-class establishments who pay large commissions, with the result that the purchaser obtains a bad article at a high price. Paintings of the Belgian school.

Here,

COLOGNE.-Eau de Cologne. The first and only genuine distiller is Johann Maria Farina, opposite the Julichs Platz. Antiquities and curiosities.-Rhine wines.-An extensive trade is done here in Rhine and Moselle wines. as in all parts of Germany, the leading hotel proprietors are wholesale dealers in wines, and the choicest stocks are found in their cellars. Mr Freidrich, proprietor of the Hotel du Nord, ships largely to America and England, and may be relied upon for the excellence of his wines and the reasonableness of his prices. Edward Schulte of Dusseldorf has a branch establishment in the Museum Platz where will always be found a large collection of Modern Paintings of the Dusseldorf and other schools.

B