best places secured in the coach. The coaches from the Golden Cross;
41, Regent Circus; and the Cross Keys, Wood-Street, are in connexion
with the Messageries royales, rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, at Paris.
Those from the spread Eagle office; Webbs hotel, 220, Piccadilly; and
the Spread Eagle, and Cross Keys, Grace-church-street, are in connexion
with the Messageries generales, Lafitte's company, Nos 9 and 24, rue du
Bouloy, at Paris. Those from the White Bear Piccadilly, are in connexion
with l'Aigle; the Eagle an opposition company, Nē 23, rue du Bouloy,
Paris. The office at Calais is in rue St.-Michel, that at Boulogne is at
the Hotel du Nord.
Steam packets go from the Tower stairs to Calais three or four times a
week during the summer months, and once or twice during the greater part
of the winter. The passage is generally performed within twelve hours.
Carriages and heavy baggage must be sent by twelve o'clock on the day
previous to starting. The passage from Dover to Calais, is performed in
three hours or three hours and a half.
LONDON TO HAVRE.--The voyage is performed by companies, one French, one
English. Havre is now greatly preferred to Dieppe.
SOUTHAMPTON has become a favourite place for embarkation, owing to the
_Railway_, the London terminus of which is at nine Elms, near Vauxhall.
Steam-Packets go four times a week, during the summer months. They call
off Portsmouth, for passengers, and on their arrival at Havre meet the
steam vessel which plies between that place and _Rouen_. Further
particulars may be obtained either at Nē 25, Coventry street; at
Portsmouth, or at Southampton. A sailing vessel also goes every week
from Southampton to Havre; distance between the two ports, 139 miles.
POSTING. There are three modes of travelling in France: in private
carriages (_voitures_), a hired carriage (_chaise de poste_), and the
public diligence. As all English carriages have poles, it will be
advisable, if the company do not exceed three in number, to have their
poles replaced by shafts, by which means one-third of the expense of
posting will be saved; for, instead of four horses and two postilions,
they will only pay for three horses and one postilion. If more than
three persons travel in the same cabriolet or limoniere, the postmaster
will charge one franc per post extra for each person beyond that number.
The arrangements for posting are attended to with scrupulous exactness.
There is no competition: and those who arrive first are uniformly first
accommodated.
A book called the _livre de poste_ is published every year by the French
government containing every information for the traveller which he may
consult at any post-house, as the postmaster is compelled to keep a
copy.
TRAVELLING BY THE MAIL IN FRANCE.
Persons who wish to proceed rapidly may travel by the mails. These light
and commodious vehicles are made to carry four persons, and are supplied
with horses at the post-houses. Each passenger may carry a sac de nuit
or portmanteau, weighing fifteen kilograms. The price of each place is 1
franc, 50 centimes per post, and 75 centimes per post to the guard.
There are mails on the following roads:--From Paris to Caen; Calais;
Lille; Valenciennes; Mezieres; Strasbourg, through Metz, and through
Nancy; Belfort; Besancon; Lyons, through Chalons, and through Moulins;
Toulouse, Bordeaux; Nantes, through le Mans, and through Vendome, and
Brest.
Also from Tours to Havre, from Lyon to Strasbourg, and to Marseilles;
from Avignon to Toulouse; from Toulouse to Bayonne; from Bordeaux to
Bayonne and to Toulouse; from Limoges to Bordeaux; from
Chalons-sur-Marne to Metz, from Bonnieres to Rouen; and from Troyes to
Mulhausen.
DILIGENCE.--A conductor is attached to each machine: his proper business
is to take care of the baggage, and this duty he discharges with the
strictest integrity. When the traveller's portmanteau or parcels have
once been consigned to him, every fear with regard to their safety may
be dismissed. He usually presides at the dinner table of the passengers,
and does full justice to what is provided. He accompanies the diligence
through the whole of the journey, and at the close of it expects a
gratuity of four or five francs. The latter sum includes the driver.
Fifteen pounds of luggage are allowed, and twenty-one francs per cent is
charged for the overplus. The usual charges for meals to the passengers
in the diligence are, for dinner 4 fr.; for supper 3-1/2 fr; for
breakfast 3-1/2 fr. The average expense of travelling by the diligence,
including the pour-boire of the coachman and conductor, is about 75
centimes per league. They usually travel about two leagues an hour.
Offices in Paris from which the Tours diligences set out.--Rue du
Bouloy, Nos 9 and 24--Rue N.-D. des Victoires, Nē 22.
On travellers arriving in Paris we would strongly recommend Lawson's
Bedfort hotel N. 323 rue St-Honore and N. 24 rue Rivoli where they will
meet with every attention and English comforts at reasonable charges. It
is situated in the most agreeable part of Paris adjacent to the palace
and garden of the Tuileries. Apartments may be had by the day, week, or
month; breakfasts are served in the coffee-room or in private
apartments, and visitors may dine at the table-d'hote or in their own
rooms. The greatest regularity prevails in forwarding and delivering
letters, parcels, and information of every kind is furnished.
DILIGENCES start every day from Tours, to Paris, Bordeaux, la Rochelle,
Poitiers, Nantes, le Mans, Caen, Chartres, Chinon, Orleans, Laval, and
Mayenne.
The principal hotels in Tours are, the Boule d'Or; the Faisan; Hotel de
Londres; Hotel d'Angleterre; and Saint-Julien.
DISTANCE TABLES.
The following tables have been expressly calculated to give the exact
distance and intermediate distances, with reference to posting between
Havre and Tours, on some of the routes referred to in the Memoranda.
FROM HAVRE TO TOURS, THROUGH ROUEN.
------------------------------------
| M | | | | | | |
| y | K | | F | | | |
| r | i | M | u | Y | | I |
| i | l | i | r | a | F | n |
| a | o | l | l | r | e | c |
| m | m | e | o | d | e | h |
| e | e | s | n | s | t | e |
| t | t | . | g | . | . | s |
| r | r | | s | | | . |
| e | e | | . | | | |
_Havre to_, | . | . | | | | | |
|----------------------------------|
La Botte | 1 | 6 | | | | | |
Lillebonne | 1 | 9 | | | | | |
Caucleber | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
Duclair | 1 | 6 | | | | | |
Rouen | 2 | | 53 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 10-1/3 |
Grande Couronne | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
Bourg Theroulde | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
Brionne | 1 | 8 | | | | | |
Bernay | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
Broglie | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
Monnai | 1 | 6 | | | | | |
Gace | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
Nonant | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
Seez | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
Alencon | 2 | 1 | 90 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 4-1/3 |
Le Mans | 5 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 69 | 1 | 9 |
Tours | 8 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 59 | 2 | 9-1/3 |
|----------------------------------|
|36 | 3 |224 | 4 |171 | 2 | 9 |
------------------------------------
FROM HAVRE TO TOURS, THROUGH HONFLEUR.
_Havre to Honfleur|Myria-|Kilo- |miles.|Furlongs.|Yards.|Feet.|Inches.|
by steam packet, |metre.|metre.| | | | | |
Honfleur to,_ | | | | | | | |
|------|------|------|---------|------|-----|-------|
Pont-Leveque | 1 | 7 | | | | | |
Lisieux | 1 | 7 | | | | | |
Linarot | 1 | 8 | | | | | |
Nimoutier | | 9 | | | | | |
Gace | 1 | 8 | | | | | |
Nonant | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
Seez | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
Alencon | 2 | 1 | 76 | 5 | 181 | 1 | 1-1/3|
Le Mans | 5 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 69 | 1 | 9 |
Tours | 8 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 59 | 2 | 9-1/3|
|______|______|______|_________|______|_____|_______|
| 25 | 5 | 158 | 0 | 80 | 2 | 7-2/3|
FROM HAVRE TO TOURS, THROUGH CAEN.
_Havre to Caen per|Myria-|Kilo- |miles.|Furlongs.|Yards.|Feet.|Inches.|
steam packet,_ |metre.|metre.| | | | | |
|______|______|______|_________|______|_____|_______|
Langannerie | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
Falaise | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
Argentan | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
Seez | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
Alencon | 2 | 1 | 62 | 5 | 131 | 2 | 3-1/3|
La Hutte | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
Beaut-sur-Sarthe | | 9 | | | | | |
Bazoge | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
Le Mans | 1 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 69 | 1 | 9 |
Ecommoy | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
Chateau-du-Loir | 1 | 9 | | | | | |
La Roue | 2 | | | | | | |
Tours | 2 | 1 | 50 | 2 | 59 | 2 | 9-1/3|
|______|______|______|_________|______|_____|_______|
| 23 | 2 | 144 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 9-1/3|
12 Inches, 1 foot.--3 Feet, 1 Yard, 220 Yards 1 Furlong, 8 Furlongs 1
Mile.
TABLES OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH LONG MEASURE.
+----------------------------------+
| K | H | D | | D | C | m |
| i | e | e | | e | e | i |
| l | c | c | m | c | n | l |
| o | t | a | e | i | t | l |
| - | o | - | t | - | i | i |
_English measure_. | m | - | m | r | m | - | - |
| e | m | e | e | e | m | m |
| t | e | t | . | t | e | e |
| r | t | r | | r | t | t |
| e | r | e | | e | r | r |
| . | e | . | | . | e | e |
| | . | | | | . | . |
|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|
One mile | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Do. furlong | | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Do. yard | | | | | 9 | 1 | 5 |
Do. foot | | | | | 3 | 0 | 5 |
Do. inch | | | | | | 2 | 5 |
------------------------------------------------------|
_French_ | _Quantity_. | _English_. |
_measure_. | | |
----- | ----- |-----------------------|
| | | F | | | |
| | m | u | Y | | I |
| | i | r | a | F | n |
| | l | l | r | e | c |
| | e | o | d | e | h |
| | s | n | s | t | e |
| | . | g | . | . | s |
| | | s | | | . |
| | | . | | | |
|----------------|---|---|---|---|------ |
Myria-metre. |10,000 metres. | 6 | 1 |145| 2 |9 |
Kilo-metre. | 1,000 do. | | 4 |212| 1 |9-1/3 |
Hecto-metre. | 100 do. | | |109| 0 |9-1/3 |
Deca-metre. | 10 do. | | | 10| 2 |9-1/3 |
Metre. |Unity of length | | | | 3 |3-1/3 |
Deci-metre. | Tenth part of | | | | |3-15/16|
| a metre. | | | | | |
Centi-metre. | Hundredth | | | | | |
|part of a metre.| | | | | |
Milli-metre. | Thousandth | | | | | |
|part of a metre.| | | | | |
+-----------------------+
On the Loire, the Rhone, the Seine, Garonne, and other large Rivers in
France, steamers called _Coches d'Eau_, are established; the average
expense of which conveyances is about 15 centimes per league.
The _Seine_ has become a favorite route to _Paris_,--by way of Havre,
Honfleur, Rouen, etc.
EXPENSE OF LIVING
IN FRANCE.
The vicinity of Paris is, of course, dearer than other parts of France,
but families in good circumstances, who wish to be near the metropolis,
should fix themselves at Versailles or St.-Germain.
Persons who wish to economize must resort to the banks of the Loire and
Lower Normandy, which are both much frequented by the English, who may
here enjoy the comforts of life at a third less than in one of the
provincial towns of their own country. A still greater reduction of
expense will be found in the retired parts of Brittany, or in the towns
of Saumur and Avranches, where living is one-fourth cheaper than at Caen
or Tours. These situations are, however, inconvenient, as there are
neither good schools nor genteel society.
Rouen, Dieppe, Boulogne, are little cheaper than Paris.
From the following statement, some idea may be formed of the expenses
likely to be incurred by a family, residing in Tours or any of the towns
in the central and Northern parts of France:
RENT. An unfurnished house, of eight or ten rooms, with a garden, may be
had from 30 l. to 50 l. a year.
TAXES. Payable by the tenant, about 5 l. a year.
FUEL. Three fires in winter, and a fire in the kitchen throughout the
year, will cost 25 l. to 30 l. a year. The usual fuel is wood: coals may
be had in some districts. They are in use in Tours, but are expensive;
coke is however to be obtained at more reasonable prices.
MEAT.--Beef, mutton, veal, 4 d. to 5 d.; pork, 5 d. to 6 d. per pound.
POULTRY. Fowls, 1 s. 6 d. to 3 s. the couple; a goose or turkey, from 2
s. to 4 s.
EGGS. About 5 d. a dozen.
BUTTER. Fresh, in summer, from 9 d. to 1 s.
MILK. From 2 d. to 3 d. a quart.
BREAD. Generally very good, about 1-1/2 d. the pound.
FISH. Near the coast, is plentiful and cheap.
GROCERY. Is much the same as in England.
TEA. Is rather cheaper, and sugar rather dearer.
WAGES. A man servant, 10 l. or 12 l. a year; a woman Cook, 8 l. to 12
l.; a house maid, 6 l. to 8 l. A mechanic 2 s. to 2 s. 6 d. per day; a
labourer, 1 s. to 1 s. 3 d.
CLOTHES. Linens and silks cheaper; cottons dearer than in England;
wollen articles dearer.
EDUCATION. Boarding-schools from 25 l. to 35 l. a year including extras.
Board in a Family, with private tuition, boys 50 l. per year; girls from
35 l. to 40 l. Private lessons by the hour, in French, 2 s. to 4 s.; in
music, 2 s. 6 d. to 5 s.
In the south of France wine is much cheaper, but other provisions are
charged much the same as in the north and central parts. The brandy of
the country, may be purchased in Tours for 1 s. 6 d. per bottle, and
_Cognac_ of the best quality for 2 s. 6. d. per bottle.
The _city of Tours_,--which contains upwards of 28,000 inhabitants,--is
at all times most abundantly supplied with the common necessaries and
the luxuries of life. It has two market days, Wednesday and Saturday;
the latter at all seasons presents an extremely animated and bustling
appearance, it being frequented by great numbers of the surrounding
rural population, who bring in vast quantities of marketable commodities
from the adjacent districts. Such as fruit, vegetables, game, fowls,
turkeys, geese, etc.; the latter being supplied in such abundance as to
enable the venders after the ordinary sales of the market, to send off
weekly, considerable quantities to Havre, Rouen, Paris, and other large
towns.
Beef, mutton, and pork is also extremely plentiful and of very superior
quality.
END.
Tours.--Printed by A. Mame and Co.
ERRATA.
(corrected in this etext)
Page 7, _for_ constitued, _read_ constituted.
--15, _for_ continuous, _read_ continued.
--21, _for_ Farehenit, _read_ Fahrenheit.
--77, _for_ Family, _read_ Families.
--94, _for_ Gramina, _read_ Graminaceae.
--119, _for_ thinks, _read_ things.
--136, _for_ Fxt: _read_ Ext:.
--110, _for_ ascending other, _read_ ascending order.
--120, _for_ stalagmitical, _read_ stalactical.
--135, _for_ rhumatism, _read_ rheumatism.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] See the meteorological Register.
[B] See Table of alcoholic strength of wines and liquors. As also the
classification of french wines.
[C] See distance Table.
[D] The _faluns_ may be seen to advantage near _Manthelan_, and
Semblancay.
[E] Claret, from the French _Clairet_, signifying red or rose coloured,
is a manufactured wine, being a mixture of several sorts, often of Beni
Carlos and Bordeaux, and sometimes Hermitage or Alicant with Bordeaux.