PREFACE.
The chief object of the Handbook for Northern France,
which now appears for the third time and corresponds with
the sixth French édition, is to render the traveller as nearly
as possible independent ofthe services of guides, commission¬
naires, and innkeepers, and to enable him to employ his time
and his money to the best advantage.
Like the Editor's other Handbooks, it is based on personal
acquaintance with the country described, a great part of
which has been repeatedly explored with the view of assuring
accuracy and freshness of information. The Editor begs to
tender his grateful acknowledgments to travellers who hâve
sent him information for the benefit of the Handbook, and
hopes they will continue to favour him with such communi¬
cations, especially when the resuit of their own expérience.
On the Maps and Plans the utmost care has been bestow-
ed, and it is hoped that they will often be of material service
to the traveller, enabling him at a glance to ascertain his
bearings and sélect the best routes.
A short account of the ordinary approaches to Northern
France for English and American travellers will be found in
the Introduction.
Heights and Distances are given in English measure-
ment. It may, however, be convenient to remember that
1 kilomètre is approximately equal to 5/s Engl. M., or 8 kil.
= 5 M. (nearly). See also p. xxiii.
In the Handbook are enumerated both the first-class hôtels
and those of humbler pretension. The latter may often be
selected by the 'voyageur en garçon' with little sacrifice of
real comfort, and considérable saving of expenditure. Those
which the Editor believes to be most worthy of commenda-
tion, are denoted by asterisks ; but doubtless there are many
of equal excellence among those not so distinguished. It
should, however, be borne in mind that hôtels are liable to
Permalink: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/m7gzd
