presence of a suitable witness. No one can object to this, and it may prevent misunderstanding and difficulty. The charges at the different lodging-houses, boardinghouses, and hotels, vary very much of course. At the largest and best hotels of the principal cities, the price is two dollars a day, say eight shillings sterling, which includes four meals, lodging, and servants' fees. There is a class of hotels very nicely kept, and of great respectability, at which the charges are about one dollar and-a-half a day. There are others, very respectable too, at one dollar a day, including meals, lodging, and servants' fees. There are comfortable lodging-houses and inns, where the charge is two dollars and-a-half a week, including three meals a day and lodging. At these places the charge for a single meal, and a very good one too, is from twelve to twenty-five cents; lodging for a single night, from twelve to twenty-five cents. Those who wish to be very economical, and who are not very particular as to style, can get good meals at twelve and-a-half cents each; lodging for twelve and-a-half cents a night. This class of houses are respectable and comfortable, very often as much so as where higher prices are charged. It is necessary, however, to know which of them are really good. Any of the societies, or respectable passengeragents, will inform the emigrant on this point. It is important in making a bargain for board and lodging, to have it expressly understood that, there is to be no further charge for storing the emigrant's luggage. Disreputable inn-keepers often give their lodgers a great deal of trouble in this particular. Their charge for board and lodging seems reasonable enough; but their charge for storage is sometimes exorbitant; perhaps a dollar or two for a single night. The lodger usually pays his bill just before he is ready to leave the city, and he has no time to contest the shameful extortion. He pays it rather than be detained. We repeat, therefore, that these bargains should all be made beforehand, and made with great minuteness. WASHING in the United States is higher than in the old country, averaging say five cents (2 1-2 d. sterling) for each piece, large and small. Provisions in the New-York market in May, 1844, were at the following prices, at retail, from the butchers' stalls and markets. In the sea-port towns generally, these are about the prices for provisions; although they are a shade lower in many of them. In the interior towns they are less, of course. |