elves. Coal has to be imported from
England and Belgium, and is therefore somewhat expensive; but it must be
remembered that the climate, being so mild, does not necessitate so much
being consumed.

Wines and spirits are now, since the imposition of a Duty only a trifle
lower in price than in England, but perhaps of inferior quality. Tobacco
and cigars are ridiculously cheap, but not always nasty, because of
their cheapness. Anyone content to smoke a cigar of fair quality may do
so at a price about fifty per cent. less than in England; but if he is
fastidious in his taste, and requires something superior, such as a
genuine Havanna, he will look for it in vain. Strangely enough he can be
obliged at most cigar dealers with Havanna cigars at Havanna prices, but
as the Customs pass very few of the genuine cigars, it is a mystery
where they all come from. Yet they say smuggling is a thing of the past!
Or do the gentle tradesmen, to discourage smuggling, manufacture their
own _Havannas_? Good tobacco, shag and bird's-eye, may be had at
eighteen pence per pound.

There are several routes to the Islands, the chief being in connection
with our large railways, and are undoubtedly the quickest and most
comfortable. Those fond of the sea may make the trip from London by
steamer any Saturday throughout the summer, a distance of nearly three
hundred miles for about a sovereign for the return journey. Another
route, for Cornish people, is from Falmouth. From Plymouth west of
England residents can take passage by a comfortable steamer any Friday,
which covers the distance to Jersey in about ten hours. The route from
Southampton is a favourite one, as although not the shortest sea route,
it is within such a small railway journey of London as to be reached in
about a couple of hours. The distance by water by this route (one
hundred and fifteen miles) does not apparently compare favourably with
the eighty miles from Weymouth to Guernsey; but it must be remembered
that the trip down the Southampton Water and along the shore of the Isle
of Wight, till the Needles are passed, is all smooth sailing. The actual
distance on the open sea is therefore not very much further than by the
Weymouth route.

The steamers which, by the by, carry the mails to the Channel Isles, are
very large and powerfully-built vessels, fitted with every modern
appliance for the comfort of travellers. The London and South-Western
Railway may also be congratulated on