THE ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL. 71 



with the new hotel building, and is connected with it by large 

 heavy blinds. It has stone stuccoed columns in front, its prin- 

 cipal rooms are large and well lighted, and admit of more privacy 

 and quiet than most of the rooms in the new building. The 

 dining room occupies all of the first iloor north of the central 

 portion of the hotel, and large windows surround it upon three 

 sides. It has three tiers of tables, and is nnusually light, airy 

 and i^leasant. A refreshing sea-breeze seldom failed to make it 

 agreeably cool in the middle of the hottest days, and in no in- 

 stance while we Avere there was it at night too cool or hot for 

 comfort. Hotel parties, and occasional evening entertainments 

 were given in the dining room, and when its walls were adorned 

 with palmetto leaves, and decorated with English and American 

 Hags, it did not need the gay dance, sweet music and the land- 

 lord's generous and bountiful entertainment to make it attractive 

 even to the mere looker-on. 



The parlors are smaller than those of large hotels at the north, 

 but the climate is so mild the parlors are less frequented. 



The hotel is neatly furnished and Avell ke2)t. The meats, 

 many canned vegetables, and the smaller fruits and other sup- 

 plies for the establishment, are imported from New York. Packed 

 in ice, in large refrigerators, every steamer brings large additions 

 to the landlord's stores. A very superior class of colored waiters, 

 uncommonly intelligent, and etlicient, materially add to the com- 

 fort and happiness of the guests. A gentleman well qualified to 

 judge in such matters expressed to ns the opinion, founded on 

 his personal knowledge, that there is no hotel in the West In- 

 dies equal to the Victoria, though some have cost more money. 



We Avcre informed by some of tlie visitors at Nassau, that this 

 fine hotel has not alwiiys been well kept, and that its patrons 

 have some times fai-ed badly, and been the victims of extortion. 

 With an iucompetent landlord in charge, and no other suitable 



