48 A PEEP AT 



colored glass, in the centre of the dome of the great 

 hall ; and a more splendid crown to the noble edifice 

 cannot be imagined, for it seems to be composed of 

 every brilliant that the richest fancy could conceive. 

 The centre of the basement story is occupied by the 

 Post Office, and is thirty-six by ninety-nine feet. It 

 has entrances from State, Congress and Lindall 

 streets, through a spacious lobby of twenty by eighty 

 feet. This story has a vaulted ceiling, which supports 

 the principal floor, and is entirely fire-proof, the win- 

 dows being provided with wrought iron shutters 

 of superior construction. The total cost of the 

 building, exclusive of land, was $175,000." 



Boston is well supplied with large and elegant 

 hotels. Amongst the principal are the Revere House, 

 Tremont House, Adams House, and United States 

 Hotel, each containing from 150 to about 400 rooms. 

 Frequently in front of these hotels are to be seen a 

 line of boarders, sitting in the true Yankee fashion, 

 with their legs thrown either across the arms of the 

 chair upon which they sit, or the back of another 

 chair, puffing a cigar. At the Marlboro' Hotel for 

 the first time I saw the celebrated and world-renowned 

 American philanthropist, Elihu Burritt, Esq., A. M., 

 who from that hour became my most intimate and 



