Guernsey directory, 1834

The intention of this Guide to Guernsey is to present to the Stranger the state of things generally, as they now exist, by following up, in detail, the changes which may, from time to time, have taken place.

Most of the Guides already published have been egre- giously deficient in this, and have, in many respects, be- come a complete nullity.

The object of this Guide is to embrace the ancient and modern history of the island, its climate, laws, customs, public buildings, state of literature, amusements, trade, commerce, manufactures ; the antiquities, geology, mine- ralogy and conchology ; together with a complete com- mercial directory.

Besides the information received from many private sources, the publisher has to acknowledge the valuable information gleaned from the following compilations, viz. Dicey's and Jeremy's Histories, Jacob's Annals, together with that excellent essay on the island, by Dr. McCulloch, to which works we refer our readers for more detailed

General view of Guernsey; its situation,, extent, page

Chapter II. Civil History of Guernsey 7

Chapter III. Ecclesiastical History ; 23

Chapter IV. Customs, Laws and Government 27

Chapter VI.

Mineralogy of Guernsey 35

Conchology, &c, on the Shells, Corals and Sea Plants of the Channel Islands 39

Chapter VII.

Horticulture and Floriculture 52

Public Authorities 59

Chapter VIII. Parish of St. Peter-Port, and its various institutions. 63

Chapter IX. Brief description of the Parishes of St. Sampson, Vale and Catel 102

Brief description of the Parishes of St. Saviour, Forest and Torteval 116

Chapter XI. Brief description of the Parishes of St. Peter-in-the- Wood, St. Martin and St. Andrew 120

Chapter XII. King's Revenue, Guernsey Weights and Measures, States Dues on Shipping, Prices of Provisions, &c. 124

Chapter XIII. De Jardins excursion to Naples in search of a stud. 129

Chapter XIV, Commercial Directory 135

" Prospects, however lovely, may be seen, Till half their beauties fade ; the wearied eye, (Too well acquainted with their charms) slides off Fastidious, seeking less familiar scenes.

Then snug enclosures in some shelter'd spot Where frequent hedges intercept the eye, Delight us, happy to renounce awhile, (Not senseless of its charms,) what still we love, That such short absence may endear it more."

General View of Guernsey its Situation, Extent,

Guernsey is situated in the English Channel, not far from the coasts of Britanny and Normandy ; being twenty-six miles in a direct line from the nearest point of the French longitude of the meridian of Greenwich. Its computed dis- tances to the following places, calculating from harbour to harbour, must form a desideratum to the reader : Wey- mouth, seventy-five miles -, Lyme and Poole, eighty ; Southampton and Portsmouth, one hundred and twenty 5 Brighton, one hundred and forty ; Dover, two hundred 5 Brixham, seventy-five; Plymouth, ninety; Falmouth, one hundred and twenty ; Alderney, twenty-one 3 Sark, eight ; Jersey, twenty-eight ; St. Malo and Granville, sixty ; Cherbourg, forty-five ; Havre-de-Grace, one hun- dred and thirty ; and Cape La Hague, thirty.

The island lies in the bay of Mount St. Michael. As rocks of granite, with which it is chiefly formed, are very numerous between Guernsey and the continent, it is pro- bable that once it was a nearer connection. The depth of water around it, is generally from thirty to forty fathoms ; and the navigation, for a stranger, is both difficult and

The circumference of the island is about thirty miles -, its extreme length, nine, and breadth, six ; and, accord- ing to a late survey made by Mr. Goodwin, it contains thirty-eight thousand four hundred and twenty-two ver- gees, or about fifteen thousand five hundred and fifty-nine English acres j and, by the census last taken in 1831, there are in the island twenty-four thousand three hundred and forty-nine persons.

It appears from history, that the Roman emperor, Au- gustus, appointed a governor over Guernsey, seventeen years before the birth of Christ $ but, still, it continued rude and uncultivated for more than nine centuries after this period, although the land, especially on the lower parts of the island, is particularly rich and fertile, and even to the very edge of the cliffs produces fine pasture for sheep. The soil is so excellent, that it never lies to fallow j the manure which the farmer employs is principally sea- weed, which renders the ground very fruitful ; so that in five seasons, he has two crops of wheat, one of barley, one of parsnips, and one of clover. When they reap wheat, they place a hundred or more sheaves together, iu a spiral form, with one inverted at the top, to keep the others dry ; the barley is not mown, as in England, but pulled up by the

The farms are generally very small, so that but few persons grow more corn than they need for their own consumption ; the farmers cultivate great quantities of parsnips for their cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses : this root

comes to great perfection, as the soil is extremely suitable for its cultivation.

Few farmers keep more than three or four horses, as all who reside in a district help each other ; thus the land is very easily cultivated. Pigs are very numerous ; and their meat is delicious eating, much sweeter than the pro- duction of any particular county in England. Few sheep are fattened in the island, and those are very inferior to the English.

The Norman cows are proverbial for their excellence ; their milk, it is said, is so rich, that it is unnecessary it should stand to produce cream 5 sometimes it is churned just as taken from the cow. The butter is delicious for its flavour, and finely coloured by nature : the superiority of the Guernsey butter is acknowledged in markets at Portsmouth, Southampton, Plymouth and Weymouth, by usually selling at a higher price than any other country

Timber is neither lofty nor plentiful ; the hedges are generally broad, chiefly composed of furze, planted on elevated banks of green sward ; however, there are many other fences in the island, of stones, formed into walls, which do not occupy half the ground of those otherwise composed. Most fruits are produced in great abundance, especially apples, from which great quantities of cider are made, and form one of the most important branches of production to the farmer. The island is well watered with springs and rivulets, and the water is remarkably pure. Though there are many in Jersey, it is affirmed, that snakes, adders, vipers or toads, do not exist in the island of Guernsey. Most of the British birds, that are to be found in England, except the nightingale, are also here 5 but neither partridges, pheasants, hares, nor any game, excepting woodcocks, snipes, and rabbits, if the latter may be thus denominated.

The winters are so mild, that an intense degree of frost is unknown ; and snow rarely lies for many hours. Very high westerly winds are often experienced here ; and though the sun is very powerful in summer, his rays are so tempered by sea breezes, that the heat is never oppressive.

The island is one of the principal army depots, with barracks for the accommodation of five thousand men. The militia of the island is composed of four regularly formed regiments of infantry, besides a regiment of artil- lery. Every male is enrolled, trained, clothed, and pro- perly accoutred, and called out occasionally for exercise. In time of war, each man in rotation is obliged to mount nightly guards, at the different batteries round the island. This militia force has a very warlike and formidable ap- pearance ; in point of discipline it is very respectable ; so that when sir John Doyle was lieutenant governor of Guernsey, he pleasantly remarked, " That if they would not surprise their enemies, they certainly very much sur-

Guernsey is generally destitute of woodland scenery, and of rivers, so important to constitute fine landscapes ; yet some of its bays are beautiful, especially Fermain Bay, Petit Bo, Moulin Huet, and the village of the King's Mills. This is embosomed with hills, except the west, where it opens to the sea, and presents to the eye the deep valley which leads to St. Andrew's church : the scenery of St. Andrew's and of St. Martin's is also admirable.

In the vernal season, the whole face of the island is clothed in the richest verdure : the blossoms of the nume- rous orchards, which, in part, supply the wTant of wood- land scenery, are beautiful beyond description, and enrich the landscape, in which vegetation is very luxuriant. The minute division of property gives support to a greater number of persons than may be supposed, who exist on a slender mediocrity. A custom here, as well as in Jersey

prevails : most cottages and farm-houses have in one cor- ner of the common sitting-room, what is called a green bed, raised about eighteen inches from the ground, and covered with dry fern, or pea haum, which is used as a common lounging place. The old Norman French, somewhat cor- rupted, is spoken by all ranks, although English, in the town parish, is heard as common or more so than the na- tive tongue 3 yet, in the country, it is impurely spoken, and then with a peculiarity of pronunciation.

Conveyances to the island are numerous, both from France and England ; during the summer months, they are almost daily. The following is a correct list :

Weymouth. - His Majesty's steam-packets Flamer, cap- tain Frederick White ; Watersprite, captain Robert White 5 and Ivanhoe, captain Comben, alternately leave Wey- mouth for Guernsey and Jersey, every Wednesday and Saturday evening, and return every Tuesday and Saturday morning. - Rates of passage money, to and from Wey- mouth, Guernsey and Jersey: cabin passengers, each twenty-one shillings ; female servants, each fifteen shillings; male ditto, twelve shillings and sixpence ; labourers, work- ing mechanics, or servants out of place, each ten shillings ; soldiers or sailors, not on duty, each five shillings ; pau- pers, with a pass, each seven shillings and sixpence ; chil- dren under ten years of age, to be charged half the rates paid by their parents : carriages with four wheels, each three pounds j with two wheels, thirty shillings ; horses, thirty shillings ; dogs, with owners, two shillings and six- pence ; ditto, without, five shillings 3 parcels of or under thirty pounds weight, two shillings and sixpence 3 ditto, above thirty pounds, one penny per pound ; cash or bul- lion, one and a half per cent. - Between Guernsey and Jersey : cabin passengers, five shillings each 3 deck passen- gers, two shillings and sixpence. The above rates to be

paid in British sterling, and the freight of all parcels to be paid for at the time they are received on board.

Southampton. - Ariadne, steam packet, capt. Bazin, leaves the port of Southampton, for Guernsey and Jersey, after the arrival of the London and other coaches, every Tuesday evening, at six o'clock, and returns every Friday, and arrives at Southampton, in time for the London coaches, every Saturday, and conveys passengers and merchandize. Fares to and from Southampton : main cabin, thirty shillings j fore cabin, eighteen shillings ; deck, ten shillings and sixpence ; freight, sixpence per cubit foot. Agents : Mr. Nicholas Peter Maingy, Burnt Lane, Guernsey ; and Mr. Le Feuvre, Southampton.

Lord Beresford, steam packet, capt. Young, leaves Southampton, for Guernsey and Jersey, every Friday eve- ning, at six o'clock, after the arrival of the London and other coaches, and returns every Tuesday, arriving at Southampton on Wednesday morning, in time for the London and other coaches ; conveys passengers and mer- chandize. Fares to and from Southampton : main cabin, thirty shillings ; fore cabin, eighteen shillings ; deck, ten shillings and sixpence. Agents : Mr. Clark, High- Street, Southampton ; Mr. M. Barbet, High-street, Guernsey.

N. B. - His Majesty's post-office packets run the whole of the year, from Weymouth ; but the Ariadne and Lord Beresford, only during the summer season, or from the commencement of April to the beginning of No- vember. There are also other vessels from South- ampton, although not steamers, that go the whole year, and are admirably fitted up for passengers. The Wy- vern, capt. Lihou j yEoIus, Priaulx ; and Nelson,

Portsmouth. - From this place is a commodious cutter, the Alfred, capt. Meades.

Plymouth and Guernsey, - During the summer months, we are visited, every Friday, by the steam vessel Sir Fran-

and also by the well-known schooner Horatio, capt. Green, many years conducted by the owner, capt. Tozer, which sails to and fro weekly, with passengers and goods.

Brixham and Guernsey. - t Two Brothers, Sprague ; Thomas and Susanna, Dickers j and Dove, Hannaford.

Lyme. - Friendship, capt. Shean.

Bristol. - Vigilant, capt. Small, and Prince of Bouillon,

Jersey. - Peggy, Perchard ; Diana, Pipet ; and Hora- tio, Fidget.

Alderney. - Experiment, LeCocq ; Frederick, Kellaway ; and Mermaid, Gauvain.

St. Malo. - Mary Ann, Darthenay ; L' Argus, Martin ; and Auguste, Jean. - Besides these vessels, the Ariadne and Lord Beresford, during the summer months, proceed alternately, every fortnight, to St. Malo and Granville.

Cherbourg. - Mars, Valogne 5 and Alerte, Fortin.

Civil History of the Island of Guernsey.

In the year 887, when an immense fleet of Norman pi- rates sailed up the Seine, and filled the kingdom of France with terror, Charles Le Gros made a treaty with them, by which he assigned over to their dominion the province of Neustria, in which they settled, and called it Normandy. Charles the Simple, in the year 892, confirmed this grant, and gave to Rollo, the chief of the invaders of his coun- try, his daughter in marriage, to bind him to his in- terest. From this period, Guernsey, as well as the neigh- bouring islands, were regarded as belonging to the dukes of Normandy. The sway of Rollo was so equitable, that,

we are told, it became, in course of time, an established custom, that if a person found his neighbour infringing on property, or doing any violence which required immediate relief, he cried, " In the name of Rollo, I order you to de- sist," an appeal which is still respected in Normandy, and in the islands of Guernsey and Jersey. The French histo- rians mention Rollo as a pattern of every excellence, and as not being at all inferior to the immortal Alfred, who, about the same time, sat on the English throne. He died in 917, greatly revered and regretted ; and was succeeded by his son William, the second duke of Normandy, who was waylaid and massacred in 942, when at war with Arnoul, the earl of Flanders.

Richard the First, who was only three years of age when his father was killed, though he was constantly at- tacked by four kings of France in succession, preserved his ducal sovereignty for fifty- four years. In his reign the monastery of the Vale, in Guernsey, was founded, by some fugitive ecclesiastics, who were displeased by his curtailment of their revenues, in the year 962. This was the commencement of the first colony in the island of Guernsey.

Richard the Second, surnamed Le Bon, succeeded his Third, took possession of his dignity 5 he expired sud- succeeded by his brother Robert. To support the claims of his two cousins, Alfred and Edward, to the throne of England, he fitted out a considerable armament against Canute, with an intention to land on the coast of Sussex. The day after he sailed from the Norman coast, a violent tempest arose, his whole fleet was dispersed, and many of his vessels were entirely lost. About twenty were saved, in one of which was the duke Robert, and they were pi- loted, by a fisherman, into a bay on the north side of the

Vale, in Guernsey. Robert came on shore, and was re- ceived with the greatest hospitality and respect by the abbot of St. Michael. As the stormy weather continued, he took a general view of the island, which was in a rude and uncultivated state. He determined to improve this part of his domain, perceiving that it was of importance, considered merely as affording a secure shelter for vessels in distress. He gave to the abbot and to his successors, all the lands within the close of the Vale, by the title of the fief, or manor of St. Michael, with leave to extend their territory towards the north-west of the island, when- ever they could find settlers to cultivate the land, as a re- ward for his hospitality. To recompense the islanders who had brought the remains of his fleet safely to anchor, he left two of his ablest engineers, with skilful workmen, to finish the castle of St. Michael, in the Vale, as a place of protection against the pirates and freebooters, who often landed and plundered them. The place where the duke's fleet lay, is still called l'Ancresse, or the anchoring place, to perpetuate the remembrance of the fact.

The artizans left by Robert, not only finished the work assigned them, but built two other fortifications : those of the Castle des Marais, or Marsh Castle, and of Jerbourg, so called, after the name of the individual who built it. Part of the former, about a mile north of St. Peter's Port, remains to the present day ; but the latter is entirely gone to ruin. Des Marais appears to have had a double moat, and a wall ; but much of the ground on which it formerly stood is converted into a garden, for the governor. It is now called Ivy Castle, from the large quantity of this fine evergreen, which everywhere overspreads its crumbling walls. The site of the castle of Jerbourg is suppose^ to have been once a Roman station, as there are still three distinct entrenchments visible, the one within the-other, according to the method of fortification adopted by that distinguished people.

In the reign of Edward the Third, these castles were deemed impregnable, and they were sufficiently spacious to include all the inhabitants in the island, with their cat- tle and other effects.

The ruins of Vale Castle show it must have been a for- tress of great strength, and of vast importance, before the invention of gunpowder. Scarcely any thing remains of it but the outer wall of the old building. Within its range barracks have been erected, and the ramparts are now fortified with cannon.

The island having been thus rendered more secure from its piratical invaders, many persons came from Nor- mandy, and the lands in the close of the Vale were soon brought into tillage. A court was also established, ac- cording to the power which Robert had given to the abbot of St. Michael, for deciding all causes, both of a civil and criminal nature.

Robert was one of the first sovereigns who became in- fected with the mania of the crusades. He determined to go in person to the Holy Land, on this pious warfare. In order to ensure success, he made large grants of land in the island, to different ecclesiastics, who erected on them various monasteries and priories. Having, in an assembly of his nobles, procured the recognition of his illegitimate son, William, then a youth of ten years of age, as his suc- cessor, he set out on this wild expedition, from which he

After many difficulties, William, generally termed the Conqueror, succeeded his father to his ducal sovereignty. About this period, a new race of pirates issued forth from the bay of Rivals ; they often landed at Guernsey, and committed very great depredations. Towards the eleventh century, they built a castle in the centre of the island, on the very spot on which Catel church now stands : the inhabitants, who were greatly annoyed by these hostile

bands, applied to William for aid, who sent a detachment of troops, under the command of his esquire, Sampson d'Anneville. Many of the freebooters were slain, and the rest of them were happy to escape with their lives, leaving all their plunder behind them. William, as a reward for his services, granted him a fourth part of the island ; so that he and the abbot of St. Michael had one half of it.

William made various grants of land also, to other Norman gentlemen ; the remainder, the duke reserved for himself, and appointed an officer to parcel it out ; to let it on lease ; and to receive the rents. From the in- flence of the new ecclesiastical institutions, and from these recent grants of territory to distinguished individuals, so many emigrants came over from the continent, that nearly the whole of the island was soon brought into cultivation.

After William had made the conquest of England, the Norman isles became an appendage to the British crown, to which they continue united to this day. This monarch died in Normandy, in 1087. William the Second, the eighth duke of Normandy, succeeded his father in 1 1 00. Henry the First took the ducal crown, in connexion with that of England ; Stephen succeeded him in 1 135 3 Henry then John, in 1199, (who was the thirteenth and last duke of Normandy) took the sovereignty; and though his possessions on the continent cast off his dominion, these isles retained their allegiance. Though twice at- tacked, during his reign, by the French, the inhabitants repulsed them ; and John was so much alarmed, lest he should be dispossessed of the only part of his duchy which remained faithful to him, that he flew to the as- sistance of the islanders : he examined and repaired all their fortifications, and appointed keepers of the ports and harbours, to give first notice of any invading foe. He enacted a code of laws, which has been called the

Constitution of King John, and the Magna Charta of the Norman Isles.

In the reign of Edward the First, the French monarch, having gained the whole of Normandy by treaty, in the year 1298, regarded the adjacent isles with an envious eye. He therefore invaded them, and took Castle Cornet 5 but his troops were ultimately repulsed with great loss. Ed- ward provided for the widows and orphans of his brave subjects who fell in the contest, and rewarded those who had signalised themselves by their valour ; he also granted to the islands the use of a public seal ; he likewise gave authority for raising a small duty on all vessels coming to the island, for the erection of a pier, though the work was not begun till the reign of Elizabeth.

In the reign of Edward the Second, the English courts, regardless of the constitution of the Norman islands, sent to them judges of assize. Many of the inhabitants, to their manifold disadvantage, who had differences, were summoned to appear at Westminster. Edward the Third, however, on a petition being presented to him, relieved the isles from this hardship and expense.

In the twelfth year of this monarch's reign, the French invaded Britain ; they took and plundered Southampton - and Guernsey and Jersey were treated in a similar way. Both of these islands were taken, after a brave resistance. Guernsey continued in the hands of the enemy for some time j but a fleet sent from England recaptured it.

It is affirmed, that a person named Ivans, entrusted with the command of the French fleet, took Guernsey, after a considerable opposition, in which four hundred of the islanders were slain : it was, however, again rescued from the dominion of the foe, by eighty ships from Eng- land ; but five hundred men, with the governor, Ralph Holland, perished in the conflict. There is a spot of ground in the New Town, which is called La Bataille, on

which, it is said, one of these bloody conflicts took place. The parliament of England presented a memorial to the king, on the necessity of keeping up a fleet at sea, for the protection of his dominions, which was accordingly done. Edward also granted a charter to Guernsey : the original document is lost, but the substance of it is incor- porated in that of Henry the Sixth. Richard the Second, likewise the successor of Edward, granted a charter to the Norman isles, in the eighteenth of his reign, in the year 1 394, in which, for their loyalty and good behaviour, he en- larged the privileges of the inhabitants. Queen Margaret, in her contests for empire, sought the aid of Peter de Breze, grand senechal of Normandy : she promised him, as a re- compense, the perpetual sovereignty of the Norman isles. He accordingly raised a body of two thousand men, for the succour of her cause, in England. At the same time, he sent an officer named Surdeval, with a suitable force, to take possession of Jersey. Mount Orgueil castle was given up to them, by its commandant, who was devoted to the interests of the queen. On the success of the English expedition, Peter de Breze came himself to Jersey, and assumed the title of lord of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, and the other islands adjoining. He could not, however, reduce more than one half of the island to his control, though he employed efforts of every kind during six years ; Philip de Carteret, seigneur de St. Ouen, se- cured Gronez castle, and carried on a perpetual warfare against the invaders. Edward the Fourth closed this con- test, by sending a squadron of ships, under the command of sir Richard Harliston ; he expelled the enemy, and was rewarded with the government of the island. Many of the inhabitants of Guernsey engaged in this expedition ; and, since this period, the laurel has been taken as a crest to the arms of the island. Edward, in the fifth year of his reign, granted a charter to Guernsey, which confirmed the

liberties granted to it by former documents of this kind. Richard the Third, also, in the first year of his usurpation, gave a similar indulgence to the inhabitants.

Henry the Eighth gave four charters to the island of Guernsey. In the reign of Edward the Sixth, the French monarch sent one Strozzi, with a fleet, to reduce the Norman isles under his sway : he had two thousand men under his command. Captain William Winter, however, with an English fleet, and about eight hundred men, at- tacked the forces of the enemy with so much skill and bravery, that they were entirely defeated, leaving many of their vessels in the hands of the English, and having lost about a thousand men.

Edward the Sixth granted, under the grand seal, liberty to export certain articles of provision from Southampton, Poole, Lyme, Weymouth, Topsham, Dartmouth, and Plymouth, for the use of Guernsey and Castle Cornet. Queen Mary also granted two charters to this island.

Queen Elizabeth ordered all the fortifications of the Norman isles to be repaired and strengthened ; she also granted several charters to Guernsey. In her reign, the pier, which had been projected in the time of Edward the Sixth, was commenced.

In 1563, queen Elizabeth founded a free grammar school in Guernsey, for boys natives of the island I the charity was endowed with certain lands, which produced about three hundred pounds per annum, and the governor has the appointment of the master.

James the First gave a charter to Guernsey ; he sent commissioners to Guernsey and Jersey to reform and amend the laws, the misconstruction of which had caused much dispute. The decisions of these persons are still a part of the constitution of this portion of his majesty's

Charles the First, as the French threatened an invasion

of these islands, sent the earl of Danby, the governor of Jersey, with reinforcements and supplies, which happily were not needed, as the enemy relinquished their hostile design. Dr. Heylin, who made a survey of these islands, accompanied the earl, as his chaplain.

It is said, that lord Jermyn had engaged to deliver up both Guernsey and Jersey to the king of France, in 1646, for a reward of two hundred thousand pistoles, and a dukedom ; but the plot was defeated.

During the troubles, in the reign of Charles the First, the islanders warmly espoused the cause of the monarch, and were certainly among his most determined, zealous, and efficient supporters. They fitted out a number of cruisers, which greatly annoyed the English commerce ; on which account a formidable force was sent out against them by the commonwealth. Guernsey was obliged, after a very vigorous resistance, to submit to the govern- ment of the enemies of Charles.

This was likewise the case with Jersey. It is affirmed, that, during the protectorate, the established religion was trampled under foot ; that the soldiery turned the churches into guard-houses and stables ; that compositions for es- tates were exacted, and every kind of oppression licensed without restraint. Times of conflict between parties, which are equally violent, have ever been, more or less, of lawless depredation.

Castle Cornet, which stands on a rock to the south- east of the pier, and commands both the little and great russels, and the roads, is a strong fortification of powerful batteries. It may, however, at spring tides, be approached on foot. This fortress endured a long and vigorous seige, in the afflictive contest which took place between Charles the First and his parliament. Sir Peter Osborne, the lieutenant-governor of Guernsey, kept possession of the castle for the king, for a considerable period, though the

town and the island were under the government of the

The management of the affairs of the island was regu- lated by the following document :

' By vertue of an ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, we do constitute and appoint Mr. Peter de Beauvoir, des Granges, Mr. James Havilland, Mr. John de Quetteville, junr., Mr. Peter Carey, junr., Mr. Josue Gosselin, Mr. James Le Marchant, Mr. Eleazar Le Marchant, Mr. Thomas Dobree, Mr. Henry De La March, Mr. Peter Beauvoir, du Bosch, Mr. John Renouf, Mr. Andrew Monamy, or any six or more or them, to command and govern the island of Guernezey, and the castle there, as likewise the two adjacent isles of Alderney and Sarke, belonging there- unto ; and to execute all authority and power necessary for the defence, government, and custodie of the said island, and to the use of the King's Majesty and the Kingdom of England, according to the laws and customs in force in that island, and according to the instructionshereunto annexed ; strictly charging and requiring the bailiff, and all other officers in that Island, as likewise all cap- tains, commanders of forts or ships, and all other of His Majesty's officers and loving subjects, there residing, or which shall reside in, or repair to the said island of Guernezey, to be obedient, aiding and assisting to the said Mr. Peter Beauvoir and the rest afore- named, in the execution of this commission, and for their so doing this shall be their sufficient warrant.

" Gilb. Gerard.

" Henry Marten.

"1. - You shall seize upon the person of Peter Osborne, knight, deputy governor of the island of Guernezey, and upon the castle now in his custodie ; and you shall send him in safe custodie to the parliament, to answer such offences, contempts, and other misde- meanours, as shall be objected against him.

" 2. - You shall take into your custodie, by inventory, all money, plate, and other goods belonging to the said sir Peter Osborne, and keep the same till further directions be given by this committee or the parliament.

"3. - You shall appoint one or more captain and commander-in- chief, and other subordinate officers, over all the trayn'd bands of the said island, who shall lead, conduct, and exercise the soldiers, according to the discipline of war.

" 4. - You shall, by force of arms, take into your possession, the castle, and fig^ht with, kill, and slaye, all that shall make any resis- tance to you in the execution of this commission ; and shall keep the same castle to the use of the king and kingdom of England.

" 5. - You shall oppose and suppress all forces which shall arrive in the same island, without authority and consent of both houses of parliament.

" 6. - You shall further aid and assist all the ships which shall be sent, by authority of both houses of parliament, for the deffence of the said island, and guarding of the seas, and protection of his majesty's good subjects in those parts.

" 7. - You shall seize upon the persons and estates of all such as stand in defence of the said sir Peter Osborne, and all others that have or shall make warr against the parliament.

"8. You shall collect the rents, and other profits belonging to the governour of the said island ; and shall employ the same in the deffence thereof, and other publick charge.

" 9. - You shall seize upon all ships, barks, and all goods and pro- visions, which shall be employ'd for relief of the said castle, island, or fort, being in actual warr against parliament, or who have any way ayded and assisted those which are in such actual warr.

" 10. - You shall, from time to time, advertise both houses of parliament, or this committee, of your proceedings herein, and execute such further instructions as you shall receive from them.

" 11. - You shall grant and dispose all such licences for transport- ing any commodities for the relief and supply of that island, out of the kingdom of England, as by law are warranted, in such manner as shall stand with justice and due respect to the good of the said island, and the inhabitants thereof.

44 Gilb. Gerard. 44 Henry Marten."

So far from being able to arrest sir Peter Osborne, a captain Bowden, pretending illness, invited the commis- sioners on board his vessel, to consult with them, and de- tained three, who obeyed his invitation, as prisoners, and committed them to his custody : these were Peter de Beauvoir, des Granges, James de Havilland, and Peter Carey. They were put into a dungeon of the castle ; but, happily for them, they escaped to the town, when the tide had ebbed, on the very day that reinforcements had ar- rived from the king to the castle, and a warrant also to execute them as traitors.

This fortress, being surrounded on every side with a powerful force, was obliged to capitulate, for want of pro- visions ; but the garrison was allowed a safe conduct, and a handsome sum of money for their necessities.

The island had hardly got peacefully settled, after this troublesome period, before it was in danger, from a plot

of the French to surprise it, in the year 1665, from which it was happily delivered by the lady of marshal Turenne, a zealous protestant and a resident in Guernsey. She gave secret information of the designs, to the reverend Daniel Brevint, a Jersey divine, who was afterwards pre- bendary of Durham, and dean of Lincoln. In conse- quence of this, sir Thomas Morgan was sent over with reinforcements, and the enemy relinquished their purpose.

Charles the Second, in 1669, confirmed the charter which his father had given to the island.

In 1672, a magazine exploded, in consequence of an electric shock which destroyed a considerable part of Castle Cornet. It was at that time the residence of the governor, lord viscount Hatton. It appears that dowager lady Hat- ton, who was in the upper part of the castle, called the new buildings, was killed by the falling in of the ceiling of her apartment. Lady Hatton, the wife of the governor, and daughter of the earl of Thanet, being greatly terrified at the thunder and lightning, had fled to her children in the nursery, and was likewise destroyed, with her waiting women and the nurse, the latter of whom was found dead, with his lordship's second daughter in her arms unhurt, though it is related, that the child held in her hands a silver cup, her usual play-thing, which was much battered and bruised. The youngest child, who lay in a cradle al- most filled with rubbish, was likewise miraculously saved, without the least injury, though the nurse was killed with the elder child in one arm, and her hand on the cradle of the other. Besides these, an ensign Covert, Mr. W. Prale (lord H.'s steward), and several other persons, lost their lives ; but the most marvellous part of the story is his lordship's preservation, who, it is stated, was fast asleep at the time, and by the explosion, was carried away in his bed, unhurt, to the battlements of a wall, washed by the sea, between rugged precipices, nearly adjoining to the spot

where his house stood ; and, what is still more extraordi- nary, it is averred to be a fact, that his lordship did not awake till a shower of hail stones, that fell on his face, roused him from his sound repose ! ! He was then conveyed by two black servants to the guard-room of the castle, in a state of anxiety for the safety of his family, more easily conceived than described ; but their melancholy fate could not be ascertained till daylight, when the shocking spec- tacle presented itself, which has already been related. A lieutenant of a company of foot, whose apartment was under that of his lordship, was forced by the shock into an entry beneath, and escaped uninjured. Lord Hatton's two sisters, an ensign belonging to his lordship's company, and his wife, with several other persons occupying apartments in the upper buildings, were also providentially saved. A large beam, it is said, fell between lord Hatton's two sis- ters, who were before together, and completely separated them 5 from which perilous situation they were rescued, with little hurt, though it was necessary to cut a hole in a party wall for the purpose. None of the others were se- riously injured, though their rooms fell in, and they were nearly buried in their beds by the rubbish.

James the Second, wishing to introduce the catholic religion into Guernsey, sent over some catholic soldiers, with a priest to celebrate the mass. A chapel was built for their use ; a roman catholic gentleman was also made governor ; but all his plans were frustrated by the succes sion of William and Mary to the crown of England. As soon as this information reached the island, a scheme, which was very successful, was planned, to disarm the catholic soldiers and to seize on the castle. During the reign of William, as England was at war with France, the Norman isles were in a state of constant agitation ; but the distinguished naval victory off La Hague, in 1 692, dissipated the fears of the inhabitants. The privateers of

Guernsey, during the reign of king William and queen Anne, captured at least fifteen hundred prizes.

In the year 1 765, his royal highness the duke of Gloucester being on an aquatic excursion, in one of his majesty's brigs, was becalmed, and, at night, put into Guernsey, where he met with a gentleman of the name of Guille, the master of a merchant ship, and inquired after the residence of the lieutenant-governor. The captain, thinking it too late, reluctantly escorted him to sir John Milne, who then filled the situation, residing at the Tour Beauregard. On their approaching the door, the sentry informed them " that sir John was in bed, and must not be disturbed." His royal highness, much amused, argued for a short time, and at length, after some entreaty, the sentry suffered the governor to be called up. On his excellency's becoming ac- quainted with the rank of his guest, he, with a thousand apologies, informed him that he had no bed fit for his recep- tion. The duke found suitable apartments, and remained, during his stay in the island, at the house of the father of our present much respected lord de Saumarez, where every attention was paid him. The following morning the militia paraded, the bells rang, and the town was illuminated in the evening. Shortly after, his royal highness left the is- land, fully satisfied with the cordiality of his reception.

About the year 1776, a dysentery, or bloody flux, broke out in a regiment of highlanders quartered here. The corps was nearly destroyed, and the malady, spreading in the neighbouring parishes of St. Martin and St. Andrew, made considerable ravages. It is reported that there were only twenty fathers of families left at the former, and eight at the latter parish. The land between Fort George, and the house occupied, during the war, by major-general Gledstanes, was converted into a military burial ground, and filled with dead.

In 1781, in course of the American war, the islanders

were for some time under serious alarm. Many a gallant engagement was fought by the men of war on the station ; and Jersey was twice attacked. In the latter action, ma- jor Pierson, the commander, nobly lost his life ; but Guern- sey continued unmolested. Two actions fought on the station, it would be a gross omission to lose sight of. The first was between the Crescent, commanded by the present lord de Saumarez, and the Reunion, mounting thirty-six guns, being the same number as her own, but manned with more men. The action was most obstinate, and lasted for two hours and twenty minutes, when the enemy struck her colours. On board of the Reunion, one hundred and twenty were either killed or wounded, while the English frigate had not a single man either killed or wounded. Thus, the manoeuvring of the ship and guns were evidently here evinced, in the comparative loss sustained by each vessel. On this occasion, captain de Saumarez was de-

The other brilliant display of nautical skill and cool in- trepidity was performed by the same gallant officer, in sight of thousands of his anxious countrymen, when cruising off Jersey in the Crescent of thirty-six guns, in company of the Druid of thirty- two, and the Eurydice of twenty, when about halfway between that island and France, a squadron of French ships of war, consisting of two fifty-four gun ships, two frigates of thirty-six guns, and a brig, gave chase to him. As the superiority of the enemy was much too great to be opposed with the smallest prospect of success, or even safety, sir James Saumarez's sole object was to get away from them. He perfectly well knew that the Crescent and Druid could outsail the French squadron ; but the Eurydice was neither in good condition, nor at any rate a fast sailer ; she was, therefore, ordered to push on for Guernsey, while the other two vessels, under very easy sail, followed her. The enemy perceiving that they gained on

these, entertained great hopes of being able to overtake and capture them ; but the British commander, as soon as he perceived that the Eurydice was sufficiently far a-head to be out of all danger, ordered the other two frigates to crowd all the sail they could carry. The French frigates on their part, were not deficient in skill or activity of manoeu- vring, and they had succeeded so far in getting between the shore and the Eurydice and Druid, that there was some apprehension entertained, that one of these vessels at least would be cut off. To save his comrades, sir James Saumarez resolved on a plan which, in the first part of its execution, required great courage, consummate knowledge of the channel, and great skill in the management of the ship. He hauled his wind and stood close along the line of the French squadron : this naturally drew off their atten- tion and their hopes from the other two frigates, and the capture of the Crescent seemed certain. As soon, however, as sir James perceived that he had completely succeeded in his object of securing the escape of the Druid and the Eurydice, he ordered his pilot to push the Crescent through an intricate passage, which had never before been attempted by any ship of her size and draught of water. By this bold and successful enterprise, she escaped into the roads to the astonishment and disappointment of the enemy.

In the reign of George the Third, the fortifications in the island were all greatly strengthened and enlarged, and a new fort built, in honor of the king, called Fort George, where there are, in times of war, a large military force of regular troops ; which, with native militia, Guernsey now, at all times, is in a state of great security.

Sir John Doyle was, at the close of the peace of Amiens, appointed lieutenant-governor, and, with his usual zeal, proceeded to effect a total change in the whole external appearance of the country, and in the manners and cus- toms of the natives. The roads, of which many specimens

are still left in their original state, apparently to prove the value of the alteration, were cut anew and considerably widened ; an amelioration due alone to his incessant efforts. A large track of land, at the "Braye du Valle," for centu- ries submerged, was, at the expense of government, reco- vered,, and restored to cultivation ; and, through paternal encouragement, an unexampled emulation was excited in the militia. Such are the deeds which will ever render the name of Doyle dear to Guernsey.

In 1809, his serene highness the duke of Brunswick followed his corps to the island ; and on the 1 8th of Sep- tember 1817, his royal highness the duke of Gloucester arrived in the Tigris frigate, from Weymouth. On the Saturday following, the inhabitants had to regret his royal highness' departure, but were promised with another early visit.

The general history of the island having now been traced, from the earliest periods to the present day, we shall now proceed to its ecclesiastical history.

Ecclesiastical Affairs. There can be no doubt but that the superstitions of the druids originally prevailed in the island j some of the re- mains of their monuments are yet to be seen. A few years since, one was found on an eminence near T Ancresse ; it is composed of five cumbent stones, decreasing in size, from about twenty-five to ten tons in weight, covering an area of twenty-nine feet long, and nearly twelve feet wide at the western end, which is semicircular, narrowing to an entrance at the east of about eight feet. Another is situated about three quarters of a mile from the Vale

castle : one large granitelle stone of this kind is conspi- cuous ; it is fifteen feet seven inches long, about eight in breadth, and three in thickness ; it is supposed to weigh about fifty-four tons, and is supported by seven other up- right stones.

About the year of our Lord 520, Sampson, archbishop of St. David's, went over into Britanny : Childebert, king of France, gave him the Norman isles as a bishopric. He landed in Guernsey, and built a chapel ; the place where he landed is still called St. Sampson's harbour.

Magloire, an Englishman, succeeded Sampson, and vi- sited the island about 565. He did much, by preaching, to turn the inhabitants from druidism. At that early period, a tithe of the fish was appropriated to the priests, for their

Robert, duke of Normandy, having observed that great numbers of his subjects were wasting life in religious idleness and luxury, lessened the ecclesiastical revenues, which reduced the number of clergy in his dominions. On this account, the number of the benedictine monks in the abbey of Mount St. Michael decreased. Those who were driven from thence, came to Guernsey, and founded an abbey in the close of the Vale, in 962. It is said, that these monks were very exemplary in their general deportment, so that Guernsey was designated, in the pope's bulls, the Holy Island.

When Rollo, the first duke of Normandy, took posses- sion of his duchy, the Norman isles were transferred from the see of Dol to that of Coutance, under which they continued till the reformation was completed, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, who united them to the diocese of

Robert, on his finding refuge from a storm at the abbey St. Michael, gave to the abbot and his successors about a fourth part of the island. Little occurred after this pe-

riod worthy of record, excepting the building of churches and religious houses, till the time of Henry the Eighth. He seized the great tithes, which were never given again to the clergy ; so that the church livings are now of no great value.

In the reign of Edward the Sixth, the liturgy was translated into French, and used in all the churches in Guernsey ; but when Mary came to the throne, popery was again established. In July, 1556, the dean, Jacques Amy, condemned a widow and her two daughters for he- resy ; one of them, who had married a protestant minis- ter, was delivered of a child in the flames, which was res- cued by one of the spectators of that horrid spectacle ; but the bailiff ordered the babe to be again thrown into the fire, and to perish with its mother. What is there, however savage or absurd, which bigotry will not do ! Dr. Heylin, from whose survey of these islands this shocking story is taken, has so very poetically marked this inhuman sacrifice, with such just feelings of odious detestation, that we can- not refrain from inserting it.

Holla ! ye pampered sires of Rome ! forbear To act such murders, as a christian ear Hears with more horrour, then the Jews relate The dire effects of Herod's fear and hate, When that vile butcher caus'd to cut in sunder Every male childe of two years old and under.

These, martyrs in their cradles ; - from the womb This pass'd directly to the fiery tomb ; Baptiz'd in flames and bloud, a martyr born, A setting sun in the first dawn of morn : Yet shining with more heat, and brighter glory, Then all burnt offerings in the churches story.

Holla ! ye pampered rabines of the west ! Where learnt you thus to furnish out a feast With lambs of the first minute ? What disguise Finde you to mask this horrid sacrifice, When the old law so meekly did forbid, In the dam's milk to boil the tender kid?

What riddles have we here ? - An unborn birth,

Hurried to heaven, when not made ripe for earth ;

Condemned to die before it liv'd, a twin

To its own mother; not impeached of sin,

Yet doom'd to death, that breath'd but to expire,

That scap'd the flames to perish in the fire.

Rejoice, ye tyrants of old times ! your name

Is made lesse odious on the breath of fame,

By our most monstrous cruelties : the males

Slaughtered in Egypt waigh not down these scales.

A fod to equal this, no former age

Hath given in books, or fancie on the stage.

The presbyterian discipline, established by Calvin, at Geneva, was introduced partly by Elizabeth's sanction, and by the unanimous support of the assembly of the states, in 1576. James the First appears to have acqui- esced in this arrangement.

Charles the First, through the intercession of archbishop Laud, appropriated an estate in London, and one in Buckinghamshire, to endow fellowships in the colleges of Exeter, Jesus, and Pembroke, in Oxford, for educating clergymen for the instruction of the inhabitants of Guern- sey and Jersey. To these, bishop Morley added five scho- larships, in Pembroke college.

Charles the Second appointed a dean, to superintend, under the bishop of Winchester's directions, the ecclesias- tical affairs of Guernsey. Thus, the liturgy was again introduced ; but, at times, with so much opposition, that in 1 755, the dean found it necessary to apply for the aid of the civil magistracy to enforce it.

The dean has the power of giving licenses for solemnizing matrimony in private ; and as the expense is not consi- derable, marriages are sometimes performed at home.

The rector has the tenth of all apples, pears, cider, ho- ney, calves, colts, pigs, sheep, and geese ; but no tithe is payable on hay, clover, lucerne, potatoes, parsnips, cab- bage, or other vegetables.

Customs, Laws, and Government. The island is governed by a singular mixture of Nor- man and English laws. Farms are sold, not for a cer- tain sum of money, as in England, but for so many quarters of wheat, to be paid annually : the relations of the pro- prietor may, within a year after the first agreement, claim the property, and may have it, on paying the amount for which it has been parted with. The following are some of the prominent local customs :

Renunciation and Cession. - A person who, from losses in trade, or other unavoidable calamity, finds himself in- solvent, may avail himself of the privilege of cession ; which is done by appearing in open court, declaring his renunciation of all his property, and swearing that he will deliver all his moveables, (his clothes, bed, and arms ex- cepted) to and for the benefit of his creditors; and, that if providence should enable him hereafter to pay his just debts, he will do so. Formerly, a person thus renouncing, wore a green cap, and divested himself of a girdle ; but this humiliating exposure has been discontinued for some

Saisie. - This is a remedy granted to a creditor, when his debtor becomes insolvent.

There are three kinds of saisie. The saisie is called mobiliere, when, before the renunciation, the creditor has obtained an act of the court, and takes possession of the debtor's estate, the revenue of which he applies towards the liquidating of his own claim, the debtor still retaining the property of the estate.

The saisie is hereditale, when the debtor has renounced, or by process of law, been forced to give up his estate in favor of his creditors, of which the said saisie becomes

administrator, without prejudice to his own personal claims. The saisie becomes propriStaire, when he who held the saisie moUliere or hereditale has, by some act which is deemed binding, made it his own ; or when, in the regular process, one of the creditors has accepted the saisie. In either case, the saisie proprietaire is in place of the original debtor, and answerable for all the debts which can be

Retraites. - The origin of this custom seems to have been the mosaic law : when any person alienates his inheritance by sale or rent, if any part of the consideration for such assignment is paid, or agreed to be paid in money, the next of kindred, and if he or she refuses, or neglects to claim his or her right, the next in rotation ; in like manner, to the seventh degree of consanguinity, may at any time do so, until the purchaser is appropriated by the Court, at one of the fixed days regularly held for such purposes, or within one year, if no such appropriation has taken place, upon payment of the sum bona fide paid upon the purchase.

Descent of real and personal estate. - Real estate cannot be disposed of by will, but must descend to the heirs at law ; and in default of such, to the king, or lord of the manor. A father cannot, by will, give an advantage to one child over another, even in reference to his personal property ; a daughter marrying in the life time of her fa- ther, has no claim to share his personal property, unless by special engagement in the marriage contract, or by

Though a father cannot bequeath to one child more than to another, he can leave the whole of his property to strangers. A husband acquires no permanent right in his wife's estate ; if she leaves issue, he enjoys the property for life ; but should she die without having had a child born alive, the estate immediately on her death, reverts to her heirs at law, in the same manner as if she had never been married.

Real Estate does not, as in England, descend to the heir at law, but all the brothers are joint heirs, and share the estate between them ; however many daughters there are, they have but one third of the estate among them. The eldest son has some little advantage over his brothers ; he is allowed to take the house and a certain portion of the land, because he has to pay the corn rents ; he chooses what field he pleases ; the second son, and then the third son acts in like manner. Hence has arisen the great divi- sion of property in the island.

If parents have lived for years in open adultery, and afterwards marry, all the children are considered as legi- timate, as if born in wedlock, and equally entitled to in-

The English poor laws do not extend to the Norman

Government. - Soon after the establishment of the French monarchy, the Norman isles were placed under the direction of a count. Count Loyescon was governor in the reigns of Clotaire and Cherebert, about the year 560 5 at that time, and long afterwards, they were regu- lated according to the feudal system. King John, by the constitution which he gave them, appointed a royal court, which was empowered to judge of all causes arising in the island. Appeals were to be made from the feudal courts, to this new institution; which, by its encroachments, soon deprived the former of most of their powers.

The royal court consists of a bailiff nominated by the king, and twelve jurats chosen by the members of the states, the representatives of the people, all serving for life, unless discharged by the king. These officers admi- nister justice three times a week, in term time : and once a week out of term, or oftener if required. There are three terms in the year : the first begins the first Monday after January the fifteenth - the second, the first Monday

after Easter ; and the third, the first Monday after Sep- tember the twenty-ninth ; each continues six weeks. They have the power of life or death, except in cases of treason, coining, or actual assault upon the bailiff, in which a direct application must be made to his majesty's government. The sixteen militarv tenants are obliged to attend the opening of the terms : this service, with a fine of four shillings and threepence, when the property is changed by death or sale, is all the charge to which they are now subject. They were formerly members of the states, but have now lost the privilege. The voice of the majority of the jurats decides every case ; they are not obliged to unanimity, as in England. If any one be aggrieved, by a decision, he may appeal to king and council. This is the final remedy for every complaint j but in this case, it is often painfully tedious and expensive to obtain justice. Till the time of James the First, jus- tices, or commissioners, were sent annually, or triennially, to prevent the necessity of such applications. The king's writ, or process, from the courts of Westminster are not valid in this island ; neither are the common acts of par- liament binding here, unless particularly named, or en- forced by his majesty's order in council.

All the proceedings of the courts are in French, which in many cases, to the English, is disadvantageous.

Edward the First issued an order, in ] 324, winch first separated the civil from the military authorities. De Grandison, who was then governor, and his successors ap- pointed the bailiffs in Guernsey and Jersey 3 in the latter island, till the reign of Henry the Seventh ; and in the former, till the reign of Charles the Second : they have, since this time, patents under the great seal of England.

Both the governor and the lieutenant-governor are ap- pointed by the crown ; but the latter resides in the island, and discharges the duty of the office. The late lieutenant-

governor, sir John Doyle> conferred a lasting benefit on the island, by the great military roads which, after many difficulties, he has formed, from the town and citadel, to the different bays and most vulnerable points.

What are called the states of the island, are composed of the following officers : the bailiff, twelve jurats, the procureur of the royal court, the rectors of the ten pa- rishes, the two constables, and the douzainiers of each pa- rish ; making a total of one hundred and seventy-four mem- bers. The deliberative states, however, are selected from these, and consist of the bailiff, twelve jurats, the pro- cureur, the clergy, and one voice from each of the ten parishes -, making thirty- two in the whole.

In the charters given to these islands, at various times, it is declared, that the natives shall be regarded as possess- ing all the privileges of a British subject ; an honor in every respect due to them.

Trade, Coins, Weights, and Measures. Commerce is absolutely essential to the very existence of the population of Guernsey 5 but it is exercised under va- rious restrictions. The governor grants licenses for the importation of wool, provisions, and other commodities, allowed by act of parliament for the use of the island, to the merchants : all articles, the produce of the land, are allowed to pass in England free of any duty -, but it is necessary the grower accompanies an affidavit with the

The isle of Guernsey is said to be remarkably suitable, on account of the mildness of the climate, for the depo- siting of wines, and other goods liable to be injured by the extremes of heat and cold.

The British fisheries especially, have been greatly bene- fitted by the trade with Guernsey. Many a cargo of brandy has been purchased by one of codfish, or pilchards ,- which fish would never have been caught, or sent to a foreign market, if it had not been in contemplation of the returns in brandy, and of the means of getting rid of those returns in Guernsey.

During the whole of the last century, the trade of the island has increased. Independently of the vast supply of goods to smugglers, a considerable trade arose from the deposit of wines and foreign goods, which were to be le- gally transferred to Great Britain. Before the bonding sys- tem, merchandise was subject to duty, on its being landed; and, as the duty often amounted even to three or four times of the first cost, vast capitals would have been re- quired to have imported large cargoes, the interest of which would have taken the entire profits ; but, being left in Guernsey, and ordered over as they were disposed of, an English trader, when a favorable opportunity offered, with the same property and credit, could procure a far larger stock for Guernsey than for London. These remarks are especially applicable to wines, not only in reference to the duties, but because the vaults in the island are parti- cularly excellent.

Through the long war, occasioned by the French revo- lution, the trade of the island was greatly enlarged ; more goods were deposited than were ever known before. The Foreign and English merchants were alike solicitous to deposit their articles in a place of safety ; so much so, that the vaults and warehouses were insufficient for their

In 1800, Mr. Styles, a commissioner of the customs, was sent over to procure the best information he could, in order to put a stop to the illicit traffic which had been so

parliament were passed, with such regulations and restric- tions as, to say the least, greatly impeded all unlawful trade and speculation. A chamber of commerce was formed in the island, with the same object in view ; and the ordinances of the royal court, with the orders in coun- cil, gave energy to the enactments of the British parlia- ment j but the trade of the island was greatly injured and

In September, 1804, there were one hundred and thirty- three vessels belonging to Guernsey, of more than eleven thousand five hundred tons ; and in September, 18 J 3, there were ninety three vessels, of more than ten thousand eight hundred and ninety-two tons ; and in December, trade with Spain, Portugal, France, Newfoundland, and South America.

As Guernsey does not produce a sufficiency of scarcely any thing for its own consumption, it cannot, of course, export much to other countries. Norman cows, of excel- lent qualities ; and paving stones, of blue granite, in large quantities ; and cider, are among the principal articles. There are two or three manufactories for extracting brandy from potatoes, and the making of vinegar. Great quan- tities of each are annually sent to the English market.

The original rents in this island, in corn, fowls, loaves of bread, eggs, and other produce, reserved when the lands were first granted, are still payable to the crown, in kind ; besides some trifling sums of money in coin then current.

The currency, in which the inhabitants make contracts, and, sometimes, keep their accounts, are livres, sols, and deniers tournois ; the word tournois being used to distin- guish the coin of Tours from that of Paris : but, the lat- ter being abolished, the former seems to have been retained, to mark the difference from sterling, or English currency. Before the time of Elizabeth, the English shilling was

worth only nme sols tournois ; in her reign it passed for ten sols ; and, in that of James the First, it passed for ten sols and a half. In the beginning of the last century the shilling was worth twelve sols. The currency, now, is chiefly the French and Jersey coinage. The old French crown, if full weight, will pass for six francs, or five shil- lings ; the old French half-crown only passes current for two shillings and threepence halfpenny ; the old franc, and half-franc pieces pass : the former for ninepence, and the latter for fourpence each. Other French coins, suffi- ciently marked, pass current at the same price as in France. English money bears a premium, which vary, according to circumstances. At the present, the price current is seven and a half per cent j yet the silver only passes here at the English prices : although, in the neighbouring Island of Jersey, the shilling passes freely for thirteen pence. The only Guernsey coin are halfpence and doubles ; the latter is a small coinage of eight to the penny.

The land measure of the island is in feet, yards, perches, vergees, bouvees, and carvees : twenty-one feet square are a perch ; and forty perches are a vergee, containing seven- teen thousand six hundred and forty square feet \ so that two vergees and a half are rather more than an English acre. Four vergees are a Guernsey acre ; five Guernsey acres or twenty vergees, a bouvee ; and twelve bouvees make a carvee.

The Guernsey bushel contains six gallons, Winchester measure, or one thousand six hundred and thirty-two cubit inches ; consequently, four bushels of wheat, of the island measure, are exactly equal to three Winchester bushels.

The following are the weights of the island : - The pound is of the Rouen weight, each ounce being about thirty-four grains more than the English avoirdupoise ; so that the Guernsey pound is, within a few grains, two ounces heavier than the old English pound ; the hundred

weight British, is about equal to one hundred and three and a half Guernsey pounds.

Liquors of every kind are measured by the pottle and gallon : the gallon contains two hundred and fifty-two cubic inches. Barley, oats, pease, and other grain (wheat excepted) are measured, either heaped in the wheat bushel or measured in a bushel containing nearly the same quan- tity, strike measure. This bushel is two pints -^ the in- sular measure smaller than the Winchester bushel ; it contains sixty-seven pints, island measure ; two thousand one hundred and ten and a half cubic inches -, and serves also for salt, lime, and sea coal, the latter only is heaped.

No measurable article can be offered for sale in the island, under a severe penalty, by any other than the wheat bushel, containing fifty four pints, and barley bushel, of sixty -seven pints, above mentioned. These, before they are used, must be stamped by an officer ap- pointed for that purpose. The revenue of the island is about nine thousand pounds, per annum.

Mineralogy of Guernsey. The mineralogy of Guernsey has been described with con- siderable skill by Br. Mac Culloch, a native of Guernsey, and a scholar well known by many learned productions.

The isle of Guernsey, says this gentleman, is almost entirely of granatic formation. The southern division consists entirely of gneiss, and the rocks which form the northern part, exhibit various kinds of granite, or granitel.

The rock on which Castle Cornet is built, is a gneiss, often approaching so near to granite as to render its place in a nomenclature doubtful. It is every where crossed

and intersected by veins of quartz, of trap, and of felspar, curved and mixed in various ways, but tending, on the whole, to the north, or north-east. More rarely, there are found in it veins of brick red and bright green felspar, and pebbles of the same substance ; or, with hornblende inbedded, are fonnd on the beach, as well as coarse agates, passing into quartz and hornstone.

Proceeding from the castle southwards, gneiss is found to constitute the cliffs on the eastern side, often in a state of decomposition, and covered with a great depth of debris. These strata, which extend all along the south coast to Rocquaine bay, seem to tend from north-east to south- west, and have various inclinations, but most generally ten or fifteen degrees dipping to the south. On the south- ern side of the island they are intersected by veins of white flesh coloured and red felspar, of various breadths. In some places the felspar veins pass into granite ; veins of quartz and veins of granitel, consisting of quartz and felspar, also traverse it. A few veins of trap are also found intersecting it at Rocquaine, which are occasionally su- perceded by trap porphyry, or by the same substance, con- taining minute grains of quartz. In this track there are wrought three or four quarries of black granitel, consisting of hornblende and quartz, and very hard. The constitu- tion of this stone varies much through the extent which it traverses. In some places it is a true granite; in others the mica disappears ; in others again, this latter ingredient becomes so abundant that the stone passes into micaceous schistus. Occasionally also, hornblende enters into its composition, as has been noticed by others ; when this is the case, it sometimes looses the foliated structure, and passes into sienite. Sometimes all the other ingredients are excluded and felspar alone remains. There may also be traced gradations into mere quartz. There are also further varieties, consisting of wavy mixtures of quartz

and hornblende only : this stone has a considerable ten- dency to decomposition, the felspar and mica being both very ferruginous. It is consequently found in all slates, from that of a friable rock to a gravelly clay ; and, finally, to a perfect soil, constituting the gravelly or sandy loam which predominates through the island. No where is it more easy to remark the process by which, in nature, rocks are converted into earth ; and, as in this case, by the action of an oxydeof iron. Nests of yellow mica, which seem to have arisen from the decomposed rocks, are found in many places : this stone is used for rough masonry.

A ledge of rocks, called the Hanois, extend from the westernmost points of the island, and, from its apparent geographical continuity, is probably of the same structure. Against this point the whole strength of the western ocean is directed, and it is from hence that a large ridge of rounded masses of stone has been rolled, so as to form a natural barrier near Rocquaine.

In quitting the elevated parts of the island, and with it the southern shores, the gneiss disappears, and its place is supplied by other granitic formations. Besides the trap and trap porphory, at Rocquaine, there are masses of mica- ceous schist, having the appearance of veins ; and a stra- tum of argillaceous schist may also be observed at the lower parts of the bay, incumbent on the granitic foun-

At l'Er^e and Lihou, the rocks are composed of quartz granitel is thus formed, which, in some places, receiving an addition of hornblende, passes into sienite : this is tra- versed, here and there, by veins of the same red and green felspar which are found at castle Cornet. The same highly coloured felspars are also occasionally intermixed, so as to form a constituent part of the granite, which thus becomes exceedingly beautiful.

At Grand Rocque are masses of sienite, which are quarried to make building stones. It is the only rock of this nature in the island, and its produce is fully equal in beauty to that of the celebrated quarries of Mont Mado, in Jersey, although it cannot be raised in such large masses. The felspar is the predominant ingredient, and it is either white or flesh coloured. It is traversed by veins of a si- milarly constituted stone, but more minutely compacted, and of a brick-red colour. In some places, indeed, the veins seem to consist of a felspar basis, with grains of quartz and hornblende imbedded, approaching in its na- ture to a petunse porphyry. It is here an universal rule, that when the granites are traversed by veins of a similar nature, the vein is the most compact of the two. As the hornblende is sometimes wanting in these stones, and as mica is sometimes present, we meet with many other gra- nitic varieties. Dr. Mac Culloch observed, in one place, lumps of angillaceous porphyry stuck in granite.

The predominant rock, towards the bay of St. Sampson's, is a grey or black granitel, consisting of quartz and horn- blende, mixed in various proportions. Detached masses of this rock are also found in the higher grounds, as well as among the gneiss of the southern coast. The horn- blende, in some places, predominates, so as to give a sort of a hornblende porphyry ; and, in others, every other in- gredient is excluded, and a hornblende rock alone remains. He also observed some specimens traversed by a deriva- tive rock of the same composition, interspersed with minute grains of pyrites, the only trace of the kind which is found in this island.

This stone is very hard and sonorous, and admirably adapted for building, as it easily breaks into squared masses before the hammer. It is more particularly fitted for paving, from its extreme hardness and toughness ; and for that purpose it is exported, in large quantities, toLon-

don, and other parts of England, by the name of Guernsey, or St. Sampson's stone.

It is remarkable that there is no appearance of lime stone in the island.

The soil, which is the produce of the decomposed gneiss, is abundantly fertile, the ground being well watered by the clouds of the Atlantic.

On the Shells, Corals, and Sea Plants of the Channel Islands.

The study of shells or testaceous animals is a branch of natural history, though not greatly useful in human eco- nomy, yet, by the infinite beauties of the subjects it treats of, is adapted to recreate the senses, and insensibly lead the amazed admirer to the contemplation of the glory of the divinity in their creation.

The channel islands are very favourably situated for the study of conchology. These islands are considered as ex- tremely insignificant. This opinion, however, is predicated on error ; they are small, it is true ; but if we turn our eyes from so contracted a medium, and view them with a proper reference to natural history, and to the department of conchology in particular, the small specks dilate, and the apparently contemptible spots assume a remarkable feature on the theatre of nature 5 and no places on the sur- face of the globe can be contemplated with more intense interest than these lovely islands ; and it has lately been proved, by the unceasing research of an enlightened naturalist, throughout all parts of the Norman isles, that no portion of the globe, of the same extent, can vie with these islands in conchological treasures. Perhaps, there are no places where, in such small circles, so many striking studies of shells are afforded, or where a greater variety of testaceous and crustaceous subjects can be collected. The conchological mine is rich; but there

is a deficiency of labourers to draw the ore from the pit ; to remove the crust from the rough diamond ; to bring out the precious production from beneath the surface ; and to give it at once acknowledged worth and currency.

The divisions of the order testacea in these islands, ex- tend to upwards of forty genera, embracing upwards of two hundred varieties. In multivalves, we have fine spe- cimens of the chiton, the lepas, the pholas, &c. In bi- valves, the islands are rich, in the mya, or trough shell ; the solen, razor, sheath, or knife handle ; the tellena, or telen ; the cardium, cockle, or heart shell ; the mactra, or kneading trough ; the donax, or wedge shell ; the ve- nus ; the spondylus, thorny oyster, or artichoke ; the cha- ma, clamp, or gaper ; the area, or arc ; the ostrea, oyster, escalop, or pecten ; the anomia, or antique lamp ; the my- tilus, or muscle ; the pinna, fin shell, or sea wing, &c. &c.

The univalves are still more abundant : we have great varieties of the conus, or cone ; of the cyprae, or coury ; of the bulla, or bubble ; of the voluta ; of buccinum, or wheel ; of the strombus, winged or claw shell ; of the tro- chus, or top shell ; of the turbo, wreath or turban shell ; of the helix, snail, or spiral ; of the nerita, or hoof shell ; of the haliotis, sea ear, ear shell, or eaumer -, of the patella, limpet, or dish shell ; of the dentalium, tooth, or tusk shell ; of the murex, rock, or trumpet shell, with various others too numerous for insertion.

The seas of the channel islands abound in sponges, or the habitations of a tribe of animals belonging to the class vermes, or zoophites. We have little less than forty species of sponges, among which may be found the spongia occula- ta,or branched sponge ; the spongia tormentosa, or stinging sponge j the spongia coronata, or coronet sponge ; the s'pon- gia botrycides, or grape sponge ; the spongia lacustris, or lake sponge 5 the spongia officinalis, or common sponge.

In corallines, or corals, it cannot be excelled for delicacy

and novelty, in any part of the world ; and their feature and position are so well denned,, that there is no difficulty in comprehending that they belong both to the vegetable and the animal kingdom ; although many specimens of corallines bear the simple appearance of marine mosses, and many of the corals flourish as sea shrubs. In many instances the insects appear like small flowers along the coral bank : when taken out of the water, they disappear ; but upon being restored to their native element, in a few hours they become perceptible. They expand in water, and contract in air : they express considerable sensation when touched with the hand, or exposed to the action of acids ; they have even been seen to move their claws and expand themselves, when the water which contained them was placed near the fire.

There is nothing more remarkable in the shells of the channel islands, than the diversity of their generic charac- ter, and the extreme diminutiveness of their forms ; for the greater part, they may be considered but as miniatures of the shells of all other parts of the world. It is proper, however, here to observe, that the shells of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Serk, are neither extraordinary nor numerous ; and it is the little islet of Herm alone, that the conchologist is gratified by shells, great in abundance, and various in character and colouring. This islet is nearly opposite, and but three miles from Guernsey. Du- ring the summer, Herm is greatly frequented by visiters from Guernsey j and what is vulgarly called shell hunting is pursued with great ardour and avidity. The women and the children of nearly all the families on the island, gather up, and keep, small collections of shells, which they offer to visiters on very reasonable terms. But the true conchologist prefers shells of his own immediate collection and preparation, and, therefore, should proceed to the beach at low water, and, with a spade or other instrument,

turn up the sand, and take only those shells as are of a living character. The insular dealers are content to col- lect them from high water mark, where, from exposure to the sun, and the frequent attrition of the flax and refluxing waves, the shells must, of necessity, be dead or mutilated, to their great deterioration.

There are three portions of the beach, in the north-west and north-east part of the island, which are very favorable to shell collecting. In point of fact, it is only on the north-west and north-east department of the island, that shells are to be obtained in any degree of variety or abun- dance. But as every shell collector must know the propriety of taking a guide to the coast, it would be but a waste of time to say any thing further here on the subject of the locality in question. Every child in the island is compe- tent to conduct the steps of a collector ; the collector holding always in view, that low water is superior to high water mark, for the reasons above stated.

But it will answer no good purpose for the shell collector in Herm, to employ the language of science, in his research for shells ; he must employ popular terms, inasmuch as the good people of Herm are utterly ignorant of the phraseology of the conchologist, and are in the habit of calling things by such names as strike their senses. They have their silver, pink, purple, yellow, rose, and blue shells. There are fine subjects on what the inhabitants call the " best shell banks," but which the native collectors pass over, because they do not consider them as shells. For instance, at times here, are very rich corals and corallines, cast up by the action of the sea, only to be discovered by those who are judges of the nature of their research.

Before leaving Herm, the visiter is recommended to make enquiry after crustaceous animals, using the caution to employ such popular terms as the natives alone can un- derstand. A precise distinction should be drawn between

testaceous and crustaceous animals ; they are essentially different, though both are protected by a hard exterior shell or crust, in which they are partially or entirely enve- loped, and have been indiscriminately confounded toge- ther for that reason, under the vague denomination of shell fish. Of the Crustacea race, in Herm, there are two varieties of the echinus marinus, which well merit the at- tention of the curious ; and several rare specimens of diminutive crabs, lobsters, cray fish, the spider crab, cuttle, and star fish can be obtained with little difficulty. But, in all cases where the collector wants a particular object, he should contrive to exhibit a specimen before the native gatherers ; for should he tell them to supply him with the zoophites or madreporites, &c. &c, they never could exe- cute his commission.

There being but little accommodation in Herm, for the entertainment of strangers, the conchologist, geologist, or the visiter, should go well provided with provisions. There is but one public house in the island ; it is kept by a worthy Englishman of the name of Cooper ; but, as the island is destitute of any market, and the worthy host has but ong spare bed, it is utterly impossible that he can supply strangers with very extensive accommodations. Of the extreme reasonableness of Mr. Cooper's charges, an opinion may be entertained, from the fact, that a shell collector, who had the run of the house for three days, paid only the small sum of seven shillings and sixpence.

The islet of Herm is not only rich in all subjects con- nected with the interests of conchologists, but is also abundant in such algae, or sea weed, as bear considerable relation to conchology 5 inasmuch as a great quantity of algae, or submarine plants, exhibit the finest specimens that can possibly be conceived of corals, corallines, and

Though neither chalk, limestone, or marl, has hitherto

been discovered in any of the channel islands, at least in any abundance, yet they are not destitute of a certain sub- stitute, this is sea weed.

The different species of algae, are all called, in the is- lands, vraic. This marine vegetable grows luxuriantly on the rocks around the coasts ; but what is of a peculiar interest to the Guernsey conchologist, is, that the collected algae abound in specimens, not only favourable to the curious collector, but to medical men, and the public at large. But, in general, so strong a prejudice exists against the utility of any extraneous production, peculiarly local, that the most pointed disregard is paid to the algae and sea weed in question. It is, however, much to the credit of a few native inhabitants of the channel islands, that the bounty of nature is not, at all times and places, ungratefully thrown away upon them. In Jersey, a spi- rituous oil is extracted from a certain sea weed, which is employed as a medicament for the cure of rheumatism and external wounds. In Alderney, a weed i& collected, which is equal in virtue to the far famed islandic moss : and the algae of Serk afford a substitute for horse hair of the finest quality.

However, it is from the abundance of corals, corallines, and curious marine plants, in which the algae abound, that the submarine subjects of this nature are of interest to the conchologist ; and whatever conchologist has a de- cided turn for the collection of submarine plants, can gra- tify such taste, by making proper researches throughout the islands.

In the Guernsey fish market are often very fine speci- mens of sea weed and marine plants, exhibited for sale. Mr. Weston, of the Esplanade, has a fine collection of corals and corallines. Charles F. Lukis, esq., of Grange- road, Guernsey, has made this department of natural history his particular study ; as has also Mr. De Caisne,

late president of the mechanic's institution. The latter gentleman is well skilled in the art of preparing shells, and stuffing birds and beasts. -

In reference of what has been said respecting the col- lecting of shells in Herm, it is proper here to observe, that particular caution should be employed in having the shells prepared clean, and fit for preservation, as soon as possible. Many of the native collectors suffer the animal to die in the shell ; this practice is attended with two evil con- sequences : the shell loses its lustre, and is sometimes tainted with a disagreeable smell. Living shells should be plunged into boiling water, for a few seconds ; but, in such instances as putrid or dead shells, they should be carefully steeped in a chlorine liquid for half an hour, and then wash- ed in soft water ; this simple process will render them sweet, wholesome, and clean.

Ladies, and such conchologists as have no disposition or capacity to form collections of shells that are attended with inconvenience and trouble, can procure considerable quantities without removing out of Guernsey. On the beach of St. Sampson's, Bourdeaux and l'Ancresse bays, several varieties of shells can be obtained, in the course of a morning's promenade. Other collectors who wish to procure shells, both in abundance and variety, have only to frequent the arcade market of Guernsey, which is ge- nerally well supplied with local shells of every description, and at prices varying from a halfpenny to threepence per dozen. There are also, in the Pollet, and along the Glat- ney esplanade, three or four little shops, which have often a quantity of fine shells for sale ; but the principle place of vending, is at Mr. Naftel's, in the High Street Arcade j his shop is generally supplied with the very best specimens, and he can execute an order to any extent, with consider- able judgment and skill. In his establishment may be purchased some beautiful objects in shell work ; such as

boxes, baskets of flowers, and animals, executed after na- ture, and with an extraordinary facility, considering the inflexibility of the materials which enter into their com- position and form ; and it is much to the honor and character of many ladies of Guernsey, to say, that they are not only learned conchologists, but artistes in shell work, of infinite delicacy and skill. Many of the ladies in ques- tion employ the profits derived from this elegant pursuit, in charitable purposes.

In relation to the shells of Jersey, there is not much to be said. That island is not rich in shells : a few may be obtained on the shores of St. Clement's, Gorey, St. Cathe- rine's, Rozel, St. Ouen's, and St. Aubin's bays ; but, as in Guernsey, the market of St. Helier's is often supplied with small quantities of shells ; with the exception, however, of such shells as are strictly local, they merit but little at- tention. As to the islands of Alderney, Jethou, and Serk, it is true that they have many fine local shells ; but the difficulty of collecting is very great, because of the rugged and precipitate nature of their shores. There are no local shells so rich in appearance, or so large in character, as the haliots, or sea ear ; the finest specimens are to be found on the rocks, at low water mark, at Alderney, Herm, and Serk ; many of these approaching to oriental shells of the same genus ; and their variety of size is such, that they run in progression, from a quarter of an inch to twenty inches in circumference ; they are by far the most popular shells of the channel islands. The process of cleaning this shell is not difficult ; steep them in vinegar twenty-four hours, next well and quickly brushed over with muriatic acid, and finished off by washing carefully in cold water.

Immediately after gathering or collecting the shells, and those especially taken from the sea, the first process neces-

sary, is to destroy and extract the animal inhabitant, with- out injuring the shell, and then to prepare the shell that it may not be damaged by the action of the marine salts, with which they are saturated. As shells are of a calca- reous nature, all acids should be as much avoided as pos- sible, both in killing the animal, and preparing the shell ; it is usual to boil them in water for this purpose, but as boiling may injure the shells, it will be most advisable to dip them into scalding water, which will be sufficient to kill the animal ; after which, let them remain for two or three minutes to cool, and then put them into cold water, in which they may lie till they are taken out to be cleaned. The animal, by being killed in this manner, becomes con- densed, and somewhat solid, and may be picked out by any sharp instrument.

Shells encrusted with extraneous matter should be al- lowed to steep for some time in warm water, both for the sake of moistening these substances, and to extract as much as possible the marine salts. They may be suffered to remain in water two or three minutes without any injury. After this, brush them well, observing only that the brush must not be too hard. If that proves insufficient to clean them, rub or brush them again with tripoli or emery, or put them into weak acid for the space of a minute, and then dip them into cold water ; which process may be re- peated as often as will be necessary to remove the extra- neous matter. Strong soap may also be used with a rag of linen or woollen cloth to rub them, or a ley of pearl- ashes ; and, when cleaned, finish them with a soft brush and fine emery.

Scientific collectors endeavour to preserve one at least of every shell with the epidermis on, to exhibit its natural appearance, together with the uncoated specimens.

The epidermis may sometimes be so thick that it will be necessary to take it off before the shell can be polished.

For this purpose pour a quantity of the spirits of nitre, or nitrid acid, into water, in the proportion of about one-sixth or one-tenth part of the former -, put this into a shallow bason or saucer, and place the shell or shells therein, in such a manner that the corrosive fluid may act only on the coat, without injuring the orifices of the mouth, which, in some cases, may be coated with bees-wax : change the si- tuation of the shell every two or three minutes, that all the parts may be equally uncoated ; wipe off the bubbles as occasion may require with a feather, first dipped in water : when you perceive the enamel in any part free from the coat, take it out, and wash off the aquafortis, and after this process rub them with fine emery powder. If instead of a thick epidermis it is only a pellicle, it is sufficient to steep it in hot water, and then pick it off ; or steep the shell in vinegar till it peals off freely, or is corroded away. The epidermis of some shells is so coarse and thick as to resist the corrosive quality of acids diluted, or even of aquafortis ; emery with strong brushes is then substituted, or seal-skin, and pumice-stone, or the exterior coat may be ground off with a grind- stone, or files of various dimen- sions. If the matter is too obstinate to be cleared off by this means, pour some spirit of nitre into a cup or other vessel, stop up every part of the shell that may be suscep- tible to injury with soft wax, as carefully as possible, and put it into the liquor in the vessel ; remove it every mi- nute into cold water, but observe never to shift it in the same water more than once, and wash it every time before you return it into the corrosive liquor. If the shell is warted, irregular, or armed with points, examine it with a common magnifier, and if you perceive on the more promi- nent parts through the wax any appearance of the polished surface, cover them with wax, and let the shell remain a few minutes longer in the spirit, take it out and wash it again ; after which, polish the shell with fine emery, and

pass a camel's-hair pencil with gum arabic over them to brighten the colours ; the white of egg is often used, but it is very apt to turn yellow in time, though at first it appears glaring ; and varnish communicates a disagreeable smell.

Some shells have naturally a slight politure ; those may be rubbed by the hand with chamois leather, which will give them a bright glossy appearance : avoid, when pos- sible, the use of emery powder, as it is apt to detriment the beautiful workings on the shells ; it cannot, however, be often left out of use.

It is desirable, as far as can be, to point out the impo- sitions which are often practised on those who are not well acquainted with shells, and are therefore not aware that any individual shell may be made to assume a very diffe- rent appearance by having the first or second exterior coat of the shell removed by acids, or any other means. Thus, for example, we see that though the outer surface of the common cowry, or tide shell, is of a pale colour, with dark spots 5 when that is cleared off, it is of a fine violet colour : the sea ears are clouded with brown, green, and white ; but when that coat is rubbed away it appears of a beauti- ful pearl colour. Thus also the nautilus shell is externally of a pale brown or ochraceous hue, variegated with streaks of chesnut, but on the exterior coating being taken off, the whole shell will be found of that substance known by the familiar name of mother of pearl. The same circumstance is observed of the true mother of pearl shell, the exterior coat of which is blackish ; many of the trochi, or top shells, and an infinite variety of other shells of different genera are of the same description. Among those shells which alter their appearance most, we must not omit the volute, called by us the purple or violet tip, and by the French onyx ; it has a brown epidermis, which, being ta- ken off, discovers the ground colour to be a dull yellow. When this is worked down to beneath the crust or surface,

it is of a pure white, with the tip of a fine violet. We shall lastly mention the common muscle, the exterior coat of which is dull bluish black, that beneath purple, and the inner one white : sometimes we have seen muscles in the hands of dealers, and in scientific collections, of a fine purple colour, variegated with large distinct spots of white and brown, so dexterously managed as to have all the ap- pearance of a shell in a natural state, though in reality such shells are the work of art, and no other than the common or edible muscle. For this purpose those of the largest size are usually selected, which, being first uncoated down to the brightest purple surface, are afterwards fretted or rubbed with a file, in particular parts, till the white or inner coating is seen through the purple. The spots may be managed however with more certainty, by covering the whole surface with a thin coat of wax, then scraping off the wax in such parts as it is designed should exhibit spots, and lastly suffering the shell to remain in spirit of salts diluted, or nitrous acid, till the outside is corroded in those parts down to the white or inner coat of the shell. After washing the shell, and clearing off the wax, the spots thus formed may be stained of any colour, according to the fancy of the operator. A preparation of the oxyd of iron, or manganese, are most commonly employed, as these produce a brown colour of different tints, and form an in- delible stain. The Dutch, who are great amateurs in con- chology, paint shells with a variety of colours, and that so ingeniously, as to render it difficult to detect the imposi- tion. Neither are they less expert in joining broken shells, cementing and filling up holes pierced by marine worms, or fractures, and filling the mouths and tips in such a man- ner as to entirely alter their appearance.

Linnaeus ranks testacea as the third in order in his sixth class of animals called worms. He has made three prin-

Multi valves. - Shells with many valves.

1. Chiton : Valves placed in transverse plaits down the

2. Lepas : Valves unequal ; body sessile, or on peduncles.

3. Pholas : Shell bivalve, with accessory valves at the hinge.

Bivalves. - Shells with two valves.

4. Mya : Hinge with generally a broad thick tooth, not let

into the opposite valve.

5. Solen : Shell open at each end ; hinge with a single or

double subulate reflected tooth, not let into the oppo- site valve.

6. Tellina : Hinge with the lateral teeth of one valve not

let into the other.

7. Cardium : Hinge with remote penetrating lateral teeth.

8. Mactra : Hinge with a complicated triangular middle

tooth, and an adjoining hollow.

9. Donax : Hinge with a generally remote lateral tooth,

not let into the opposite valve.

10. Venus : Hinge with generally three approximate diva-

ricate teeth.

1 1 . Spondylus : Hinge with two teeth, separated by a small hollow.

1 2. Chama : Hinge in one shell, with two oblique obtuse

13. Area : Hinge with numerous penetrating teeth.

14. Ostrea : Hinge without teeth, but an ovate hollow.

15. Anomia : Hinge without teeth, but generally a linear

depression on the rim, the beak of one valve curved over the hinge.

16. Mytilus : Hinge without teeth, with a subulate de-

pression, and generally fixed by a silky beard.

1 7. Pinna : Hinge without teeth, valves united at one end,

and open at the other.

Univalves. - 1. With a regular spire.

18. Argonauta : Shell with one cell, spiral, involute.

19. Nautilus: Shell with many cells, with a siphon of

20. Conus : Aperture effuse, longitudinal, without teeth,

21. Cypr.aea : Aperture effuse, lineal, longitudinal, toothed

on each side.

22. Bulla : Aperture a little contracted, and placed ob- liquely 5 toothed on one side only.

23. Voluta : Aperture effuse, the pillar plaited.

24. Buccinum : Aperture with a small canal leaning to the right.

25. Strombus : Aperture with a small canal leaning to the

26. Murex : Aperture with a small straight canal.

27. Trochus : Aperture contracted, and somewhat trian-

28. Turbo : Aperture contracted and orbicular.

29. Helix : Aperture contracted, lunate on the inner side.

30. Nerita : Aperture contracted, and semiorbicular.

31. Haliotis : Shell ear-shaped, aperture dilated, with a row of orifices along the surface.

2. Without a regular spire.

32. Patella : Shell conic, the aperture widened like a basin.

33. Dentalium : Shell slender, subulate, open at both ends.

34. Serpula : Shell tubular, mostly serpentine, adhering to other bodies.

35. Teredo : Shell thin, penetrating wood.

36. Sabella : Shell composed of agglutinated grains of

Horticulture and Floriculture. In speaking of Guernsey, Jacob says, This island may be deemed the garden both of common flowers and exotics ; many of the latter have no need of shelter from the frosts and snow, which are scarcely ever sufficiently powerful to destroy the plants 3 yet, perhaps, there is not a spot of ground in Europe of the same size, where there are more green-houses, or hot-houses, than in Guernsey, there being

scarcely a gentleman's house without one or more, and many of the tradesmen have their graperies. Indeed the health and luxuriance of all garden productions, noticed in the very valuable paper on this subject from the pen of Dr. MacCulloch, which I shall quote hereafter, may be most amply confirmed. The broad and narrow leaved double flowering myrtle, constantly flourishing in the open air ; the orange perfecting its fruit, with the aid only of a wall, and only sometimes matted up, when the winter has been unusually severe for the island ; the bushy hydrangeers in shrubberies, equal in beauty probably with those growing in New South Wales, their native soil 5 all these bespeak a most favourable climature both for flowers as well as fruits ; the Guernsey figs, in particular, growing on stan- dards of great luxuriance, are of excellent quality, and sold at the market generally at a halfpenny each.

Quayle has remarked in 1815, that there was a standard fig tree in the garden of Mr. De Jersey, at Mon Plaisir, which had attained extraordinary dimensions in girth ; I find upon inquiry of Mr. De Jersey, that the tree is since dead. Mr. De J. gave the following particulars ; the trunk measured about two feet in diameter, the height about twenty feet ; and the branches covered a circumfe- rance of about one hundred and thirty feet 5 it was sup- posed to be the largest fig tree in the island, and to have been planted about 1760 ; the branches made one hundred and eighty-seven small faggots ; the trunk, arms, and roots, completely filled two large Guernsey carts. Dr. Mac Culloch says, having visited the island many years ago, I was much struck with the peculiar luxuriance exhibited by many plants, which either grow with reluctance, or refuse to grow at all, even in the mild climates of England. The variety and splendour of these productions, give a charac- ter to its horticulture, which is very impressive to an English visiter, and which excites surprise, when compared

with the very slight advantages of climate which this island from its geographical difference of position, appears to possess. Among all these productions, its amaryllis or Guernsey lily, is almost too well known to be enumerated. It is said to have been brought from Japan, a country pos- sessing such variety of climate, that it might well afford plants suited to any latitude. I think, however, it is fet a point to be ascertained, whether there is any thing in the climate of Guernsey, peculiarly favourable to the growth and flowering of this plant. This is a fact which cannot be determined, till the cultivation of it is carried on in England on the same scale on which it is practised in

In Guernsey, every gardener, and almost every petty farmer who has a piece of garden ground, appropriates a patch to this favoured root : and the few hundreds of flowers brought to England in the season, are the produce of thousands of roots. The average rate of flowering is about fifteen or eighteen in the hundred. The soil in which they are raised is light, and the beds are covered with sand ; in other respects, I do not recollect that there is any particular care taken of them, except that of keeping them very clean. It is however true, that the bulbs are frequently injured in the winter by frost, which has no effect upon the hardy geraniums : so that it would be re- quisite in England to guard against that danger ; at least, by matting, or occasionally covering the beds, in winter. I may add (says the Dr.) that some of its congeners, the amaryllis, bella-donna, vitata undulata, and formosissima, also flourish in Guernsey, without care, with great cer- tainty and vigour. A shrub of great beauty, the magnolia grandiflora, is well known to be shy of flowering in Eng- land, if we except the mild climate of Cornwall, to which that of Guernsey bears a near resemblance : in this island, however, its flowering is as certain as its growth is luxu-

riant. Among the more hardy of the tender plants, which here grow freely, and which Cornwall but rarely preserves through the rigour of winter, are the hydrangia hortenssi, glutinosum, and some others, which pass the winter with- out difficulty, and emulate in the summer the luxuriance they possess in their native climates.

Many tender and transient variety of flowers, and among ihem those of the pink tribe, are remarkable for the faci- lity and certainty with which they are propagated, and for the constancy of their characters : every rustic cottage is covered Avith geraniums, and ornamented with numerous varieties of pinks, rarely seen in England but among care- ful florists. Even the green-house cultivation is influenced by the climate. It is well known that the heliotroprtim Peruvianum, a plant otherwise of sufficiently easy cultiva- tion, in England is limited in its growth ; becoming- woody and feeble after it has attained a certain height : in Guernsey, on the contrary, if planted in the bed of earth in the house, although no artificial heat be applied, it soon fills the whole space ; running over the bed, and striking fresh roots from its branches as it advances. But of all those shrubs which require the protection of the green-house in England, the virbena tryphilla is that of which the luxuriance is in Guernsey the most remarkable : its miserable stinted growth, and bare wooden stem are well known to us : in Guernsey it thrives exposed, and becomes a tree of twelve or even eighteen feet in height ; spreading in a circle of equal diameter, and its long branches reaching down to the ground on all sides : its growth is indeed so luxuriant, that it is necessary to keep it from becoming troublesome, by perpetually cutting ; fresh shoots fourteen feet in length, resembling those of the osier willow, being annually produced.

I may also enumerate a few other plants, of tender con-

stitutions in Britain, which appear equally hardy in more uniform climate: the celtis macrantha, classed among our stove plants, grows, with very little care, out of doors : so do both the double and single varieties of camellia japo- nica; the latter often attaining the height of twenty feet. Some species of the olia are also hardy, as well as many of the proteas : the whole of which require, in our island, the shelter of a green-house ; such is the case also with many species of the genus cistus, and among them I may name, crispifolius, and ormosus. I may add to this enumeration, azoricum, nerium, oleander, clethra-arborea, daphne-odo- folia, gorteriarigens, together with a very large number of the genera ixia and irica, all equally requiring protection in England during our winter and many of them subject to perish at that season, notwithstanding this care. I need scarcely add, that the myrtle defies the greatest rigour of a Guernsey winter, and flourishes in the utmost luxu-

In the production of fruits, the gardens of this island are no less remarkable ; the superiority of its chaumontel pears are well known : a superiority which the grafts im- ported into England do not retain. The purple and green fig grow readily, as standards, and produce annually per- fect fruit. Many varieties of the melon ripen without glasses ; the Roman melon is even raised without the as- sistance of the hand-glass ; and is cultivated here in large quantities. The attempts to raise oranges have not been numerous ; but in different gardens there are trees of the Seville and sweet orange, both standing under the shelter of a wall, and producing perfect fruit in abundance every year : they require, however, to be protected by mats in the winter. But the circumstance to which I would chiefly call your attention, is the naturalization of the native of

very warm climates, the canana indica, a fact, which con- firms and illustrates the remarks made by sir Joseph Banks, on the naturalization of zirzania aquatica. This very tender plant has become thoroughly habituated to the climate ; scattering its seeds yearly so as to prove a weed in the gardens which it has occupied.

As Guernsey is famed for the culture and production of flowers and fruits, so is it also for vegetables ; all sorts of which, in their respective seasons, are to be found in the market in the greatest abundance ; some of them at one- third, and many others at half the price for which they can be purchased in England, and generally much earlier in the season, without being forced, than those in that country.

Brocoli is produced in such abundance, that great quan- tities are sent to supply the markets of Weymouth, South- ampton, &c, and even to France. Chaumontel pears are annually sent to England in great abundance ; also grapes, both from the hot and green-house, chiefly as presents. The late Peter Mourant, esq., of Candie, was the first person who erected a hot-house in this island, about the and he also wTas the first person who introduced pines, the cultivation of them however lasted only a few years. Aloes occasionally blossom in Guernsey in great perfection ; about thirty-five years ago, one of the large species of aloes blossomed at Cotils, near l'Hyvreuse, belonging to J. E. Tupper, esq. ; there was also another at Mr. Le Lievre's, at the Piette, in Glatney, which produced its flowers in 1814; and one also since that, at Candie, belonging to Peter Mourant, esq., which would have perfected the whole of its blossoms, had it not been maliciously destroyed by some ill-disposed youths. In 1823-4, another aloe blossomed in the garden of George Bell, esq., in Glatney ; all of which were about forty years old at the time of flowering. The last aloe which blossomed in this island,

was in 1827, belonging to J. Allaire, esq., of Mount Durant House. Nothing perhaps can show the difference of cli- mate more than the perfection of flowers ; while the aloe is a constant inhabitant of the green-house in England during winter, in this island it nourishes in the open air, without any particular care or attention.

Before quitting the subject of gardens, I cannot forbear mentioning the peculiarly neat mode of having their wall trees tied to upright pieces of painted deal, three quarters of an inch square, fastened to two or three cross rails, ac- cording to the height of the wall, of one inch square 5 which latter are fixed in between the joints of the stone or brick wall, by means of iron hooks, the upright pieces being nailed to the rails 3 the trees are attached to these uprights by means of osier willow shoots : this, and the espaliers also, being tied to such kind of frames, painted white, give a peculiar neatness to the gardens. It has been remarked by strangers, that they thought that the fruit could not ripen so well, the branches being from one inch to two, or more, from the wall : and some experienced English gardeners have also objected to this Guernsey mode, from its admitting a current of air between the branches and the wall j but there is no reason to complain of that in this island : beside the walls being chiefly built of stones, and irregular in their size, it would be more difficult to train the trees properly in another way.

It has been observed before, in Dr. Mac Culloch's essay, that the common fruits, the growth of the island, are in great abundance in their respective seasons : there is, however, a species of strawberry peculiar to it, which should be mentioned, as being two or three times the size of the largest of the others ; but what it gains in appearance, it loses in quality ; for the flavour is not to be compared either to the scarlet, the turkey, or the Carolina 5 the two last of which are mostly cultivated. There have lately been

introduced into the island some new sorts, called the rose- maphrodite hautbois, the Wellington, and other sorts, were sent to me by J. R. Neame, esq., a member of the Horticultural Society. Amongst the variety of wall-fruit in this island, is the delicious white nectarine ; the white cucumber is also cultivated.

I cannot better conclude the article of horticulture, than in the words of a late author ; a writer by no means par- tial either to the laws or inhabitants of the island, and therefore not prejudiced in its favour. Mr. Berry says, Such a profusion of flowers of all sorts unfold their varied hues and fruits ; and vegetation in general is so plentiful and luxuriant, that Flora and Pomona seem to vie with each other in lavish distribution on this their favoured isle.

Staff of the island. - His excellency general the right honourable sir W. Keppel, G. C. B., colonel of the 2d re- giment of foot, governor of Guernsey, Alderney, &c.

His excellency major-general John Ross, C. B., lieute- nant-governor, and commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in Guernsey, Alderney, &c.

Lieutenant E. Martin, fort major. Peter Bredthafft, deputy inspector of militia. Colonel John Guille, militia aide-de-camp to the king. W. Hamelin, F. C. Lukis, and William Collings, militia aides-de-camp to the lieutenant governor. Colonel Priaulx, militia commissary. Captain T. F. Simmons, deputy judge advocate for the islands of Guernsey and Serk, John Carey, his majesty's receiver- general. Peter Bredthafft, secretary to his excellency the commander-in-chief.

Engineer department. - Lieutenant-colonel Cardew, commanding royal engineers. - Steel, clerk of works. T. Jordan, clerk. J. W. Baker, foreman of carpenters. E. Sleater, office keeper. ,

Ordnance department. - F. Giddings, storekeeper. R. M. Ozanne, clerk. G. Anderson, Fort George, Lieu- tenant Knowles, Castle Cornet, master gunners. T. Jones, master armourer. W. L. Jeune, master cooper. J. Pat- tison, foreman of the labourers. J. Long, office keeper.

Barrack department. - Major Fortye, barrack-master. - Steel, clerk of works.

Rev. Havilland Durand, garrison chaplain.

Royal Court. - Daniel De Lisle Brock, bailiff, St.' Martin's. Jurats. - John La Serre, (lieutenant-bailiff,) Smith-street. John Guille, St. George, Catel. James Carey, Berthelot-street. John Le Mesurier, St. Peter's. Peter Le Pelley, Upper Clifton. John Hubert, Haute-ville. John LeMarchant, Court-street. William Collings, Grange- road. Hilary-Olivier Carre, Valnor. Frederick Mansell, Vauxbellets. P. B. Dobree., Beauregard. T. W. Gosselin,

His majesty's law officers. - C. De Jersey, attorney- general, Manor-street. J. T. De Sausmarez, solicitor-ge- neral, Smith-street. G. Lefebvre, his majesty's registrar, Manor-street. N. Lefebvre, his majesty's sheriff, Le Marchant-street. J. Barbet, his majesty's serjeant, Mar- ket-street. C. Lefebvre, deputy registrar, Court-street. T. Le Retilley, deputy sheriff, Le Marchant-street. P. Martin, ditto, Le Marchant-street. J. Barbet, jun., de- puty serjeant, Pedvin- street.

Advocates. - R. Mac Culloch, Manor-street. T. Falla, Manor-street. G. R. Radford, L. D., Hauteville. H. Tupper, B. D., Le Marchant-street. P. Jeremie, Le Marchant-street.

The States. - The States consists of the bailiff, twelve Jurats, and the attorney-general of the royal court, toge- ther with the beneficed clergy of the island, and the con-

stables and douzainiers of each parish. The governor, or his lieutenant, has no vote, only a deliberate voice in the meetings of the states, which are held in the royal court house, and the bailiff presides as speaker.

The principal business of what is termed the states of election, is the nomination of jurats, and appointment of the sheriff, in which every individual member is entitled to suffrage ; but the raising of money to defray public ex- penses, as occasion requires, is voted by what is called the states of deliberation ; yet this assembly has not the abso- lute power of creating or imposing new subsidies or taxes, but upon extraordinary emergencies, when the safety and immediate defence of the island absolutely requires it : a higher authority is necessary, and application must be made to the king, for his royal permission to levy what may be judged sufficient for the purposes proposed.

Whenever the king's service, or the exigence of the is- land, requires the assembling of the states of deliberation, the bailiff, with the consent of the governor, and in his absence, of the lieutenant-governor, or the commander in chief for the time being, hath a right to fix a day for the convention of the states, and to insert in the writs to be issued for their convention, the matters to be deliberated upon, without the concurrence of the jurats, or any of them ; but by usage, long observed, the bailiff, previous to the issuing such writs, communicates to the jurats, in the royal court, his intention of convening the states, and informs them of the day he proposes for their meeting, and the matters which will be contained in such writs for their deliberation. These writs are signed by the bailiff, and directed to the constables only, who communicate the same to the rectors, take the sense of the douzaine of their respective parishes upon the subjects specially set forth in such writ, and come prepared to give their voice accord- ingly 3 for, excepting in the election of magistrates, as be-

fore noticed, the douzainiers and constables do not attend individually, but give their assent or dissent collectively in each parish.

The members composing the states of election, are :

The bailiff, twelve jurats, and attorney-general 15

The eight rectors of the ten parishes (the Vale and St. Sampson's, the Forest and Torteval, being united. . 8

The two constables in each parish 20

The twelve douzainiers in each, excepting the town pa- rish, St. Peter's Port, wherein there are twenty, and the Vale having sixteen, making together 132

The states of deliberation consist of :

The bailiff, twelve jurats, and attorney-general 14

The eight rectors of the ten parishes 8

The united voice of the constables and douzainiers of

each parish 10

At the assembly of the states of deliberation, a commit- tee is appointed for the auditing of all public accounts of receipts and disbursements ; public works for the general benefit of the island are proposed, maturely considered and ordered, and deputies appointed to carry over such ad- dresses and memorials to his majesty and the privy council, as may be deemed necessary or expedient for the general welfare of the island.

The revenue of the states consists of harbour dues, du-

Port, assistant-supervisor ; office kept at States' House, St. Peter's court. D. Mac Culloch and H. A. Mansell, recei- vers of the states' dues on spirituous liquors ; States' House, St. Peter's court. J. De Carteret, harbour master of St. Peter-Port. P. Collas, deputy harbour master ; of- fice at States' House, St. Peter's court. M. P. Goodwin, surveyor of the roads and public works ; Paris-street.

St. Peter-Port and its institutions, with a promenade in the

town and its environs. Perhaps no aquatic excursion in Great Britain is more interesting to the traveller than from Southampton to the Channel Islands, both for the variety of its scenery and the novelty exhibited.

On leaving the town of Southampton, the banks of the river present to the eye a variety of magnificent villas and stately mansions, the new forest to the right and the ancient ruins of Netley Abbey to the left, call to our re- membrance the history of former times, when William the Conqueror laid waste villages and destroyed thirty-six parish churches to enclose the former, and the reckless Henry seized the revenues of the latter and left it to moul- der and decay.

Calshot castle, a renovated fort of the Conqueror, and the isle of Wight with its undulating scenery, next attract the attention ; its cliffs of chalk in every variety of colour are, to the curious, unique in their appearance. The towns of Lymington and Yarmouth, with their contributing streams, Hurst castle, and a continuation of forest scenery, render the approach to the Needles particularly interesting.

As the packets generally leave Southampton to clear the Needles in the evening, the last thing worthy of notice is the havoc which time has made in that part of the island : the inlet, once fordable at low water, and at a remote period a peninsula, is now a channel for the largest ships to pass. The southern part of the island is one continued succession of cliffs, exceedingly rugged, without a single tree on its barren downs, forming a striking contrast with the northern part, and the rich forest scenery left behind. For several hours after losing sight of the isle of Wight,

the expanse of the ocean and firmament are the only visi- ble objects until you have in view the Casket lighthouses. The passage to Guernsey and Jersey, by way of South- ampton, is generally preferred, as, during nearly three parts of the year, there are excellent steam packets, fitted up in the first style for the accommodation of passengers 3 and at all times there are trading vessels in which the voyage may be undertaken with every prospect of expedition and

As there are many views of coasts on both sides from Southampton to the Needles, which are highly picturesque and beautiful, a good telescope, should the weather be clear and the sea calm, will afford considerable gratification.

The Caskets form a cluster of rocks, about a mile in circumference, on which are erected a telegraph and three lighthouses, with revolving lights, fifty feet above high water mark, and can be seen five or six leagues distant ; each of these lights is visible in the course of one minute ; they are then dull for the same space, and afterwards the three lights appear exceedingly brilliant. In this dreary region it is extremely dangerous for strange vessels to approach during the storms in winter. The keepers of the lights have always an ample store of provisions and other necessaries for six months, landed on the Caskets during the summer. In tempestuous weather, flights of birds are often attracted by the lights ; and, although the glasses are thick, they are often broken to pieces by the rapidity of their approach. Nature seems to have reserved this barren rock as a remnant of a more extensive territory ; and, from its local situation, without the precautions taken, the wrecks in the Channel would no doubt be exceedingly

Alderney presents to the imagination a more fortuitous appearance than the Caskets ; it is about four miles in length, and two in breadth 3 the land is high in some pla-

ees, but shelving towards the shores : it seems first to have been_stripped of its primitive soil by the ocean, and in some measure restored by an influx of sand, as the only possible retribution for that which it had originally taken away.

In steering towards the little Russel, the barren rocks bordering the parishes of the Vale and St. Sampson, as also Herm and Jethou, present themselves, making a ge- neral impression to the stranger of the most abject steri- lity. On reaching the roadstead, however, the scene* becomes peculiarly pleasant - the southern parts of Herm and Jethou seem to have regained fresh verdure, whilst Serk and Jersey, in the distance, do not fail in their effect. The town of St. Peter' s-Port, standing on a steep acclivity, presents a panoramic view seldom surpassed - the build- ings, rising in succession to the summit of the hill, form a natural amphitheatre, not excelled by Algiers, or the city of Naples. Castle Cornet, in the picture, assumes a threat- ening attitude ; the crenelated walls, with pointed artillery, indicate a warm reception to those who come inimically within their range. The well-mounted bastions of Fort George, with the circumjacent batteries, present an assu- rance of strength and lasting security to the Sarnian race.

Castle Cornet is a fortress erected on a solid rock, in the roadstead of St. Peter's Port, about seven hundred yards from the shore, and is so fortified by nature and art, as to render it almost impregnable. Some historians have at- tributed its first erection to the Romans ; but there are neither records nor traces left to justify so remote an origin. During the contest between Stephen and Henry the Se- cond, Raoul de Valmont was appointed governor of Guernsey, and made the castle his residence, and is sup- posed to have added much to the present building. A melancholy catastrophe happened, in the year 1672, by the explosion of a magazine, the particulars of which are to be found in our historical department, page 18.

The following is an anecdote found amongst the private papers of Napoleon Bonaparte, not generally known. It states, that when the emperor was in the zenith of his power in France, he meditated a descent on the channel islands, to add them to the province of Normandy, from whence they originally emanated. He fitted out a strong fleet and armament, in the harbour of Brest, for that pur- pose j but the night previous to the embarkation of the troops, the weather proved hazy, and a mirage appeared in the air, exceedingly brilliant, and remained visible to the whole fleet and inhabitants of Brest, for several hours. It contained a clear representation of castle Cornet, with the following lines in legible letters : -

I ken my strength sae weel, If you touch my isle of Guernsey, I'll blaw you to the de'el."

It is strange, that even men of the brightest mental faculties are sometimes so much under the influence of superstition, that trifles are often converted into insur- mountable obstacles : certain it is, however, that when the above lines were interpreted to the emperor, by a Scotch prisoner of war, he relinquished the enterprise, and never again attempted the intended conquest.

This castle forms an irregular pentagonal fort, consisting of bastions, demi-bastions and curtains, erected as the na- ture of the place will admit, and those according to the different theories adopted by engineers at the periods of their erection. It is at all times provided with every thing necessary for its defence ; there are bombproof apartments for more than three hundred men, ammunition stores suf- ficiently capacious, and magazines for more than five hun- dred barrels of gunpowder, and the furnaces for red hot shot are well arranged at convenient distances. Besides

the artillery and infantry barracks, there are well arranged houses for officers, together with a bakehouse, a well giving an abundant supply of water, a chapel, hospital, canteen, guard rooms, prison, &c. : there was formerly a sally port from the castle, by a gate which is now to be seen, but the covert way is filled up. On the top of the rampart is a flag staff, on which the union jack is hoisted ever)" Sunday, and the royal standard on particular occasions ; here is also a signal post communicating with the one at Fort George, which announces all vessels approaching the island. To giye a minute description of the strength and defects of this venerable building would far exceed the limits of this work, suffice it to say that no powers of delineation can give an adequate idea of its beauties, and no imagination, however fertile, can have the features of the original : nothing short of an actual survey will be found adequate to do justice to its admirable scenery. There are nume- rous guns of different calibre, the heaviest metal are sixty- eight pounders. Mr. Knowles, with his family, now occupy the governor s house : the affability of this gentleman to the visitors of this castle needs no comment ; his courtesy to strangers uniformly commands their esteem, this gentle- man, after a long series of years in actual service on the continent, his bravery, ability and promptitude are rewarded by this further trust on his integrity,

St. Peter's Port is the only town in the island : it does not appear by any document now extant, at what time its most ancient buildings were erected ; but it is evident that during the reign of Edward the First, the inhabitants were not only numerous, but comfortable in circumstances, as, in the year 1275, they petitioned to have a pier erected for the use of such vessels as were then employed in their commerce, as well as for the accommodation of foreigners ; this petition was granted, and in order to erect a pier and maintain its repairs, Edward gave to the proper authorities

the privilege of levying a small duty on all foreign ships trading to the island ; from this we may infer that the town had risen to importance long before that period, as also in reference to well authenticated records, we find that in the year 1274 there were two chapels, viz. St. Julian's and St. Jacques, belonging to the town parish, which were then considered large enough to contain all the religious part of the community ; but as they increased in wealth and popu- lation, they felt the necessity of erecting a church for the further accommodation of the increased population, which was finished in the reign of Edward the Second, and con- secrated to St. Peter on the first day of August, 1312. It is aplain, handsome and noble building, standing contiguous to the quay leading to the south pier ; it possesses a good peal of eight bells, and a rich toned organ. By the removal of several decayed houses, some few years since, and the old fish market in 1 832, this edifice is rendered much more ele- gant in its appearance by the addition of some iron railing, suited to the sweep of the new road leading from the south pier to Fountain-street. At this period there are but indis- tinct traces of the most ancient parts of St. Peter-Port, in consequence of the removal of the old buildings, the altera- tions of others, and the erection of many good houses in their stead ; but what is termed Old Town commences, on the north, at the end of Pollet- street, from thence it pro- ceeds towards the church inclining a little to the west up Smith-street, comprehending the Carrefour, High- street, part of Berthelot-street and the houses near the church ; you then pass up Cornet- street to Tower-hill and to Burnt-lane, which comprise the south and south-west parts, which also take in the upper part of the Bordage with Haut-pave and Mill-street, nearly in a line from Tower-hill to Burnt-lane : this may be considered the boundaries of the Old Town. The streets, like most pri- mitive or ancient places, were very narrow, and of course

very inconvenient for the conveyance of goods or for the comfort of passengers, as the gutters were in the centre of the streets, and the houses had then no sort of shute to carry off the superfluous water : but time has effected many improvements to the inhabitants. The houses are, for the most part, built of blue granite or granitel, covered with slate or pantiles, their heights vary according to situation and circumstances, some of them being four and others eight stories. The streets are paved with the granite of the is- land, and the introduction of a causeway is now become general when the width of the street will admit. Since the visit of that epidemic the. cholera morbus, the streets are kept constantly swept, by a sufficient number of scavengers, and from the inclined plane on which they are formed, the frequent rains tend to render the town peculiarly healthy - drains are now held in high requisition, from its having been found by experience, that narrow and confined places, without the benefit of ventilation and drainage, became the focus of attraction, and where that malignant scourge com-

The New Town comprehends the streets and buildings more recently erected than those already described : it extends to the upper part of Berthelot and Smith-street, Ann's Place, to the Canichers, which form its northern boundary ; whilst Mount Durant, Country Mansell, and Hauteville, bound it on the south. The principal public buildings in the New Town are St. James's church, the Royal Court House, Elizabeth College, Government House, the new Prison, Eldad and several other chapels. Although the New Town is accessible from the old by se- veral streets, yet Smith-street, from its recent improve- ments, is now the principal thoroughfare. Another, also much improved, is through Country Mansell to the Vau- vert road. The other entrances, by Constitution steps, Berthelot-street, and others, are, on account of their steepness, very little frequented.

The western part of the New Town contains five prin- cipal streets, running north and south nearly parallel to each other. The nearest to the Old Town is New-street, containing many new built houses, an independent chapel, and Payne's hotel, celebrated for the uniformity of atten- tion, and the excellence of its accommodations. Clifton- street stands more elevated than the latter, extending round the summit of the hill. Saumarez-street, opposite the college gates, is spacious, well paved and uniformly built, and is one of the most respectable streets in either Old or New Town. Several lodging houses are in this street, and chosen as a residence by most strangers in preference, from its quiet and clean appearance. In this street there is also a spacious methodist chapel, and, ad- Joining it, a well regulated infant school. St. John-street, and Havilland-street communicating with the Grange road, are principally composed of second rate houses, with se- veral livery stables. George Place stands at the southern extremity of Havilland-street ; the houses being lofty command an extensive prospect, and are occupied by fa- milies of distinction.

The Harbour is small, but very secure, and of suf- ficient magnitude for the present trade of the island. It was originally erected by Edward the First, who ordered a levy of twelve sous tournois on all ships arriving in the island, and six on all boats, to be continued for three years ; but although the duty was levied, it was not ap- plied to the purposes intended till the year 1570, when the bailiff and jurats were empowered to enforce the reasona- ble toll for the completion and future repairs of the pier and bulwarks. The south pier, which is about two hundred and fifty yards in length, was completed in 1580, and in 1660, an order in council was issued to enforce the proper application of the duties. In 1 684, the north pier was ordered by the court, but the erection did not take place

till the reign of queen Anne : it is upwards of one hun- dred and fifty yards in length, and in height about thirty- five feet. The pier duties were originally let, but, in 1 781 , a receiver was appointed by the states, who appropriated the proceeds to the purposes intended. The manner of its erection is well worthy of observation : the stones are piled one on another, so that their bearings act as tyers. This regularity renders the work capable of withstanding the violence of the sea ; the upper part of the walls is without mortar, but it was usual in those days to use a certain portion in the foundations. These piers afford the utmost security to vessels in tempestuous weather, being well suited to the purpose intended ; they are partially paved with fine flag stones, and guarded by excellent pa- rapets. The south pier has a beautiful promenade, where merchants meet to transact their business, and learn the passing events ; on it is a light house, with a brilliant gas burner, which serves as a guide to vessels coming into the roads, and is of the utmost importance to others leav- ing the harbour. The north pier has a crane for shipping horses and other cattle, as well as for heavy merchandize.

The Pier Guard House stands near the entrance to the south pier. It is a neat building, with a handsome colonade in front, and consists of two rooms for the reception of a file of men and an officer. This guard was originally es- tablished in 1677, and a house erected for the reception of captain Eaton, who was sent from England with troops, on the approach of a war with France. Prior to this pe- riod, the pier, as well as the streets, were paraded by a mi- litia guard, under the direction of the town constables. The present building was erected on the site of the ancient guard house, at the joint expense of the states and the crown j but it is now the property of the latter.

Town Church. - This edifice was built previous to the year 1312, for we find it was consecrated on the first of

August, in that year, by Martin Caezar, bishop of Con- tance, being the last church in the island consecrated by a catholic bishop. The architecture is strictly according to the style adopted at that period ; it contains tasteful mo- numents and cenotaphs, well worthy of notice, a well toned organ, and a peal of eight bells. The view of this build- ing has been much improved of late, by the removal of some circumjacent minor buildings, and the interior has undergone a thorough repair. The pews are of Dutch wainscot, and other materials equally important in remo- deling such an interior : it is now not only comfortable but an elegant church. The pulpit is considered a mas- terly specimen of workmanship, and well worthy the at- tention of the curious. There are three services performed every Sunday, two in French and one in English ; at each of which there is a sermon. Every day are prayers in French, commencing at ten o'clock in the morning ; and the sacrament is administered quarterly, both in English and French. The church contains sufficient sittings for fifteen hundred persons. The officiating ministers are the very reverend Nicholas Carey, A.M., the dean of Guernsey, and the reverend Daniel Dobree, curate.

Jacob says, " Whilst making the alterations and im- provements in the church of St. Peter-Port, in the year 1821, in laying open the north-east chapel or engine- house, an ancient niche was discovered, which appears to have been formed at two distinct periods, the upper stones being of the same granite as the portico of the north en- trance, and carved on the same model ; the two imposts, with the lettuce leaf in high relief, are of Caen volite, and appear of more modern workmanship. Three other niches were discovered in the east chapels ; the two near the communion-table were too much mutilated to be restored, the other in the south-east chapel was however preserved. Three or four others were found ; one in the south aisle,

of granite, is in good preservation, the rest were broken ; these last bear the same appearance as the north portico, and may be considered as coeval with the original building. An octagonal baptismal font of shell marble, with its pillar, was also discovered buried under the steps leading to the ecclesiastical court.

St. James's Church stands to the east of Elizabeth college ; the foundation stone was laid on the first day of secrated by tie bishop of Salisbury, he having been de- puted to perform that solemn ceremony by the bishop of Winchester. It is an elegant structure, and contains some good displays of architectural harmony ; a part may be said to be in the grecian style, and some other parts agree- able to the doric order. It has a neat portico, with a dome on a tower, which is not furnished with a peal of bells, agreeable to ancient usage. An elegant and rich toned organ graces this church, whose galleries render the whole one continued and uniform building. Church service is performed here in English only, and, without the consent of the rector, no marriage ceremony can be performed in it. The services, on Sunday, commence at half-past ten in the morning, and at half-past six in the evening. The sacra- ment is administered every six weeks : prayers are read every Wednesday and Friday, and a lecture every evening of the former clay. The erection of this church cost nearly seven thousand one hundred pounds, and is calculated to contain about thirteen hundred persons. There are two and Dawson.

Trinity Chapel, situated in Country Mansell, leading to Mansell-street, Pedvin, and Bordage, was erected by private individuals, under the sanction of an order in council, dated July the 8th, 1772, ancl was opened for divine service, according to the church ritual, on the fifth

day of July, 1789, having cost the proprietors the sum of three thousand three hundred and forty pounds. It is exceedingly neat in its internal arrangements, has a small well toned organ, and will contain six or seven hundred persons. The service, under the stipulation of which it was erected, is in the French language, commencing at ten o'clock every Sunday morning, and at half-past six in the evening ; and on the Thursday evening at half-past six. The sacrament is administered quarterly ; but nei- ther marriages nor baptisms are admittedftn the chapel. The late chaplain, the reverend Mr. De Joux, having pro- mulgated doctrines contrary to those inculcated by the established church, was suspended from his functions as a minister, and ejected from the chapel by a peremptory mandate from the bishop of Winchester ; and, until the appointment of another, the duties are at present per- formed by the resident clergy.

Bethel Chapel, a small well arranged building, situ- ated in Manor-street, near the royal court, was built by the followers of Whitfield, in 1791 ; but, as they relinquish- ed their duties, it became vacant, and, in 1796, was pur- chased by private individuals of the church establishment. For some time the service was performed, alternately, in French and English ; but, ultimately, from the increased number of English residents, the French service was dis- continued, and it has since been performed entirely in English. The service, in the morning, commences at half- past ten, and in the evening at half-past six, of each Sunday. The present chaplain is the reverend Mr. Tayler, one of the masters of Elizabeth College.

The Bryanites, on leaving Park-street chapel, now occupied by the reverend Mr. De Joux, removed to a small chapel in Vauvert road, called Providence. Their numbers have of late much decreased, and their tenets, which are scarcely explicable, are so little suited to Sarnian suscepti- bility, that their stability rests on a tottering foundation.

Clifton -street Chapel, for independent calvinists, was erected in 1 823. It is a plain stone building, and will contain about four hundred persons. Every Sunday morn- ing the service commences at ten, and in the evening at six o'clock : they have also meetings every Tuesday and Thursday, at seven p. m. There is a Sunday school at- tached to this society : minister, the reverend Mr. S. Laxon.

Ebenezer Chapel, for the methodist persuasion, is si- tuated in Saumarez-street, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1815. This chapel is built of blue granite, and sufficiently capacious to contain one thousand five hundred persons. The services, which are in English, com- mence on Sundays at half-past ten a. m., and at six p. m., and every Wednesday and Friday evening at seven o'clock. The present officiating clergyman of this chapel is the re- verend Mr. Pratten. Adjoining this is a numerously at- tended Sunday and an infant school.

Eldad Chapel is a spacious stone building, situated at the upper end of St. John-street, near George-place. Its erection was completed in the beginning of ] 83 1 , and it was opened for divine service the last Sunday of April in that year. The order of church government observed therein is congregational ; and the hours of divine service, on the sabbath, are, in the. morning at half-past ten, and in the evening at half-past six. This chapel will conve- niently hold eight hundred persons. Its congregation is both numerous and respectable. The present officiating minister is the reverend William Morris.

French Independents have a room at Tower hill, ca- pable of containing one hundred persons. The Sunday service commences at half-past nine in the morning, and at six in the evening ; and on Wednesday evenings at the same hour. The ministers are supplied from the different

The Jews have no synagogue in Guernsey, although

there are many residents who publicly profess that creed ; others, for reasons best known to themselves, have become apostates to their primitive faith, and relinquished the re- ligion of their ancestors.

A Jesuit's College was attempted to be established in Guernsey, in 1828. Three persons of that fraternity made a most assiduous exertion to make a permanent footing : but a meeting of the principal inhabitants was convened, and under the auspices of lord de Sausmarez, the dean of the island, and the royal court, prompt measures were resolved on ; when the Jesuits, finding their scheme likely to become abortive, precipitately left the island.

Methodist Chapel, Le Merchant-street, was the first erected in Guernsey for the Wesleyan methodists. The foundation stone was laid by the reverend Dr. Adam Clark, commences at nine a. m., two and six p. m., every Sunday, and on Tuesdays and Fridays at seven in the evening. The building is of brick, and capable of containing seven hundred persons. The reverend J. De Putron is the officiating minister.

New-street Chapel was erected in 1811, for indepen- dent dissenters. It is a stone building, capable of con- taining six hundred persons. The service is in the French language, commencing on Sundays at half-past ten in the morning, and six in the evening. The present minister is the reverend Mr. Hine.

Park-stkeet Chapel was originally built for the Bry- anites, afterwards occupied by Mr. Jonathan Porter as an infant school, and recently opened by the reverend Mr. De Joux, late chaplain of Trinity. The liturgy of the church of England is omitted in the Sunday ser- vice, and prayer meetings are held at stated hours during the week. Service commences at half-past ten a. m., and

meetings take place every Tuesday and Thursday at seven o'clock in the evening.

The Quakers' Meeting House, in Clifton- street, is a small building, there being but few of that sect in the is- land. They assemble every Sunday morning at ten o'clock, and in the afternoon at two. A few of the sect have se- ceded from their original tenets : these meet every Sunday and Wednesday, in Paris-street, when persons of both sexes are admitted, who may with freedom deliver their opinions on all matters of religion.

Roman Catholic Chapel, situated in Burnt lane, is a neat stone building, capable of containing four hundred persons. The foundation stone was laid in June, 1828, and consecrated by the bishop of Leeds, September 1 3, 1829. The roof of this chapel is curiously constructed, and well worthy of notice. The Irish catholic soldiers of the garrison attend every Sunday morning at eleven, after the French service, which commences at half-past nine ; and vespers commence at six o'clock p. m. The officiating clergyman is chaplain to the catholic forces in the island, and receives a stipend from government. How great the contrast between the present liberal feeling and that evinced in 1 688, when a fear of the introduction of popery induced the military and militia of this island to disarm the catholic forces, and take possession of castle Cornet. It is to be observed, that there are no native catholics ; the congregation consists chiefly of the garrison, with a few French and Irish families.

Salem Chapel is situated in Vauvert road, near Burnt lane : it was erected in 1830, for congregationalists. The building, which is of granite, is judiciously arranged, and capable of containing from four to five hundred persons. The service commences at half-past ten in the morning, and at half-past six in the evening. The officiating mi- nister is the reverend Jonathan Porter.

Siom Chapel is a building of granite, situated at the top of Clifton steps, in Clifton-street, and was erected in 1829, for members of the calvinistic persuasion. The service is in French, commencing at half-past ten in the morning, and at six in the evening of every Sunday, r ud at seven on Thursdays. This building is capable of containing from five to six hundred persons. The present officiating mi- nister is the reverend Mr. Cachemaille.

The Unitarians first held their meetings in a room in Manor-street, commencing April 8, 1821 ; they have since, however, removed to a room originally used as the girls' national school, Hospital lane. They meet on Sundays at half-past ten a. m., and at six p. m. The officiating minister is Mr. Samuel Weston.

Elizabeth College is situated on an eminence, to the west of St. James's church, commanding an extensive view of the channel islands, and a portion of the French coast. This edifice is built of solid granite, covered with roman cement, and presents to the eye a beautiful specimen of chaste, modern, monastic architecture. Its uniform front, surmounted by angular towers ; its castellated parapets, and well proportioned pinnacles, render it one of the most attractive objects in the island of Guernsey.

In reverting to that period of history when queen Eli- zabeth munificently endowed many grammar schools in England, her majesty was not unmindful of her subjects in Guernsey; for, in 1563, letters patent were granted, as- signing eighty quarters of wheat rent for the endowment of a school, to be called " the school of queen Elizabeth," to be held in perpetuity by the schoolmaster and his suc- cessors, chosen by the states.

The eighty quarters accrued originally from a number of small parcels, formerly given for romish dispensations, obits, masses, &c, but since, incorporated into thirty-one rents, amounting only to seventy-eight quarters.

Although this school was no doubt intended, by the founder, as was the case with most of the endowed schools of Elizabeth, to be a free grammar school, yet it is not so expressed by the letters patent.

Various were the vicissitudes of this establishment, from its foundation up to the period of its becoming a college 5 for, notwithstanding the population of the island, it seems never to have exceeded twenty-nine pupils, sometimes two, and at other periods not a single scholar. At the instiga- tion of sir John Colborne, lieutenant-governor of the is- land, a committee was appointed to consider the best means of placing this institution on a more extensive footing, to keep pace with the improvements of the age, and to give to the natives the means of receiving a more general education, and at a moderate expense. After many consultations and deliberations, the reverend Nicho- las Carey resigned his situation as master, on a pension of sixty pounds per annum ; when the committee, in 1 824, appointed a successor, with a salary of three hundred pounds per annum, under the name and title of principal of Elizabeth college 5 and the business was conducted in a temporary building, till the completion of the present

Patron. - The right honorable sir William Keppel, G. C. B.,* governor of the island.

Permanent visitors. - His excellency major-general John Ross, C. B.,* lieutenant-governor. The very reverend Nicholas Carey, M. A.,* dean.

Special visitors are appointed by the king, when deemed

Directors. - Daniel De Lisle Brock, esq.,* bailiff; pre- sident. John La Serre, esq.,* lieutenant-bailiff. The very reverend the dean,* as rector of St. Peter-Port. The reverend Richard Potenger, M. A. j Harry Dobrde, esq., J treasurer. The reverend Thomas Grut, B. A.f

John Hubert, esq.f Frederick C. Lukis, esq.f Jo seph Collings, esq.^: John Guille, esq.f James Carey, esq.f John Carey, esq.f The reverend Havilland Du- rand, M. A.,f secretary.

Clerk. - Mr. James Du Port.

* By virtue of their office. t Appointed by the States.

t Appointed by the lieutenant-governor.

Principal.* - Reverend William Lewis Davies, M. A., late Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford.

* Appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the directors.

Vice-Principal. - Reverend Charles Joseph Belin, B. A., late Fellow of New College, Oxford ; B. es L., of the Uni- versity of Paris.

Masters. - First Classical : Reverend Daniel Dobree, M. A. - Mathematical : Reverend Charles Tayler, B. A. Downing College, Cambridge. - Lower School : Mr. Henry Drury. - Upper French: M. Louis-Nicolas Le Courtois, French : M. Guillaume Bouilly. - Commercial School : Mr. Henry Northcote, Royal Academy, Gosport. - English Master : Mr. Archibald Lamont. - Drawing and Survey- ing : Mr. Thomas Compton, Royal Military Academy,

Extra Masters. - German : John Douglas Piercey, Ph : Jur : St : Ma : of the Royal Bavarian University, Wiirtz- burg. - Italian : M. Guillaume Bouilly. - Spanish : vacant. Fencing : Alexandre-Victor-Marie Bourdic.

Terms of the extra masters, per quarter : German £2 : 2 ;

Terms for board and tuition, per annum : With the Mathematical Master, j850.

These terms include the college dues, amounting to twelve pounds per annum ; subscriptions to the various

annual prizes of exhibitions and medals 5 single bed ; washing; servants, and residence during the vacations, except the summer vacation.

The course of education, beginning with the rudiments of grammar, advances to the highest classics studied in the British public schools. Next to divinity (in which is in- cluded, if desired, the study of the Hebrew language), the classics and mathematics are considered the most impor- tant branch of the system, as qualifying more immediately for the universities j but the distribution of the school hours is so arranged, that every scholar may, without in- terfering with the above pursuits, acquire an adequate knowledge of commercial arithmetic, and such proficiency in the French language as will fit him for future situations in active life, independently of the learned professions. The opportunity of combining with these studies those of other modern languages, military and civil architecture, drawing and surveying, affords many additional advantages, particularly if a scholar should afterwards be removed to either of the royal academies at Woolwich or Portsmouth, or to one of the colleges at Sandhurst, Hayleybury, or Addiscombe. The system is so modified as fairly to meet the exigencies of individual cases.

The Town Hospital is situated in Hospital lane, a short distance from St. James's church : the foundation stone was laid in 1 742, and finished the year following. No charitable institution can possibly be better arranged for the comforts of its inmates than this place. Mr. Ni- cholas Dobree, a native of the island, and resident in Ge- neva, was the principal, if not the sole projector of this building ; a Mr. James Perchard subscribed one thou- sand pounds ; and another, who concealed his name, one hundred pounds. It stands on an eminence, on a terrace, elevated about four feet, and one hundred and fifty feet long. The building itself is of stone ; one hundred and ten

feet long, forty feet broad, two stories, with garrets, and eleven sash windows in each story j under ground are vaults and cellars. The prompt attention of the founders of this laudable institution, both as to external appearance and internal arrangements, will redound to their credit to the latest posterity.

This building has several well arranged outhouses, com- prising bakehouse, washhouse, storehouse, and rooms to confine the insane and disorderly, with a good garden. A house of separation was built in 1832, for the most disorderly, where the men grind corn by means of a hand- mill, and also break stones for the roads $ the women have sundry work given them to execute : their diet is coarser than that of the hospital. The inmates of this house, when there are any, regularly attend divine service on the sabbath. The land on which the whole stands, is more than an english acre, all enclosed with stone walls of about twenty feet high. From 1809 to 1824 various improvements were made in the building, by adding a new wing, and other alterations equally beneficial. The inmates are neatly clad and well fed, and in their general appearance exhibit the traits of comfort. In summer the rooms are well ventilated, and, in winter, well supplied with fire. The rooms in which they sleep are sufficiently large for the admission of a free current of air, by which health is preserved.

All strangers meeting with an accident are placed here, and plentifully supplied with every thing necessary to their wants, until they can be removed with propriety to their homes. The doors of this eminent establishment are open at all hours to receive the unfortunate of every nation, kindred, or colour. The expenses of these casualties are paid by the constables, who levy a separate tax on the parish for this purpose. There is a school here for the boys under ten years of age, containing fifty-six, con-

ducted by Mr. Renouf, with a salary of forty pounds per annum ; they are taught to read, write and cypher : those above that age are usually employed as circumstances and the abilities of the boys will permit. The girls, which are forty-one in number, are under the care of Miss Guilliard, with a salary of fifteen pounds per annum, and are kept separate, in a building called the girls' school ; here they are taught reading French and English, writing, cypher- ing, needlework and knitting ; and when of a sufficient age are bound as servants. There is within the precincts of this establishment a dining hall, which is used as a chapel, with an appointed chaplain, who alternately performs the duties in French and English. The annual average for the support of this establishment, is about one thousand eight hundred and fifty pounds ; besides which there are certain rents due to it, which are ex- pended for the maintenance of the house generally. On entering the hospital a visiter cannot avoid being struck by the decorum, the cleanliness here apparent ; and but too often strangers to such establishments, on a very minute examination of every part of the building, at a moment too when the inspection of a stranger must have been utterly unlooked for, it would be withholding due praise from merit, not to declare, that the Guernsey town hospital is in a state of perfect good order, and as well conducted as any similar establishment in the United Kingdom. Dicey says, " Whilst this hospital provides for the necessities of the body, it takes care also of its more important part, the soul." It is, properly speaking, a nursery for religion and virtue, by having daily prayers, and scriptures constantly read and properly expounded, and the children instructed in the early principles of Chris- tianity, in conformity to the church of England.

When the above account was written, in 1833, the number of inmates of this establishment was one hundred

and thirty-five males, and one hundred and forty-one fe- males, - total two hundred and seventy-six.

The Royal Court House, situated in Manor-street, is a uniform compact building, erected in 1 799, at an expense to the States of seven thousand pounds ; but subsequent alterations being necessary, a further sum of two thousand and fifty-seven pounds, eighteen shillings and ninepence was judiciously expended, making a total of nine thousand and fifty-seven pounds, eighteen shillings and ninepence. It is built with hewn granite, forming a front elevation sel- dom surpassed in the neatness and harmony of its archi-

The interior may be divided into three principal depart- ments : the greffe otfice, the lower and upper courts, with their retiring and consulting rooms.

The greffe office is to the right of the grand entrance hall: here all records are kept and contracts entered. The registry of actions at law, together with the decisions of court, although exceedingly voluminous, are arranged with the strictest order and regularity.

In the lower court all petty causes are heard, before the bailiff or his lieutenant, and two or more jurats : private examinations are made and contracts passed prior to re- gistration at the greffe office. Adjoining the lower court, there is a committee room for the accommodation of the

The upper court, or palais de justice, is a spacious and magnificent hall, well arranged for the transaction of public business. The magistrates, twelve in number, take their seats on the bench, right and left of the bailiff, according to seniority. Next on the side benches, the king's officers right and left, and the advocates according to the dates of their admission.

The greifier is seated within the bar, immediately below the bailiff 5 he reads over the causes, in rotation, according

as they are set for trial, and takes a copy of each decision to be registered in his own office after the business of court. In front of the bench and bar a large space has been alotted for the audience, with seats rising in succession, capable of containing several hundreds of persons.

In a niche, near the bench, is a statue of justice blind- folded, with scales, to recall to their daily remembrance the oaths they have taken j and on the walls hang the full length portraits, in oil, of admiral lord De Saumarez, ge- neral sir John Doyle, and a three quarter portrait of general sir John Colborne.

In the upper court, all causes not admissible in the lower court, whether civil or criminal, are tried, and gene- rally before a full bench of magistrates. In addition to the jurisdiction of equity and admiralty within its bailiwick, the royal court can separate man and wife from bed and board ; it appoints guardians to all orphan children, and likewise for those of drunken and worthless persons. It is also to be remarked, that all appeals from the decision of this court are to his majesty and to the lords of the privy council. The members of the royal court, are coroners of the island. In this place also the states hold their meet- ings, to transact all public matters relative to the island.

The retiring room for the magistrates is adjoining the egress from the bench, and the consulting room for the advocates, their clients and witnesses, is on the same floor at the top of the grand staircase.

Near the royal court house, stables and other conve- niences have been erected for the horses and carriages of the country jurats. Upon the whole, the convenient ar- rangements of this court render it infinitely superior to many of the country courts in England.

Terms of Court. - There are three terms, each open for the space of six weeks ; the first commences on the first Monday after January 15 th ; the second on the first Mon-

day after Easter ; and the third on the first Monday after the 29th September.

The mobilaire courts, in which pleas are determined for moveables or chattels, are held on Mondays, the pa- rishes being divided into districts : the low parishes com- prising St. Peter-Port, St. Sampson, and the Vale, being assigned one Monday ; and the high parishes, viz. St. Saviour, Torteval, St. Peter, the Forest, St. Martin, the Catel and St. Andrew, each alternately.

On the Tuesdays succeeding the Monday's court, for the low parishes, judgments or final decrees are given, and on the Tuesday next after the court Jbr the high parishes which are decided all suits relative to inheritance.

The Saturday courts are held for the passing of con- tracts, admiralty causes, and criminal informations ; the other court days, in or out of term, being assigned to the hearing of general causes ; but the Saturday courts for cri- minal causes, continue from the chief pleas of Easter to the middle of July. From Michaelmas to Christmas, and from January 15th till the ascension week.

The administration of the laws of Guernsey, both as regards civil and criminal causes, is attended with equal leniency, discernment and strict justice, as in any other court throughout his majesty's dominions.

The New Prison is situated in New-street, near the royal court-house, and cost the states about £, 11,000. It was originally intended for nineteen prisoners in sepa- rate cells, viz. five for debtors, eight for felons, two for women, and four lock-up cells for the use of the constables, w'here prisoners are put previous to their examination ; but one of the lock-up cells, being very damp, has been converted into a passage which leads to the others. In the above number is included the black-hole. The cells for the debtors are sixteen feet by nine, and those for the

felons nine by seven. The debtors usually provide them- selves with feather beds, as the prison allowance is straw- palliasses, and common wood bedsteads, each prisoner has about four blankets, which are washed every month. The debtors are unlocked from eight o'clock in the morning till sunset 5 the felons from ten till two. There is a large yard for the debtors to walk in, and the felons are allowed to take exercise and air in an open gallery. The premises are clean and healthy, and though there is no spring of water on the premises yet by means of shutes round the building, the cistern is well supplied with rain water. The rules of the prison are affixed to the walls. There is a goaler, but no other turnkey. The persons con- fined perform no kind of work. The use of irons are forbid, as wrell as corporeal punishment, but they confine the re- fractory in the solitary cell, and, in some instances, feed them on bread and water, as a punishment, during a certain period of their incarceration. There is no place of worship in this prison, but bibles and tracts are distributed among the prisoners, and the court allows a minister to visit them at certain times. The gaoler's fees are, for opening the gates at the entrance of a debtor 2s. 6d., the same when he quits, and 3d. per day for and during the time he remains under confinement.

Government House, the residence of the lieutenant- governor of the island, is a spacious and commodious build- ing, commanding an extensive marine view ; it was pur- chased by government, September 17, J 796, for the sum of £2750 ; but, after the purchase, many alterations were found necessary, which cost a considerable additional sum. Passports for the Continent are granted at the secretary's office, at which place also the arrival of all vessels in the harbour is constantly reported. A guard, consisting of one sentinel, parades the entrance to the premises, and conti- nues during the day, as well as the night. The lieutenant-

governor is his excellency major-general Ross, who fills the situation with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the public.

Square House, the town residence of admiral lord De Saumarez, stands between the royal court and government house, immediately fronting the upper end of Smith-street. This mansion is large and commodious, commanding a full view of the channel islands, and a part of the French coast. The front elevation is neat and uniform, and the name na- turally implies the architectural form of its erection.

States' Arcade. - This handsome building faces the market square and assembly rooms, and contains many spacious shops, in the front of which, under the colonade, is a fashionable promenade, during the heat of the summer months, as well as in the depth of winter.

The Arcade Gallery is ascended by a flight of stone steps, and is no less frequented than the lower as a pro- menade : at the extremity of the east end is the states' ar- cade circulating library, consisting of five thousand volumes of well selected works by the most distinguished authors.

At the other extremity is a public reading saloon ; the only one in the island : it is delightfully situated, and fur- nished annually, from England, France, Guernsey and Jersey, with more than five thousand newspapers ; besides five hundred magazines and reviews, as they issue from the press.

The Meat Market, adjoining the states' arcade, is a regular well arranged building, erected by the states, in their committee by Mr. J. Wilson, architect, and executed under his immediate direction. It is divided into distinct stalls, rented of the states, forming independent shops, ar- ranged in rows, parrallel to each other, with a convenient space in front, to allow a thorough ventilation, and the sky-lights in the roof render the interior airy and magnifi-

cent. No market can possibly exhibit a finer shew of every kind of meat ; beef of the best quality, French and English mutton, and an abundant supply of veal and pork, which are not to be surpassed in delicacy of flavour ; the prices, upon an average, differ very little from the English markets. It has been remarked that the beef of the island, when salted for marine purposes, has been found not to retain its pri- mitive excellence, on a long voyage ; the pork also, from the richness of quality, is found to become sooner rancid than that procured from England. Over the principal entrance, on the east side, is the following inscription :

Directn. {T. G. Hardy, E. Guerin, Constables. J. Wilson, Architecte.

The Slaughter-house is erected contiguous to the shore, adjoining the guard-house, and, in point of conve- nience, is equal, in the judiciousness of its arrangements, to the market itself.

In Bordage- street, near the market-place, criminals con- victed of heresy or witchcraft were burnt to death : torture, in order to obtain confessions, was here inflicted : heavy weights were attached to the legs of the culprits, their thumbs tied together, behind their backs, and a pulley be- ing attached, they were, in this manner, suspended in the air, until the whole of the arm joints became dislocated. Confessions, whether real or otherwise, were in this man- ner extorted from those wretched creatures, who thus be- came the authors of their own destruction. Human nature seems to have been so debased at this period, that even the judges of the island gave the utmost facility to those acts of torture, and culprits often, to avoid the minor punish- ments, made confessions of sorcery, in order to have a more speedy exit from their sufferings on the gallows at St. An- drew's, or by the flames in the Bordage.

The Vegetable and Fruit Market is principally held in the square, opposite the states' arcade, and in the streets adjoining ; the Guernsey market women, with the exception of a few, preferring this open situation to the space origi- nally allotted them under the assembly rooms. The arti- cles imported from France vary according to the season and are exposed for sale under those rooms 5 they are even re- strained from offering their goods elsewhere. The French market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays : the French saleswomen have divisions allotted them, for which they pay Is. 3d. per week. The place of sale where Guernsey butter, poultry and eggs are restricted to, is in market- street, under the projecting roof of the meat market ; forms are fixed under this shelter, for the occupation of which no sum whatever is exacted.

At a remote period of history, when the Vale was the most populous parish in Guernsey, the markets were held on the king's fief, at a place bordering the Vale called les landes du marche, where a certain duty was levied by the crown on all goods exposed for sale : but when St. Peter Port in- creased in population, it was held for many years, previous to the erection of the late market, along High-street to the bottom of Rue des Caches.

The Assembly Rooms were erected in 1780, by a soci- ety of gentlemen of the island, under the sanction of an order in council, at an expense of j82300 : the rooms are spacious and elegant, being capable of containing 350 persons. The assemblies were at first held every Tuesday, but, in November, 1822, notice was given that in future they should take place only every other Tuesday. Prior to this, the old assembly rooms in Pollet-street had been frequented by a portion of the inhabitants, who now united and conformed to the rules and regulations of the newrooms.

Many invidious remarks have been made by strangers as

to the mode of admission to the assemblies ; but, when we

take into consideration that they are the property of private

individuals, they have certainly an undoubted right to make

such rules as they may deem the most congenial to their

own feelings. For the guidance of such as are unacquainted

with the rules and regulations of the rooms, we subjoin

their printed list.

Rules of the private assemblies.

I. - The assemblies to take place every other Tuesday during the season ; to open at seven, and to close at half-past eleven. The drawing of Tickets to commence at half-past seven ; the first numbers to be drawn by the ladies present, the remaining num- bers to be drawn indiscriminately, as the ladies come in.

II. - No exchange of numbers permitted. Ladies loosing tickets stand at the bottom : if more than one they draw for places.

III. - As soon as drawing has taken place, dancing to commence with a quadrille not exceeding five figures, which, with an English country dance, compose one set.

IV. - Ladies sitting down during a dance, to stand at the bottom during the remainder of the evening.

V. - Officers in uniform are admitted in boots, but must not dance in spurs.

VI. - No children to be admitted.

VII. - No native inhabitant, whose parents have not previously subscribed, to be admitted, unless proposed by the master of the ceremonies, and approved of by two thirds of the ladies and gen- tlemen subscribers present. None but native inhabitants enti- tled to vote.

VIII. - It is to be observed by every native inhabitant, proposed to become a subscriber to these rooms, that his name shall be publicly mentioned to the master of ceremonies, and by him to the native subscribers, a fortnight, at least, before the

IX. - Every native inhabitant subscriber is liable to serve the of- fice of master of ceremonies, or find a deputy, under the penalty

X. - No stranger to be admitted, unless with a ticket from a native subscriber, who must, the first time of entrance, introduce the individual to the master of the ceremonies, and insert the name with his own, in the book kept for that pupose. - Officers of the garrison alone excepted.

N.B. - The subscription for the season is twenty-five shillings ; and for one night three shillings.

The assembly rooms are occasionally let, by the proprie- tors, to concert parties and public lecturers. The savings bank was formerly held every Saturday, in a room over

the assembly rooms, but it is now removed to Fountain-

The Fish Market, a spacious building adjoining the meat market, immediately behind the states' arcade, is one hundred and. ninety feet in length, twenty-one in breadth, and forty-two in height : the stalls are slabs of variegated marble, each furnished with an abundant supply of water. This edifice far excels the meat market in proportional dimensions. It was opened on the 1 6th October, 1 830 ; and, by an ordinance of the royal court, all fish, brought to town, must be publicly exposed to sale at this place, and pay for the use of each stall one penny per day. On the 29th May, 1830, regulations were made by the royal court, that no oysters should be imported from May 3 1 till Sep- tember 1, under a penalty of £50, Guernsey currency, together with the confiscation of the oysters thus illegally imported. The fish most commonly met with in this mar- ket are whiting pollock, in abundance, silver whiting, mackarel and herring, plentiful, in theirseason, turbot, sole, brill, red and greymullet, bass, cod, and some times salmon, imported from England. The lobster, cray-fish, with crabs of immense size, also the spider crab, are, from the quan- tity exposed exceedingly cheap ; the aumer, a shell fish peculiar to the islands, is obtained from the retired rocks at spring tides ; the conger eel, rock fish and smelts are very abundant. The oyster fishery has received great en- couragement from the fishery society and has been for the last few years in a flourishing condition.

The Auxiliary Bible Society was established in 1813, and under the indefatigable exertions not only of the gentlemen, but also of the ladies of the island, it has risen in importance ; by inspecting the different reports, the minimum received annually has been £395, and some years a more considerable sum. Treasurer, William and W. Morris.

The Government Post Office is situated in the Carre- four, and is under the jurisdiction of the post-master penny was charged extra on the delivery of all letters and newspapers ; since that period, however, all town letters and papers have been exempted from that charge : the postmasters and letter carriers having fixed salaries, can only charge the penny extra for such letters and papers as may be addressed to persons resident in the country, at whatever distance ; they are further bound to make a punc- tual delivery within a limited time.

The post office packets leave Weymouth every Wednes- day and Saturday evening, wind and weather permitting, and generally reach Guernsey early on Thursday and Sunday, from thence they proceed to Jersey and return to Guernsey every Tuesday and Saturday and from thence to Weymouth. The present post-master is Mr. N. Watson.

The Foreign Post Office is situated in the centre of High-street ; but as there are no regular packets to France, the time when a letter may reach its intended destination is exceedingly uncertain ; the letters however from France to Guernsey are punctually delivered.

The Guernsey Bank is in High-street : the business of the company is to draw and cash bills on London and Paris, discount promis « ory notes, and to advance money on good security. The bank is open every day, Sundays and holidays excepted, from ten in the morning till three in the afternoon.

The Savings Bank is held at the States' House, St. Peter' s-court : here deposits may be made to the amount of fifteen pounds the first year, and ten pounds each suc- ceeding year, until the principal amounts to one hundred pounds. The amount of deposits lent to the states is at present twenty thousand pounds. On the 1 0th of Novem- ber, 1832, there were no less than one thousand and seven depositors in this useful institution.

The National School is a spacious stone building, si- tuated near the bottom of Clifton -steps, opposite the Market-place. The mode of instruction is that of Bell, or the Madras system, and it is to be observed that Mr. Hayward, the present master, from prompt attention to the rules of that system, has succeeded to the entire satis- faction of those immediately concerned. The number of boys, on an average, is about one hundred and thirty, and of girls about seventy. Acting president, the very reve- rend the dean of Guernsey ; treasurer, N. Le Lievre, esq. ; secretary, the reverend Havilland Durand, M. A.

The Methodist Sunday School is adjoining Ebenezer chapel, New Town : this establishment is conducted by members of the Wesleyan connexion ; there are three hundred and sixty children under instruction at this well conducted school.

The Independent Sunday School, New-street, is ad- joining the Calvinist chapel, it is conducted with great regularity by the managers, and on an average about two hundred and fifty children receive gratuitous instruction.

The Stranger's Friend Society was established in 1813, under the superintendence of a few charitable indi- viduals of the island. Its object is to afford a temporary relief to strangers in distress or sickness. This society has proved highly beneficial to many persons labouring under penury and disease, and cannot be too highly eulogised and recommended to the fostering care of the opulent, the charitable and the humane ; recollecting that " he who giveth, giveth unto the Lord, and it shall be repaid him." Treasurer, Mr. P. Bienvenu ; secretary, Mr. J. Cochrane.

Society for promoting Christian Knowledge among the Jews. - It is said that this society flourishes by the talent and exertions of several young ladies of the island, who add to its funds, by contributing fancy work, which, on sale has been known to realise £ 130 per annum. Too

much praise cannot be bestowed on the juvenile efforts and good intentions above stated : but perhaps there is not a religious sect more inflexible and yet more capable of dis- simulation than the Jews.

Mr. Fry expended a large fortune near Havant in Hampshire, in that laudable exercise of conversion ; he calculated on having made more than three hundred pro- selytes in one year 5 he gave them ample board at his man- sion, but the moment they returned to their wonted haunts, after being fully converted, they also returned to their synagogues and their avocations in Petticoat lane.

The Visiting So.ciety was established by the ladies of its object the private relief of the distressed generally ; but as many impositions are daily practised, serving as a tax upon the charitable and humane, the actual state of ob- jects applying for relief must first be ascertained, by one or more of the visiters, before any relief from the funds can be granted. Through this medium, many objects of real distress have been alleviated, even some who would have secretly pined in penury, without making their actual cases known, have met with timely relief from the laudable exertions of this excellent institution.

The Church Missionary Society was formed in 1817, and continues to be greatly supported by the inhabitants of the island. In 1825, the subscriptions of this society amounted to two hundred and ninety pounds eight shil- lings and three pence halfpenny ; and the subscriptions of the previous year amounted to four hundred and seventy- five pounds nine shillings and seven pence halfpenny, since which it has been considerably on the increase. The president of this society is admiral lord De Sausmarez 5 treasurer, F. Price, jun., esq. ; secretary, the reverend Thomas Brock, surrogate of Guernsey.

The Theatre is situated in Manor Street adjoining

Bethel chapel; it was erected in 1794, and although the appearance externally is by no means favorable, yet the internal arrangements are in some measure commodious. Mr. Hughes, with the Exeter company of comedians, has had the management of this Theatre for some seasons, but it has never realised a sufficiency to bear the expenses in- curred, as this species of amusement has not met the pa- tronage of the natives ; their chief support lies in the officers of the garrison together with the resident strangers. - Concerts have been*held in this building with nearly the same success, also exhibitions of various kinds, from the panorama to the vagaries of the conjuror and Indian

The Races which annually take place on L'Ancresse common, about four miles north of St. Peter-Port, were first established by subscription in the year 1828. Cups of twenty-five guineas value were annually presented by his late, and continued by his present, majesty. His excellency sir William Keppel, governor of the island, has also pre- sented a piece of plate, value fifteen pounds : these, with several subscription plates and sweepstakes, constitute the stimulus for competition on the turf at L'Ancresse.

Newspapers. - The Star is published every Monday and Friday -, it is a paper of moderate principles, giving a fair epitome of the news of the day : it is a desirable me- dium for advertisements, its circulation being very consi- derable. This paper is in the English language : sub- scription sixteen shillings per annum. The Star office is in Bordage-street. Proprietor, printer and publisher, Mr. Henry Brouard.

The Comet is another English paper, published every Monday and Friday, and although its publication is of recent date, yet its circulation is very considerable. Sub- scription ten shillings per annum. Office in Mill-street. Proprietor, printer and publisher, Mr. William Maillard.

The Gazette de Guernesey is a weekly paper, pub- lished in French early every Saturday morning. In this paper are inserted all advertisements relative to insolvency. It is a general advertiser in French and English. Sub- scriptions four shillings per annum. The office is in Fountain-street.

LTndependance, another French paper, published every Saturday. Subscriptions four shillings per annum. This paper has a considerable circulation. Published at the office, Constitution Steps, by Mr. Mauger.

Fort George is a regular fortification on the improved construction of the square, with outworks, possessing every requisite for defence, and is considered so strong as not to be reducible by any attack, however formidable the force may be. This place of defence was commenced in the year 1 782, and finished, under the auspices of the lieutenant-governor sir John Doyle, in the year 1812. The whole construction of the fort and its dependencies cost government, in building, upwards of two hundred thousand pounds ; and, when fully manned, can accom- modate nearly three thousand men. Thirty-four pieces of cannon, one carronade, and four mortars, are mounted on its bastions and curtains, and is strongly supported by several batteries of heavy metal. Its situation assigns it the full command of the town, the little and great russel, and with the cooperative strength of castle Cornet as an auxiliary, there is little to be dreaded by an attack in that quarter. The casemates are extensive, well aired, and sufficiently capacious. From the ramparts of Fort George are beautiful views of the little and great russel, of the islands of Jersey, Serk, Herm, Alderney, and the caskets, also the town and country of Guernsey.

Artillery Barracks. - These barracks overlook the sea towards the south, are well fortified by the rugged rocks almost perpendicular, and by the outworks of Fort George

In the rear, the promenade is particularly pleasant from the variety of prospect it commands of Jersey, the coast of France together with the adjacent islands, and marine scenery, afford at all times a pleasing variety, highly gra- tifying to the contemplative mind. The armoury is a de- tached building, immediately under the glaces of the fort, containing an extensive assortment of arms, where the armourer has displayed considerable taste in the arrange- ment of muskets, pikes, swords, &c, which are kept in the best possible order, ready at a moment's notice, should the island be assailed by a foreign foe.

Roman Cement. - A windmill was erected near Fort George to grind the Sussex stone, or those imported from Shepey, which forms an excellent cement. Another ma- nufactory of cement commenced at Mont Saint, in the pa- rish of St. Saviour.

Distillery from Potatoes. - Two distilleries to extract spirits from potatoes have been in successful operation for some time, the one situated at the Chateau des Marais, and the other at the Terres. The former commenced in 1827, and was partly burnt down a few months since : the latter is in vigorous operation. The spirits distilled are for the London and foreign markets, and is sold under the name of whiskey, none of which is allowed to be consumed in the island under certain stipulations of the royal court.

A Monastery of Grey Friars or Cordeliers was once es- tablished in the parish of St. Peter-Port ; their temple or church was converted by queen Elizabeth into a grammar school, very few traces of which remain.

A Monastery of the Franciscan order was also esta- blished in Glatney ; the ancient gate-way and windows are blocked up with brick, but the arms over the entrance to the chapel exhibit a specimen of great antiquity scarcely to be deciphered : from the defect of records, it is not known whether the inmates were nuns or friars : this

remnant of antiquity is adjoining the residence of the rev. Mr, Hine, and well worthy the attention of the curious.

The Gas Works are situated in the Amballes road, and were erected by Mr. Thomas Edge, of London, in the year 1 830, after he had obtained the consent of the royal court, and its approval of the situation which had been chosen by Mr. Thomas Peckstone, the engineer, who fur- nished the plans and superintended the erection of these as well as the gas works in St. Helier's, Jersey. Prior to the works being brought into operation, the most fanciful notions as to danger, nuisance, &c. had found their way into the minds of several individuals who had property in the neighbourhood, and before the buildings were com- menced a most strenuous effort was made to prevent their being placed in their present situation. When it is con- sidered that many of the gas works, even in London and in many of the provincial towns in England, send forth almost without intermission, such vast volumes of smoke and much impure matter which contaminates the atmos- phere, like the upas tree, to a considerable distance in every direction, and more particularly in that quarter to which the wind drives the effluvia, &c, it is not to be wondered at that proprietors of houses and ground in the immediate vi'cinity should feel averse to having their property deterio- rated in value, and their houses made uncomfortable by the deleterious matter which, judging from what they had seen and smelt elsewhere, they expected to find from these works, so soon as the manufactory was brought into opera- tion. The works, however, have now been nearly three years in operation without any complaint as to nuisance having arisen, and this we understand is in a great mea- sure owing to a purifying process being carried on in a way different to what is generally adopted in England. It has been frequent matter of remark that a smell of gas in the streets of this town seldom or rarely happens,

whilst a person cannot spend many days in the metropolis without having occasion to notice the unpleasant smell emitted in the streets. A great deal of this, doubtless, is owing to the care bestowed in the manufacture of the ar- ticle itself, and to the manner in which the gas pipes were laid down in the different streets of St. Peter-Port. So much satisfaction indeed has been given by the parties connected with these works as to the quality of the gas supplied, that it has not only found its way into all the principal shops, but also into several of those splendid and tasteful mansions with which the Grange road and Petite Marehe are ornamented. The quays, and the light-house on the south pier, Fountain-street, the States' Arcade, &c, are all well and effectually lighted with gas, and exhibit a striking contrast to the oil lamps in other parts of the town. The transition from one of the streets where there are gas lamps, to one where only oil lamps are to be found is so striking, that it can hardly be compared to any thing which would bette1* express the difference than a bright summer day, when ^ut in contrast with one of the dark days of November. Doubtless, in arae, every street in this town will have the advantage of gas light ; it is a thing much to be wished, as adding to the comfort of the inha- bitants, and the strangers visiting the island, as a check to crime, and as a most powerful auxiliary to the police in the execution of their duty.

The Parish of St. Peter-Port is bounded on the north by St. Sampson "s, on the east by the ocean, on the south by St. Martin's, and on the west by St. Andrew's and theCatel ; this parish contains four thousand five hundred and twen- ty vergees, or one thousand eight hundred and thirty En- glish acres : according to the census of 1831, its popula- tion was thirteen thousand eight hundred and ninety- three ; viz. five thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine males, and seven thousand nine hundred and twentv-four

females. According to the same census, it contained two thousand eight hundred and sixty-four families j one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight inhabited houses, seventy-seven erecting, eighty-two not inhabited ; one hundred and seventy-two families employed in agriculture ; one thousand two hundred and seventy-five families em- ployed in trade, and one thousand four hundred and seventeen families living independently. St. Peter-Port is rated at one hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred and ten quarters wheat rent. The parish register commenced in the year 1660.

Endowed Schools. - There are three endowed schools in the parish of St. Peter-Port ; the first was founded by queen Elizabeth, in 1564, with a house for the master and a salary of ,£40 per annum ; at this school boys are edu- cated in French, English, writing and arithmetic.

The National School, conducted on Dr. Bell's system of education, was established in 1812, for boys and girls $ the boys are taught English reading, writing, arithmetic, and the girls needle work, &c. The master has a salary of £70, and the mistress £40 per annum, paid from a legacy of ^630 per annum, subscriptions, and charity sermons.

Inns. - There are several good hotels in Guernsey, for the reception of company. Marshal's Royal Yacht Club Hotel, at the Grand Carrefour, top of High-street ; Payne's Hotel, New-street ; Jones' Crown Tavern, near the north pier, and Tozer's Hotel, High-street, are houses of known respectibility : the names of the proprietors, thirty years standing, are a sufficient guarantee for their establishments. The charges of these inns are pretty much the same as hotels of the same description in England, excepting wines and spirituous liquors, which, of course, are here much more reasonable.

Board and Lodging Houses. - There are many houses of this description, where those who prefer retirement to

an inn may be comfortably situated ; namely, Mrs. Dad- son's establishment, Cornet-street, is capacious and con- venient j Mrs. Stone's, Smith-street ; Mrs. Shore's, Ber- thelot-street ; Mrs. Stuart's and Mrs. Chant's, New Town ; Mrs. Mordaunt's, Park-street; Mr. Mc Gill's, Doyle road, as well as many in other parts of the town, are recom-

Brief description of St. Sampson s, Vale, and Cdtel Parishes.

The parish of St. Sampson lies between the parishes of St. Peter- Port and the Vale, excepting a detached part, lying to the north-west of the latter parish. It contains three thousand five hundred and sixty-nine vergees, or one thousand four hundred and forty-five English acres, rated at four thousand three hundred and twenty-eight quarters wheat rent.

According to the census of 1831, it contained a popu- lation of one thousand one hundred and nine, viz. five hundred and forty-nine males, and five hundred and sixty females ; one hundred and eighty-three inhabited houses, seven uninhabited ; one hundred and eighty-seven fami- lies, of which eighty were employed in agriculture, forty in trade and other pursuits, and sixty-seven living inde-

There are several fiefs in this parish : the fief d'Anne- ville, the fief le Comte, with many others. The former is the noblest tenure in the island : the lord of this seigniory is next in rank to the clergy, and is required to attend the court of chief pleas three times every year j and when the king visits the island, he is obliged to attend him as his squire during his stay. The present manor d'Anneville

contains nine hundred verg^es and nineteen perches. The lord d'Anneville holds a court every Michaelmas, consist- ing of a seneschal, three vavasors, a clerk or greffier, and a provost : all the tenants are obliged* to appear and an- swer to their names ; in default of being present, they are fined five sols tournois for the two first in succession - but should they not appear the third court day, the lands are seized by the lord of the fief, and kept in his possession for one year.

At this court each new tenant, who has become pos- sessed of lands by purchase or inheritance since the pre- vious court day, must have them enrolled, for which he pays a fine of five sols tournois. The tenants thus annu- ally assembled choose a provost for collecting the lord's chief rents, which for Anneville alone are twenty-seven quarters of wheat, small measure, and the twelfth sheaf of every species of grain grown on the manor, - this is called champart ; besides which, each on the manor pays a cou- ple of fowls. On the fief Croute Bouilleuze, subject to Anneville, pays twenty-four sols tournois, four loaves of bread, four capons, eighty eggs, and the twelfth sheaf of corn. The other fiefs in this parish, subject to Anneville, are under similar charges, in proportion to their extent.

The church is a plain gothic structure, with pointed arches, and supported with buttresses : the whole of this building is well worthy the notice of the antiquarian, who will find that the pointed arch was introduced into the churches of the island at a much earlier period than has been generally assigned ; and, what is still more singular, there is not a vestige of tracery to be met with in the whole building. The tower, at the west end, over the principal entrance, has a most venerable appearance, and the cremailleres parapet, terminating the roof, is now sel- dom to be found in the oldest buildings. The officiating minister for this church is the rev. W. J. Chepmell, A.M.

This was the first christian church erected in Guernsey, and was consecrated with great pomp, according to the Catholic rites, on the twenty-second day of May, 1111, by Anthony de Suson, bishop of Coutance, in the presence of a vast assemblage of people.

At the word and at the command of the said bishop, the people kneeling down, and their hands being joined, in great devotion, the bishop said : " Temple of God, may God bless thee ; may he guard and defend thee with his infinite power : in his name I bless thee to be appropriated to thy most worthy praise, for the preaching his most holy word, and may the hearers comprehend the things there spoken. In the name of the Kather, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, thou shalt bear the name of St. Sampson d'Anneville, son of the said Richard, in the said parish 5 praying that this benediction may remain in thee and thy cemetery, and that those interred in thee and in thy cemetery may rise on the last day to a blessed resurrec- tion." Then they erected the noble ensign, figured ar- morially, adorned with three doves, these belonging to the said noble d'Anneville 5 then every one gave glory, ho- nour and praise to the Lord Jesus.

The Endowed Schools are two, a boys' school for in- struction in French and arithmetic ; and a girls' school, where they, in addition to the above, receive instruction in needlework ; those were established in 1818 : the mas- annum. A Methodist chapel was erected here in 1817, capable of containing three hundred persons : the service is in French. There is also a Sunday school held in it.

This parish is bounded on the east, north and west, by the ocean, on the south, by St. Sampson's and St. Andrew's, and on the south-west by the Catel. The Vale

contains four thousand nine hundred and eighty verg£es of land, of different qualities, or a little more than two thou- sand sixteen English statute acres. According to the cen- sus of 1831, its population was one thousand four hundred and ten ; viz. seven hundred and seventeen males, and six hundred and ninety-three females : two hundred and twen- ty-seven families, one hundred and ten of which were em- ployed in agriculture and fishing, forty-five in mechanical pursuits, and one hundred and twenty-two independent families. This parish is rated at eight thousand two hun- dred and twenty-five quarters of wheat rent.

The Vale parish is divided into three parts, the Close, the Br aye du Valle, and the Vingtaine de VEpine.

About the year 1204, an inundation of the sea took place, and overflowed a flat surface containing eight hundred and fourteen vergees of land, lying between the Vale church and St. Sampson's harbour. This lay sub- merged, leaving the Close completely insular, till the year 1808, when it was enclosed, by the indefatigable exertions of sir John Doyle, then lieutenant-governor of the island : this portion, called the Braye du Valle, is now in culti- vation ; and an accumulation of sand is forming near the Vale church, which, in a few years, will form a natural barrier against any future overflow. The portion of the parish north of the Braye was only accessible by a bridge at St. Sampson's, and a causeway of stone, called the Pont du Valle. The land enclosed was sold, by the crown, for five thousand pounds, which was expended in defraying the expenses of making military roads in the island, and other public improvements.

The Close is that part of the parish north of the Braye du Valle, and was formerly the most populous part of the isljand, which, being well cultivated, yielded a plentiful supply of the necessaries and luxuries of life to the Abbey of St. Michael and their numerous retinue.

The Vingtaine de l'Epine is that part of the Vale pa- rish lying to the south-west of the Braye du Valle, by which it was cut off from the Close.

The Abbey of St. Michael, of which scarcely a vestige is left, was situated on a spot adjoining the southern wall of the Vale cemetery. The only traces now remaining are the ancient cottage, which, no doubt, formed apart of the monastery, and several pointed arches of doors and win- dows in the church yard wall, which strongly indicate a remnant of their ancient chapel.

This monastery was erected about the year 962, by a few Benedictine monks, who fled from the abbey of Mount St. Michael, in Normandy : these, under the direction of their abbot, immediately set about the cultivation of the adjoining lands ; and, although they had no regular grant, they assumed a property in them, for the maintenance of their monastery, till the year 1061, when Robert, duke of Normandy, granted certain territory to the monks, under the title of the fief of St. Michael.

This was at first confined to the lands of the Vale j but the fief eventually extended to one fourth of the best cul- tivated lands in the island, including also Herm, on which a priory was erected ; Lihou, where they built a chapel ; together with the lands in the Cat'el, St. Saviour's, St. Peter's and Torteval. These lands and possessions were confirmed by subsequent grants, and held by the abbots and monks, in succession, till the dissolution, in the reign of Henry the Eighth, when this establishment was stripped of its revenues, and its building suffered to decay.

Since the reformation, the fief reverted to the crown. Here a court is still held three times a year : it consists of a seneschal, eleven vavasseurs, three provosts, a greffier and a sergeant. Formerly pleas were held within the ju- risdiction of the Vale, with an appeal to the royal court ; but the judicial authority now only extends to the ordi- nary manorial business of the fief of St, Michael.

The Vale Church stands upon a rising ground, near the site of the ancient monastery of St. Michael ; but, notwithstanding its contiguity, it was totally unconnected with it, being built solely for the use of the parishioners. The ancient entrances, some of which are shut up, were evidently of Saxon architecture, whilst the renovated parts have been decorated with pointed arches.

The building consists of a nave, chancel, with ancient font, and is surmounted with a tower, in which is a peal of bells : there are also pinnacles, and a lofty steeple. The present officiating minister is the rev. W. J. Chepmell.

This church was consecrated on the 29th day of Sep- tember, 1117, and dedicated to St. Michael, by Alexander Le Revengier, bishop of Coutance, in Normandy, attended by the abbot of Mount St. Michael, a number of church dignitaries, and an immense concourse of people, who gave gifts and offerings according to their means.

The ceremony is thus recorded : " The whole of the assembly kneeled down on their bare knees on the ground, as well in the holy place as in the cemetery, with hands joined ; and whilst the bells were ringing, the organ and other instruments playing, the bishop caused a seafaring boy to mount upon the pinnacle of the temple, having a sponge full of water and oil, who, at the command of the bishop, squeezed out one half of the spongeful 00 the pin- nacle, and the other half on the cemetery. The bishop then opened his mouth and said :

" Parochial temple, may God bless thee, and keep thee from all evil, and in his holy name I bless, dedicate, and consecrate thee for the holy and sacred service and glory of God, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost ; and let it bear the name of St. Michael, the angel and archangel, praying God that his holy and sacred word may here be uttered purely and holily, and the holy sacra- ments be faithfully administered, to the great safety and

profit of the bodies and souls, as well of the pastors as flocks, and all the people said Amen.

Praying venerable and powerful God, that all here, both males and females, requiring interment, should be here interred, having grace to rise again at the end of the world in the resurrection to eternal life, and all the people said Amen ; recommending to God, and to all those who may succeed, that they see thou art augmented, maintained, and supported, with thy sacred ornaments, praying God that he will protect and guard thee from lightning, thun- adversities, and enemies, visible and invisible, who may have sworn ruin against thee and thy ornaments, and all the people said Amen.

This being said, the cock was planted, as a testimony that a pastor ought to watch over his flock, as a cock does over his hens ; and on the pinnacle was planted the silken ensign of the noble Remon Sauvage, with the ringing of bells, and great rejoicing, for forty days and nights without ceasing, and all the people gave glory to God. Amen." The above is given as the general form of consecration which was, no doubt, used at all the other churches.

The Vale Castle, originally called St. Michael's, is one of the most ancient structures in the island : it was erected about the close of the tenth century to protect the inhabitants against the predatory incursions of pirates who often ravaged the whole country, carrying off their corn and cattle : it received additions from time to time, and in three centuries, from its original erection, it was sufficiently large to contain not only the population, but their flocks.

Before the invention of gunpowder this castle was considered impregnable ; but nothing remains, of its ori- ginal structure, than its exterior walls flanked with towers, and its ancient portal ; barracks have been erected in the interior, and ordnance placed for its defence.

Previously to our entering on the druidical antiquities it may be necessary to give a short detail of their monu- ments that all classes of readers may understand the subject.

The aborigenes of Guernsey, like those of Gaul, were, no doubt, pagans, and the rites and ceremonies of druid- ism existed amongst them, as well as the Britons and other European nations at the same period. It is, no doubt, of Indian origin, partaking of all the leading fea- tures of that practiced by the Gentoos, as inculcated by the Brachmans. Thus, the Druids were the Brachmans of the Britons, Gauls, and other Celtic nations : they not only sacrificed beasts, but human victims were slain on their altars ; not in single victims, but a number were often led to destruction at the same time.

The Romans themselves were idolaters, but abhorred the offering of human sacrifice ; and whenever they met with the Druids, the ministers of those execrable rites, they generally shewed them no quarter.

The Gauls worshipped Tentones or Mercury, besides a number of particular genii for every country, city or habi- tation : they had a veneration for the oak and misletoe, and sacrificed in groves and solitary places.

Amongst the Britons there were druidesses, who made vows of perpetual virginity : they were endowed with a peculiar spirit ; they could, by the power of their charms, stir up the wind and sea ; could transform themselves at pleasure, and, by the gift of prophesy, foretell all future events. The Gauls had also their Eubages, who, by in- specting the entrails of human victims, foretold also what should come to pass : the Gauls courted retirement in their elevated places ; they were partial to birds that soared to heaven, and to serpents which shunned the face of men.

Caesar states, that the ancient Gauls called all places

Armorica, which bordered on the ocean, particularly the lower parts of Britanny and Normandy, from whence it is highly probable the first inhabitants of Jersey and Guern- sey emanated. The first step taken to rescue Armorica and those islands from idolatry, was through the pious ex- ertions of the British bishops and priests, who, when dri- ven from their country by the Saxons, took shelter in Armorica, and set about with strenuous efforts the conver- sion of the inhabitants.

The monuments left by the Britons are various ; but those which have escaped the ravages of time and the de- struction of the builder, are circles, or great temples, tol- men, rocking-stones, rock- basons, cromlechs, kist-vaensr

The circles, or great temples, consist of stones of im- mense size set upright, forming ovals, circles and other figures : here the Druids perform all their public ceremo- nies. The tolmen consists of a large round stone, sup- ported by two others, with an aperture between, sufficiently large for a thin person to pass ; this was supposed to pos- sess many miraculous virtues j to be permitted to pass, exactions of money were made, and malefactors, to avoid death, are supposed here to have taken sanctuary. There is one near Bombay, called the Rock of Purification, at which much fasting is often necessary before the person can pass, the aperture being small : this tolmen is held in great veneration by the Gentoos and other nations.

The rocking stone was another instrument of extortion, and deserves particular notice : it consisted of an immense stone cut to a fine edge, and so exactly balanced, that a person could, with the greatest ease, move it backward and forward with his hands. It was supported by large blocks of stone on each side, to prevent its being over- turned, and by placing a wedge it became at once immo-

veable ; but, when a sufficient sum was paid, the wedge was secretly withdrawn, and the delighted devotee found, by the moving of the rock, that all his sins had been for- given, and that he was completely regenerated.

Rock basons were cavities cut in the rocks, sometimes consisting of one bason, and at other times of several con- tributory basons, communicating with each other in the same stone : these were used for collecting pure water, which, with an infusion of the misletoe, was used in the rites and ceremonies of the Druids.

The kist-vaens were either sepulchral monuments or altars for sacrifice, or, perhaps, both : they consist of a slab of stone, laid on the top of three others placed on edge, similar to a table, with an opening at one end j these have universally one end lower than the other, per- haps to allow the blood of the victim to run off into sacred vessels placed to receive it.

The cromlechs and kist-vaens are often used indiscri- minately for the same monument, though they differ ma- terially, the cromlech having neither sides nor ends, but consisting of one immense stone, inclined a little and sup- ported by others : these have more of a sepulchral character than the kist-vaen.

The obelisks are the most simple of all druidical monu- ments ; they consist of one stone set perpendicular in the earth, and are generally of immense size : they were, perhaps, set up to commemorate remarkable events, and were actually worshipped in early pagan times.

The cairns, or cairneds, are immense conical piles of loose stones, thrown together, with a fla«t one at the top, on which fires were kindled on the eves of May day and the first of November, for the purpose of sacrifice. On those days, all other fires throughout the kingdom were extinguished, and rekindled from the sacred fires, for which the Druids received considerable emoluments.

There are, in Guernsey, several monuments of Celtic erection. The first worthy of notice is situated on the top of an eminence, to the north of L'Ancresse common, about half a mile from the Vale church. This is a cromlech of curious structure, consisting of five cumbent stones ad- joining each other, varying in size from twenty-five to ten tons in weight, covering an area twenty-nine feet long and nearly twelve feet in width, at the western end, which is semicircular, narrowing to an entrance at the east of about eight feet : these five stones are supported by others, at different distances, and the upper slabs have an inclination towards the east. This monument was only discovered in 1812, it having been covered in a heap of sand, either drifted thither or collected by the early christians, to abo- lish the rites of idolatry. The interior of this cromlech was carefully excavated, under the inspection of sir John Doyle, late lieutenant-governor, and, when at the depth of twelve feet, three antique vessels were found, with a quan- tity of human teeth and bones bearing evident marks of fire, which so far prove that the monument was sepulchral, if not used as an altar for sacrifice ; but the most probable conjecture is, that it served both purposes, and that to a greater extent than the single slab cromlechs, each being sufficiently large to sacrifice more victims than one j and the natural inclination of the stones, adapted for collect- ing the blood, is very evident in this monument, which is called the Druid's Temple.

The next, which is called the Druid's Altar, is also a cromlech, situated at Norman point, about three quarters of a mile to the north-west of the Vale castle. It is also composed of five cumbent stones, supported similar to the former ; but, from recent examination, it appears to have had more than five, constituting a monument of much greater extent than that on L'Ancresse : the largest,

upright stones, and the next stone smaller diminishing in size to the last. These have an inclination to the east, similar to the former, and were, no doubt, used for the same purposes. It is to be observed, that round this mo- nument there are visible traces of a druidical circle, formed by large stones set perpendicular.

In the Vale church yard, opposite the western door, there is a cromlech of one slab, supported by other stones : this is of much smaller dimensions than the last mentioned. Also in the centre of the common there is a small one, composed of a slab and two stones supporting it.

Opposite the small island of Lihou there is one about fifteen tons in weight, which, if explored, it is probable more than one stone may be found. At a cottage, near this spot, is a stone bearing every resemblance to a rocking stone drawn from its balance ; and, although not noticed by any antiquary, is well worthy the attention of the cu- rious : this stone cannot be less than seventy five tons in

The only remaining Celtic monument noticed is an obe- lisk, situated half a mile from St. Peter' s-in-the- Wood, in a field bordering the high road : it is a block of granite placed erect, twelvefeetin height and five in breadth. Should the northern coast of the island be explored, especially in the sandy districts, many monuments may yet be disco- vered, which have long been hid from human observation.

The Catel parish is bounded on the north by the Vale, on the east by St. Andrew's, on the south by St. Saviour's, and on the west by Vazon and Cobo bays ; it contains six thousand seven hundred vergees, or two thousand seven hundred and thirteen English acres, and rated at sixteen thousand three hundred and twenty-five quarters wheat rent.

By the census of 1831, it contains one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven inhabitants, nine hundred and

thirty-eight males and nine hundred and ninety -nine fe- males 5 two hundred and eighty-seven inhabited houses, eleven uninhabited ; three hundred and fifty -seven families, two hundred and seven employed in agriculture, ninety-three in trade and mechanical pursuits, and fifty- one independent families.

The church is built upon the site of an old castle erected by the piratical invaders of the island, about the middle of the eleventh century, called the Chateau du Grand Geoffrey. It is a plain gothic building supported by buttresses with a lofty spire, a low tower and pinnacles, and was conse- crated by the prior of the Vale, under the sanction of the bishop of Coutance, on the twenty-fifth of August, one thousand two hundred and three, with all the pomp ofxthe Ttomish church and with more than ordinary expenditure, after the ceremony, which was similar to that given under the article Vale : the ceremony being ended, large gifts, presents and offerings were made to this holy place, both in gold and silver, and there was distributed bread to the amount of sixty-seven quarters of wheat, twenty fat oxen and twenty fat cows, and one hundred head of small cattle, eight tons of cider and six of wine, all in honor of the great God creator of heaven and earth. All the ensigns of the island were displayed, the bells rung ; organs, drums and other instruments of music sounding in great rejoicing forty days and forty nights. The present incumbent is the reverend Havilland Durand.

Fairs. - Near the Catel church there is a quarterly fair held on the principal festival days, but that at Midsummer is the most frequented, when there is usually a good show of horned cattle, which are purchased chiefly for exportation.

Premiums are awarded by the agricultural society of the island to the owners of the finest bulls and heifers.

Peat. - That part of the parish, bordering Vason bay, yields a considerable quantity of peat, which is dried and

used as fuel ; this part is supposed to have been originally a forest, there having been found trunks of trees and layers of leaves many feet under the sand.

The Fiefs. - The principal fief is that of Le Comte, about one half of which lies in this parish j the other half is situated in the parishes of St. Saviour, the Vale, and St. Peter-in-the- Wood. The tenants of this fief were formerly bound to convey the corn, due to the signior, on board a vessel, the mariners were to be found by the tenantry to navigate the vessel either to Cherbourg or Mount St. Michael, in Normandy, and not only land the cargo for the use of the lord, but return to the island with such things as he might think proper. Three sous was char- ged by the lord of this fief, on the marriage of any tenant's daughter, and before the ceremony the bride must have leave to enter the marriage state from the said lord or superior of the fief.

A court is held three times a year, it consists of a senes- chal, eight vavasors, a procuror fiscal, three prevosts, a grenier, serjeant and receiver j the seal of this fief with those of the royal court and fief St. Michael are the only seals acknowledged in the Approbation des Lois.

Schools. - There are two free schools in this parish, one for boys and the other for girls, endowed by Mrs. De Jersey and lord De Saumarez ; there is a house and a salary of twenty-two pounds ten shillings to the master, and thirteen pounds to the mistress. There are also two Sun- day schools, containing about one hundred and eighty

Chapel. - There is one methodist chapel capable of con- taining three hundred persons. The registry of this parish commenced in the year 1674.

Brief description of the Parishes of St. Saviour, Forest,

and Torteval.

St. Saviour's parish is bounded on the north by the Catel, on the east by St. Andrew's, on the south by St. Peter- in-the-Wood, and on the west by La Perelle Bay ; it con- tains three thousand nine hundred and seventy vergees, or one thousand six hundred and seven acres English, and rated at five thousand five hundred and fifty- six quarters wheat rent. By the census of 1831, it contains one thou- sand and seventy-three inhabitants, five hundred and seventeen males and five hundred and fifty-six females ; two hundred and one inhabited houses, eleven uninhabited ; two hundred and twenty-five families, one hundred and sixty-seven employed in agriculture ; thirty-nine in trade and mechanical pursuits and nineteen living independently.

The church was consecrated in 1154, it is a gothic building standing on an elevated spot, the tower is lofty with embattled parapet, the spire is short and constructed so as to withstand the impetuosity of the gales. Part of the king's fief and that of he Comte lie in this parish besides many of small extent.

The chapel of St. Apoline, or Apolinaire, which is evi- dently of much higher antiquity than the church, is situated in this parish ; it is now a barn, or rather woodhouse ; the interior of this building is arched with stone and the ex- terior roof bears strong marks of the ravages of time, this chapel is close to the main road leading to King's Mills in the farm of Mr. Lenfestey.

The priory of Lihou, situated on a small island of that name, was consecrated in August, 1114: this monastery fell with the other religious houses at the general dissolu- tion, and the only part now remaining is a portion of one

of its walls, with two natural baths adjoining, which the nuns and other devotees may have used.

A tomb was discovered in the parish of St. Saviour, in 1818, by some planters on the farm of Mr. Thomas Laine ; the grave was six feet nine inches in length, walled on each side 3 at the bottom, on the left side, were found a sabre in a steel scabbard, a pike lance with a handle of cedar wood, and a small brass ornament ; this was supposed to have been the tomb of some war chief, perhaps a roraan ; there were no bones, owing to the admission of air from the surface, which naturally caused a rapid decomposition, but the situation of the arms in the grave is a strong pre- sumptive proof that they lay by the side of their wearer.

A vase was discovered in the same field, by the planters, a few days after, about fifteen inches from the surface ; it was full of black clayish earth, supposed to have been the ashes of some hero of distinction. On stones near those spots are apparently inscriptions which, if decipher- ed, would yield a satisfactory account of the antiquities discovered 5 these antiquities are still in the possession of Mr. Lain£, who feels proud in shewing them to the curious.

A purse of leather containing about seven hundred coins, the greater part silver pennies, and the rest copper, were found in 1829, by a person digging in afield called Le Cdtillon, at Rocquaine : the coins were of the reigns of Phi- lip, king of France, and Edward II., king of England. Near the same spot where the purse was found, is a very ancient stone with the impressions of two human feet, which tradition says, was the place where two abbesses had a rencounter to settle a dispute, the one lady of Lihou and the other the lady of St. Peter's.

Perhaps no part of the island has been more encroached on than this quarter ; the Hanois rocks were, no doubt, once attached : at low tides the traces of roads are seen,

and on one of the rocks was lately found the iron hook of a gate hinge.

Chapels. - There are three chapels in St. Saviour's parish j a methodist, calvinist, and baptist, all well at- tended. The inhabitants also support a charity school.

The Forest parish is bounded on the north by St. Andrew's, on the east by St. Martin's, on the south by the sea, and on the west by St. Peter-in-the-Wood and St. Sa- nine vergees, or nine hundred and sixty-three English acres, and is rated at two thousand four hundred and twenty quarters wheat rent.

According to the census of 1831, its population is six hundred and ninety -five : viz. three hundred and fifty-five males and three hundred and forty females j one hundred and forty-five families ; one hundred and seventeen inha- bited houses, three uninhabited ; ninety-five families employed in agriculture, thirty in trade and mechanical arts, and eighteen living independently.

The Forest church is a gothic building bearing strong indications of poverty, the roof seems to have been origi- nally small stones imbedded in mortar, part of which still remains, but the recent repairs have consisted in adding tiles ; the living is united to Torteval, but the parishes are distinct, one clergyman performing the service of both 3 the church was consecrated on the third day of September, 1163, by Silvester de Brunievre, bishop of Coutance, and dedicated to St. Margaret. The present clergyman is the reverend Edward Mourant.

There was a methodist chapel erected here in 1814, capable of containing two hundred and fifty persons. Religious meetings are also held periodically in the school- room, where the duties are performed by a layman of the established church.

There was an endowed school established in 174 J, by the parishioners, with a salary to the master of twelve quarters, the instructions arefrench, writing and arithmetic. The register of this parish commenced in the year 1700.

The parish of Torteval is divided into two parts by a strip of St. Peter-in-the-Wood, the eastern division is bounded on the north east and west by that parish, and on the south by the ocean. The western part is bounded on the east by St. Peter-in-the-Wood, and on the south, west and north by the ocean. It contains one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four verg£es, or seven hundred and fifty-one acres English, and rated at one thousand and five quarters wheat rent.

By the census of 1831, it contains three hundred and seventy- eight inhabitants j two hundred males and one hundred and seventy-eight females ; seventy-two inhabited houses, six uninhabited; seventy eight families ; forty one employed in agriculture, twenty-two in trade and mechanical pursuits, and fifteen living independently.

The church, which is dedicated to St. Philip, was con- secrated on the first day of November, 1130. The fol- lowing is reported of its origin : it is said to have been built by Philip De Carteret, a native of the island of Jersey, who encountering a dreadful storm at sea made a vow, that if Providence should spare his life, he would build a church on the first land to which he came. The vessel miraculously made the harbour in Rocquaine bay, about midnight on the thirteenth day of September, 1129, and he accordingly performed his vow by erecting the church ; this edifice falling to decay, a new church has been recently erected : it is a neat building in the gothic style, with a tower and lofty spire, a part of the latter was blown down, but will be shortly replaced. The fiefs in this parish are small j the principal are the fiefs of St. Michael, Galliard and Lihou.

The present officiating minister is the reverend Edward

A little to the west of Prevote point at the foot of a rocky steep, is a natural cavern called La Cave Mahie ; it is about two hundred feet in length and forty or fifty feet wide ; the vaulted roof is irregular, rising from six or eight to fifty or sixty in height, the bottom is broken and uneven ; whether this is an excavation made by the sea or of volcanic origin has not been decided ; the roof exhibits many stalachial formations which are very unusual in the absence of lime, which has been found in no part of the

Schools. - -There is an endowed school for boys in Tor- teval, who receive instruction in french, writing and arith- salary, eight pounds five shillings per annum, to the mas- ter. There is a Sunday school attached to the church, consisting of seventy scholars and upwards.

Brief description of the Parishes of St. Peter-in-the-Wood, St. Martin, and St. Andrew. St. Peter-in-the-Wood is bounded on the north and north-east by St. Saviour's, on the east by the Forest, on the south by the sea, and part of Torteval, and on the west by Torteval, Rocquaine and Le Ree -, it contains three thousand five hundred and eighty vergdes, or one thousand four hundred and forty- nine English acres, and is rated at five thousand five hundred and forty seven quarters wheat rent. By the census of 1831, it contains one thousand one hundred and ninety-one inhabitants : viz. five hundred and seventy-five males, and six hundred and sixteen females ; two hundred and eighteen inhabited houses, sixteen uninhabited $ two hundred and sixty-four

families, two hundred employed in agriculture, fifty-eight in business, and six living independently.

The church of St. Peter is one of the neatest structures in the island ; it is a plain gothic building supported by buttresses, tastefully arranged, and its tower, with castellated parapet, has a very fine effect ; the cemetery is large and the parsonage house, lately renovated, has an appearance of domestic comfort : the church was consecrated by Bar- tholomew Bassel, bishop of Coutance, the twenty-ninth day of June, 1 1 67. The present clergyman is the reverend Tho- mas Brock. The king's fiefs of St. Michael, Suart, Cou- ture, Corbinettes, Galliard, and Lihou, run into this pa- rish, besides many other small fiefs.

There was a chapel erected in 1813, capable of contain- ing three hundred and fifty persons. There wras a Sunday school established in 1814, for instruction in French. There were also two free schools endowed by queen Eli- zabeth, in 1564, which, together with other benefactions, annum : the boys are taught French only, and the girls French, knitting and needlework. The register of this parish commenced in the year 1625,

St. Martin's parish is bounded on the north and north- east by St. Peter-Port, on the east and south by the ocean, and on the west by the Forest and St. Andrew's : it con- tains four thousand one hundred and ninety vergees, or one thousand one hundred and ninety six English acres; ar - d it is rated at eight thousand two hundred and twenty- five quarters wheat rent.

According to the census of 1831, its population is one thousand six hundred and fifty-two : viz. seven hundred and ninety-six males, and eight hundred and fifty-six fe- males ; two hundred and seventy inhabited houses, four- teen uninhabited ; three hundred and sixty-six families,

one hundred and thirty-seven employed in agriculture, one hundred and four in trade and manufactures, and one hundred and twenty-five independent families.

St. Martin's church is a low gothic building with a tower, pinnacles, and a lofty spire, the interior presenting a few ancient monuments : it was consecrated by Bersabel le Blanc, bishop of Coutance, in February, 1 1 99, with all the pomp of feudal and baronial times j crowds of persons, from England and France, assembled to witness the cere- mony, amongst whom were the governors of Rennes, Hon- fleur, Caen, Totness, Southampton, together with eighty- four feudal lords, each displaying his banner ; the cere- mony is similar to that of the town church, and requires no repetition. The registry of this parish commenced in the year 1660. Besides the king's fief, running into this parish, the principal is that of Sausmarez, containing three hundred and seventy -five vergees and one perch ; the lords of this manor were castellans of the castle of Jer- bourg, now entirely demolished. The present incumbent is the reveretid Richard Potenger.

There was a methodist chapel erected in this parish, in the year 1819, capable of containing three hundred and seventy-five persons : service in French. There is also a calvinistical chapel, containing about the same number. There are two Sunday schools and a parochial day school, endowed by queen Elizabeth, in 1564 : salary, eleven pounds per annum, or eleven quarters wheat rent.

St. Andrew's parish is bounded on the extreme north by the Vale, on the east by St. Peter-Port and St. Martin's, on the south by the Forest, and on the west by St. Sa- viour's and the Catel. It contains two thousand six hun- dred and eighty vergdes, or one thousand and eighty-six English acres : it is rated at six thousand, three hundred and sixty-three quarters wheat rent. By the census of

1831, it contains one thousand and eleven inhabitants: four hundred and ninety-one males, and five hundred and twenty females ; one hundred and sixty-nine houses inha- bited, eight uninhabited : one hundred and ninety-six fa- milies ; one hundred and fifteen employed in agriculture, forty-nine in trade and handicraft, and thirty-two living

The church is a plain low gothic building, supported by buttresses, with a castellated tower at the west ; it was consecrated by the abbot of St. Michael, under the autho- rity of the bishop of Coutance, on the first day of October, 1284. The rectors of this parish have long held a field for the service of performing mass, when the seigneur of the fief of St. Helena holds his court ; but, since the re- formation, the Lord's prayer has been used in its stead. The king's fief in this parish is extensive, containing many tenants and houses. There is a methodist chapel in St. Andrew's, capable of containing two hundred and eighty persons : there is also a calvinist chapel of lesser dimen- sions. There was a Sunday school established in 1816, for instructions in French, carefully superintended by the rector. A day school for boys and girls was endowed in sixteen pounds fifteen shillings, and the mistress ten pounds five shillings per annum. The children are instructed in French, English, writing and arithmetic ; the girls have the addition of needlework, knitting and marking. The register of St. Andrew's commenced in the year 1575, and the present incumbent is the reverend Thomas Grut.

Kings Revenue. Guernsey Weights and Measures. States

Dues on Shipping. Prices of Provisions. The King's Revenue consists of the great tithes of all corn, grain and flax, the growth of the island, and in some parts the champart is also levied ; first, the tenth sheaf for tithe, and the eleventh for champart, when the fief belongs to the crown ; champart implies that part reserved by the lords of the manors and fiefs, by way of chief rent, which are generally let out or farmed, at certain rates, by pri-

The chief rents, and rents paid in corn and money, with the customs, anchorage, tonnage on vessels, wrecks at sea, amercements of court, forfeitures in estates, goods, chattels, &c, constitute the chief revenues of the crown in the island of Guernsey.

The church revenues consist of the small tithes and champart, together with norvals, or tithe on lands, brought under cultivation since the catholic exactions, and they are different in almost every parish.

St. Peter's Port - A seventh of tithe and champart.

The Forest. - A ninth of tithe and champart.

Torteval. - A third of tithe.

St. Andrew's. - A fourth of both.

St. Peter-in-the Wood. - A third of tithe.

St. Saviour's. - The norvals and tenths reckoned about 6D0 sheaves.

The Cfttel. - Ninth of tithe, or the full tithe of a certain portion of

the parish. The Vale. - Five of the king's tithe only. St. Sampson's. - Five of both.

Formerly, the tenth sheaf was set apart for tithe ; but farmers agreeing to stack the whole growth in the field, have, for their trouble, to count the eleventh sheaf for tithe, and the twelfth for champart. The disme, or tithe of grain and flax being the king's revenue, and when the champart also belongs to the crown they are both col- lected together/ and the rector in each parish has from it the proportion above stated j but he is not allowed out of champart payable to the lords of fiefs in private hands.

The rector has also the full disme or tenth part of all the and fish ; but no tithe whatever is due either to the crown or rector for hay, clover, lucerne, potatoes, parsnips, cab- bages or other vegetables.

At every period of church history the secular clergy of Guernsey have never enjoyed their just rights : during papal authority the great tithes went to the Norman mo- nasteries, the clergy receiving only the small tithes ; and to this, for a certain period, they were justly entitled, when we take into consideration the vast sums expended in the erection of churches and chapels, the principal part of which was furnished from the coffers of religious houses in the sees of Dol and Coutance. But, at the reforma- tion, when the church revenues were seized, a reform of many abuses was naturally expected ; on the contrary, however, the clergy of the island received no temporal advantage from a change of masters : the church revenues were seized ! but to what were they applied ? not to the remedy of abuses, but annexed to the revenues of the crown. Thus, the clergy of the island are still deprived of their just immunities ; treated as in the dark ages of papal despotism, without enjoying a single privilege which they did not possess prior to the reformation. At the present, with the exception of the town parish, the emo- luments of the rectories are scarcely equal to the smallest curacies in England. Surely this, in an age of reform, calls loudly for redress ! And, if a bill were presented to the British parliament, a part, if not the whole of the great tithes would, in justice, revert from the crown to the church. The question might naturally be put : How is the gover- nor to be paid ? Let an additional duty be put on all spi- rits and wines consumed in the island, which would not be felt by the opulent, and would have a very beneficial ten- dency on the morals of the lower orders of the community.

Le poids de Paris ancien, (ancient Paris weight,) or le poids de marc, which is the Amsterdam and Guernsey-

24 grains 1 denier.

3 deniers 1 gros.

\ (poids de marc, or Guernsey lb.)

533|- grains of the above weight are equal to 1 English ounce avoirdupois ; and the English cwt, or 1 12 lb., is hence 3203 lb. Guernsey weight are equivalent to 34561b. English avoirdupois weight.

21 feet square (English). . 1 square perch. 40 square perches 1 square verge'e.

4 square vergees 1 square acre.

5 square acres 1 square bouvee.

In some manors, the vergee consists of 36 perches, called petite mesure. The acre and bouvee are only used for the division of manors.

The Irish acre is exactly 4 Guernsey vergees. One feet English ; and 1 English acre is equal to 2-f-f, or 2 vergees 18 perches 342 square feet Guernsey: hence, 121 Guernsey perches are equivalent to 196 English perches, and 49 English acres are equal to 121 Guernsey vergees.

2 pints 1 quart.

2 quarts 1 pot (pottle).

2 pots 1 gallon.

52 \ gallons 1 Bordeaux or claret hogshead.

The Guernsey gallon is 12| per cent, larger than the English gallon, (wine measure,) that was formerly in use, and which contained 231 cubic inches ; and 6^ per cent, smaller than the imperial gallon now in use, which con- tains 277*274 cubic inches. - Eight Guernsey gallons are

equal to 9 English wine gallons, old measure, and 7\ gal- lons imperial measure.

3 denerels 1 cabot.

6 denerels 1 bushel.

4 bushels 1 quarter.

This is called grande mesure, and is in use in buying and selling, and for the payment of ordinary corn rents.

There is also a petite mesure, used in some manors for the payment of manorial rents.

5 denerels I bushel.

4 bushels 1 quarter.

The Guernsey bushel is struck for wheat, and ten of these bushels are reckoned equal to the English quarter of