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may afterwards be placed. Attached to the institution,^
there is also a chapel, to the duties of which, a
chaplain is appointed, with a salary of 30Z. The
medical department also, is under the very best and
most liberal regulations. The average number of
inmates for the year 1832, was 79 men, 130 women,
55 boys, and 39 girls; and the expense of housekeeping
during the same year, was 2217Z. 9s. Id., an
expenditure that pretty clearly demonstrates the
liberal system pursued towards the inmates of the
establishment: and when we add to this sum upwards
of 1000/. more, for improvements, and occasional
expenses, we shall have no contemptible specimen of
the public spirit and humanity of the people of
Guernsey.^ The following ten items of house expenditure
indicate the scale of comfort which prevails
14,526 lbs. of beef; 4084 lbs. of bacon and pork; 471
quarters of wheat; 115^ hhds. of beer; 3964 lbs. of
butter; 1400 fagots; 2562 gallons of milk; 1696
bushels of potatos; 270 lbs. of tea: and 991 lbs. of
sugar. These are minute, and to some may appear
trifling details; but I question if a traveller can be
too minute, in all that regards the social condition of a
people.
The harbour of St. Peter’s Port, deserves no parti-
cu ar mention. It is small; but large enough, I
believe, for the trade, which is very unimportant compared
with that of Jersey. There has been some talk
of constructing a new harbour, accessible, from its
depth of water, at all times; but it is generally
lought, that the undertaking would not repay the
cost. There is no doubt, however, that during the
violent storms from the south-west, which so often
sweep into the Channel, carrying with them a tremendous
sea from the south Atlantic, the north coast of
Guernsey affords a convenient shelter; and that a
safe and commodious harbour, accessible at all times,
would attract many vessels. Even now, as many as
seventy sail of French vessels, bound chiefly from the
southern ports with cargoes of wine, have been seen
at one time, availing themselves of the shelter afforded
by the Guernsey coast.
In approaching Guernsey, Castle Cornet forms a
striking object. Like Elizabeth Castle, Jersey, it is
built on a rock, at a distance of somewhat less than
half a mile from the shore; but is not, like Elizabeth
Castle, accessible at low water. It is not so pic-
^ turesque an object as Elizabeth Castle; because it is
not, like the latter, flanked by other rocks than that
upon which it is built: and the folly of white-washing
part of it, has greatly injured its naturally venerable
appearance. It is difficult to distinguish between
Elizabeth Castle, and the rock upon which it is b u ilt;
but the renovators of Castle Cornet have taken care to
make the line distinct enough.
I have nothing more to say of the town of St.
Peter’s P o r t; and shall now carry the reader into
the country.