alone lias a shipping, reaching twenty-one thousand
tons. And yet, I will venture to assert, that more is
actually known, and more accurate information is to
be gathered from authentic sources, respecting the
smallest of the colonies that lie in the Atlantic or
Indian oceans, than respecting Jersey or Guernsey.
And this is the more extraordinary, when we consider,
that there are certain points of interest attached
to the Channel Islands, peculiarly their own; and
which essentially distinguish them from the other
colonies and dependencies of Great Britain. Among
these may be enumerated, their connexion with the
Norman Conquest and long dependence upon the
British crown; their separate and independent constitution,—
and the peculiar laws by which they are
governed; their singular privileges; their native civilized
inhabitants,; their vicinity to the coast of France,
and the general use of the French language.
Let me not be supposed to speak disparagingly, of
the works which have already been MTitten, respecting
these Islands. In these works, the history and
political constitution of Jersey and Guernsey have been
well elucidated: but we cannot refer to their pages,
for information respecting their present condition,—
as little, for those sketches of their moral and natural
aspect, which in these days, usually result from the
observations of an intelligent traveller. Something
therefore seemed to be wanting: and with the view
(among others) of attempting to supply the deficiency
I left England in the end of April 183—, with the
intention of residing a year or two in the Channel
Islands.
The features of the scene, as the traveller approaches
Jersey, vary with the state of the tide.
Enormous ridges, and extensive beds of rock, lie
along the whole of the southern coast of the island;
and the rise of the tide being no less than forty-five
feet, the shore at low water, to one approaching it
from England, presents a most rugged and uninviting
aspect. It was my good fortune, however, to arrive
at high water; and I believe no one so favoured,
can sail round Noirmont-point, and stretch across the
mouth of St. Aubin’s bay towards the harbour of St.
Holier, without the most lively admiration of the
scene. There is, indeed, all that constitutes the
beautiful and the picturesque: there is the noble
brim-full bay, stretching in a fine curve of many
miles, —its sloping shores charmingly diversified with
wood and cultivated fields, a n d ‘thickly dotted with
villas and cottages: there is, on the left, close to the
vessel as she sails by, the grey, and imposing fortress,
called Elizabeth Castle, built on a huge sea-girt rock;
while in front, is seen the town, commanded by its
lofty stronghold,—and backed by a fine range of
wooded and cultivated heights.
Little is seen of the town, in entering the harbour,
or in making one’s way to any of the hotels; and that
little is the worst part of it. At Jersey, as at other
ports, whether of England or of foreign countries, the
traveller is annoyed by the importunities of porters;
but there is one annoyance from which he is happily
free,—he may take his carpet bag in his hand if he
please, without asking leave of a custom-house officer;
and he may have the satisfaction of seeing his trunks