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out the house I was in quest of; and by the aid of a
good fire, a cup of tea, and a bit of bacon, the terrors
of the swinge were speedily forgotten.
CH A P T E R II.
The Harbour—Proposed Naval Station—Early Habits in Alderney—
Tbe Town of St. Anne, and its Population—Ride into the
Country—General Aspect of Alderney—Small Properties—
Husbandry—The Common—Vraie Gathering, and the Solemnities
attending it_T h e Alderney Cow—Other Animals.
N e x t morning betimes, 1 began- my inspection of the
island, by walking down to the harbour, which the
darkness had prevented me from seeing the night
before. I t is called the Braye, and is very far from
being either safe, or convenient. The smallest boats
are attached to the pier, by strong chain cables; for
so great is the agitation of the sea within the harbour,
that the safety of the little vessels could not otherwise
be secured. In stormy weather indeed, the sea makes
a breach right over the pier into the harbour; and the
effects of this are seen, in the appearance of the pier,
which seems like a congregation of rough stones; for
all attempts to fill up the interstices, and render the
surface smooth, have been found unavailing ; since
with the first storm, everything is washed clean away,
and the pier restored to its original nakedness.
There has been some talk of constructing a deep
water harbour, fit for the reception of frigates, on
another part of the coast : and certainly, if any one of
the Channel Islands is to be chosen for the construction
of a naval station, as a defence of the Channel
trade, Alderney is the most advantageously situated.
Neither of the other islands could offer so effectual a
check upon Cherbourg, which lies within two or three
hours’ sail of Alderney ; and in case of a blockade of
that part of the French coast, the strong north-easter,
which if it chanced to rise, would drive the fleet to
England, would then only force it into the Alderney
station,—ready on a favourable change of Avind, to
resume the blockade in a couple of hours. It has
been ascertained, that a sum of 100,000/. would be
required, to construct a deep water harbour at Alderney
; and it is obvious, that the construction of such
a work, would be utterly useless, unless a strong
fortress were also erected to protect it. Alderney,
not otherwise worth the cost of an expedition to
capture it, would, with its deep Avater harbour, become
an object worthy of acquisition to France ; and if we
may suppose that the cost of a fortress might be one-
sixth of the cost of Fort Regent, Jersey, these t A V O
Avorks could not be constructed in Alderney, at an
expense to the English nation, of less than from
‘250,000/. to 300,000/. It is certain however, that if
the British government should ever seriously contemplate
the establishment of a naval station in the
Channel Islands, it is Alderney, upon which the distinction
must be conferred.
The people of Alderney are an early people in
their habits. When I returned from my walk to the
harbour, about half-past seven, I found my breakfast
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