elevation of this kind, is called La Hougue Bie, but
more generally known by the name of Prince’s Tower;
from the summit of which, the eye embraces almost
the whole island. I have never failed to be delighted
with the view from this spot, which is not only interesting,
as at once laying open the whole character and
extent of the island, but as being in itself, inexpressibly
beautiful. Jersey appears like an extensive pleasure
ground,—one immense park, thickly studded with
trees; beautifully undulating, and dotted with cottages.
Fertility is on every side seen meeting the sea: the
fine curves of several of the bays may be distinctly
traced, with their martello towers, and other more
imposing defences: several of the larger valleys may
be distinguished by the shadow which is thrown upon
one side: while all around, the horizon is bounded by
the blue sea, excepting towards the east, where the
French coast is seen stretching in a wide curve towards
the south and north; and which, in one direction,
approaches so near to Jersey, that the white sea beach
is distinctly seen; and in clear weather, even the
towns that lie near to the coast may be discerned.
The prospect is altogether most charming; and among
the many I have seen in my day, I know few that
please me more.
The walk to this spot too, is a beautiful one; it is
not above three miles from the town; and in this
distance, a tolerably correct idea may be formed of the
environs of St. Helier. The first part of the road
which leads thither, is skirted by villas and cottage
residences, and by the fine wooded slopes upon which
they are b u ilt; and passes one of the most interesting
of the island churches,—St. Saviour’s,—in the church
yard of which, one may very well linger a while in the
shade of its trees, or looking down from it, upon the
town, and the bay of St. Aubin. Government-house,
too, lies on the same road. It is scarcely seen from
the road; and the view of it would not reward a walk
up the avenue, which however, is easily distinguished
by the absurd parade of a sentinel pacing to and fro,
and a corporal’s guard yawning in the lodge.
The tower of La Hougue Bie, stands upon an
artificial mound of some height, thickly planted with
trees, and evergreen shrubs; and in the months of
August and September, when the hydrangeas are in
blossom, the attractions of the spot are, greatly increased
; for these beautiful shrubs, here almost as
large as trees, form the avenues in the neighbourhood;
and at that season, covered with their large blue
flowers, the effect is indeed most captivating. I have
nowhere seen the hydrangea so luxuriant in its growth
as in the Channel Islands; and the flowers are most
commonly blue, not pink, as we are more accustomed
to see them in England.
But I must not dismiss the tower of La Hougue
Bie, without briefly noticing the legend with which it
is connected.
It is said in the “ Livre noir de Coutances,” that
this part of Jersey was infested by a monstrous serpent,
or dragon, which devoured all within its range,
and threatened in the end, to depopulate the island.
Now it so happened, that there chanced to be living
somewhere on the opposite coast of France, a certain
Norman noble called De Hambie, a Hercules in