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by Jersey families, who maintain among themselves a
^ very friendly intercourse.
I have spent two or three long summer days delightfully,
the neighbourhood of this secluded
Vltlage : the surrounding country is beautiful arid
cl.vers.fied; the views over the bay, enelmnting; shel-
tere y the iiigh cliffs, there is seldom a rude wind
to annoy and distract o n e: the usual calmness of the
sea, too, IS m liarmony; and, after idling away a day
1 * -i. X* L* 1 ^ may chance to find a
bit of fresli fish, and an indifferent good cutlet at
the inn.
T h „ e is no church in St. Aubin ; but St. Brelade,
of wych I shall afterwards speak, aud in which parish
t. Aubin lies,—and St. Peter’s clmrch, are neither of
t lem at any great distance. St. Peter’s is celebrated
in Jersey by the valley which bears its name; and
which has tlie reputation of being the most beautiful
valley in the island. It is certainly a pretty valley;
but those who have explored the island, and followed
the bye paths, will scarcely allow it the precedence.
I know several which I prefer to it, one especially
which enters from the north of St. Helier, at a spot
called the Town Mills; and which is not only greatly
more extensive than St. Peter’s, but more varied in its
character.
Tlie third town in Jersey, is G o rey ,-„ow, owing
to Its oyster fishery, a place of more importance than
Set. Aubm; and always more attractive to strangers,
from Its immediate vicinity to Mont Orgueil Castle,—
wlucb, entitled as it is, to be called the pride of Jersey,
IS well wortiiy of its name. The road from St. Helier
7
JERSEY. 33
to Gorey is scarcely less beautiful than that from St.
Helier to St. Aubin ; and is more varied in its character.
It does not skirt the sea shore, but passes through
a rich low country, wooded in its immediate vicinity,
but separated from the sea, by low damp meadows,
some parts of which, lie several feet below high water
mark. It is worth one’s while however, to make a
circuit by the sea shore, which presents at low water,
an aspect of singular ruggedness and desolation. Look
over the sea at high water, and a few points of dark
rocks are seen rising above the surface: as the tide
falls, these increase in number, and magnitude; till,
at low M^ater, the whole of this part of the coast,
extending for four or five miles, and at least two miles
below high Avater mark, is covered by a terrific congregation
of rocks of all forms and dimensions, and of
A'arious heights; forming a barrier far more effectual,
than any that art could raise for the defence of the
island. Absurdly enough, on some of the most distant
of these, martello towers are erected. The once
prevailing mania for martello towers, has been extensively
indulged in, in Je rsey : all round the island,
these ruined defences are seen,—adding somewhat to
the picturesque aspect of the shore, but little I suspect,
to the security of the island. I must not forget
however, that I am at present on the road to Gorey.
Before reaching this town, and after passing a tolerable
lofty ridge, one drops down upon the church and
hamlet of Grouville,—the name of the parish in which
Gorey lies. There is the church,—and the parsonage,
—and a public house or two,—and two or three or
four other houses, and a few cottages, scattered about;
c 3
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