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spirit, which, unless amongst a few has no exercise:
for at all times, the petty triumph of party, is preferred
to the public good.
It was in speaking of the too exclusive and engrossing
interest which matters purely insular, possess, in
the minds of Jerseymen, that I was led to speak of
party spirit, as one great cause of this. I would
mention, as another, the universal attachment to clubs.
Almost every Jerseyman resident in St. Helier, has
his club. There, every evening, questions of insular
politics are discussed and commented upon; and there,
consequently, party spirit is inflamed, and the interest
attaching to local politics, riveted.
There is, generally, among the upper classes in
Jersey, a total apathy in all that regards literature,
science, and the belles lettres. This might be expected
from what I have already said. It is not likely that
literature and the fine arts will be prized, where the
affairs of the world at large, are disregarded. An
attempt was made, some tipie ago, to establish a
literary and scientific institution. I t met however,
with the success which might have been expected:
and an exhibition of paintings, which was opened in
the summer of 183— under the auspices of that
society, created little interest, and met with indifferent
encouragement. That such a society was set on foot,
hoAvever, and that an exhibition of the fine arts was
even attempted, prove, that there are some individuals
in the island, to whom the refinements of society are
not indifferent.
Distinctions in society, in Jersey, are more marked
by party, than by station. I do not of course mean
■s.
to say, that all ranks mingle ; but there is no apparent
line of demarcation in Jersey, as there is in Guernsey,
betAveen the old families, and those who have gained,
and are still gaining money and consequence in trade.
Wealth, in Jersey, levels other distinctions; and in
this, Jersey is rather in advance of the rest of the
Avorld. Aristocracy has no separate and exclusive
claims; or if it has, they are not admitted. What
effect this has upon the tone of society, is another
question. It would be impossible, however, in Jersey,
for aristocracy to maintain its exclusiveness. Few
of the families have not been indebted to commerce;
and in an island, and amongst a people, decidedly
commercial, trade acquires that importance, to which,
from its great results, it is entitled; and the station of
those who follow it, competes successfully in public
estimation, with that which is maintained by ancestral
inheritance. There are not, however, in Jersey, a
great many wealthy people, as that term would be
understood in England. Fortunes, generally speaking,
are moderate: but those Avho are rich, are in a
fair Avay of being richer; for they do not maintain
that external display, or those expensive establishments
which they could well afford; and which would
be maintained by persons similarly circumstanced in
England. I believe I may safely say, that no one in
Jersey, spends 1200/. per annum; and that, with two
or three exceptions, 800/. per annum, is the extent of
island expenditure. F cav close carriages are kept;
and of the few who keep them, still fewer keep horses
for their exclusive use. Neither is there a constant
drain on expenditure from entertainments. Expen