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the residents have come to Jersey to economize.
Tliey prefer spending their surplus income in seeing
their friends at home and abroad,—and in country
parties, rather than in frequenting public amusements.
The consequence is, that with the lack of musical
taste, and the necessity for economy, concerts fare ill
in Jersey. Fashion perhaps may fill a room once;
hut I question if Pasta and Malibran together, could
twice collect 701 in Jersey. The residents cannot
be blamed for not doing that, which they did
not come to Jersey to do; and the details of a former
chapter, will have sufficiently accounted for the want
of interest in, and love of the fine arts, shewn by the
native inhabitants. Attempts have been made to concentrate
the musical talent of the island, in a club ;
but like everything else in Jersey, which requires cooperation
and public spirit, the attempt has been
crowned with very indifferent success.
I ought to have mentioned, that the disposition towards
puritanism, which I have already said, is prevalent
in Jersey, is inimical to the success of theatrical
entertainments,—and in some degree to all public
amusements. Horse races, which have been instituted
these two or three years, are of course, particularly
obnoxious to the religious classes; and their success
has only been moderate.
I think ] have stated tolerably fairly, the advantages
and disadvantages of Jersey, as a residence; and I
shall conclude this chapter with a brief comparison
between Jersey in this respect, and the principal
resorts of the English on the Continent.
In point of expense, Jersey differs very little from
most of these. Foreign and colonial produce is dearer
on all parts of the Continent; but on the other hand,
house rent is higher in Jersey, than in any place on
the Continent frequented by the English,—excepting
Tours. In the smaller English resorts,—petty towns
and villages, for example, on the coast of Normandy
and Brittany,—all the necessaries, and many of the
luxuries of life, are greatly cheaper than they are in
Jersey. But except cheapness, these spots have
nothing to recommend them.
As for agremens, there is no doubt that all the large
cities resorted to by the English, have a great advantage
over Je rsey ; and in the state of society also,
they will more than bear comparison with it. The
theatres, promenades, the spectacles, the galleries, of
Paris, Florence, or even Brussels, offer resources,
which may be sought for in vain in Jersey. Jersey
does not lie under any disadvantage in comparison
with the smaller resorts. It is true that the monotony
of Pau, may be broken by an excursion to Bagneres
de Bigorre, which all the world has heard of,—or to
the village of Beiretz, in the bay of Biscay, which
very few have heard of,—but which is nevertheless
one of the most charming, and coolest of retreats:
and the beautiful tranquillity of Lausanne may be
interrupted by a ramble among the Swiss mountains,
or an excursion on Lake Leman: but these resources
are as expensive, and not so full of variety as those
which Jersey offers, in excursions to London, and
P aris: and in Jersey, there is greater room for selection
in society, than in those places where the more
limited number of residents, scarcely admits of different
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