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bad appropriation of the crown revenue appears to be
destined for change, by the retrenching spirit of the
times, it is to be hoped, that the claims of the underpaid
clergy vdll not be forgotten. It is possible that
these claims may not be advanced; but at a time when
there is a disposition to afford something like adequate
remuneration to the working clergy of England
—and all the incumbents in Jersey, are working
clergy—it is almost to be expected, that when a large
sum is about to be released from the grasp of a sinecurist,
a part of it may be appropriated towards the
moderate augmentation of the miserable livings in
Jersey.
It is much to be regretted, that by the constitution
of the island, the clergy have seats in the legislature.
I do not, at present, speak of this as a political flaw
in the constitution; but only, as it affects the usefulness
of the clergy, which necessarily depends greatly,
upon their moral influence over their respective
flocks. In an island such as Jersey, where subjects
of local interest are every day springing up, great
diversity of opinion must continually exist, as to the
course most proper to be pursued by the legislature,
in the various matters brought before i t ; and thus the
clergy are necessarily brought into ill odour with a
part of their parishioners. It is impossible, that men
who have witnessed (or think they have witnessed)
the fallibility of their pastor’s judgment in temporal
matters, should trustingly confide to him their eternal
interests.
Such is a slight outline of the civil, military, and
ecclesiastical government of Jersey,—forming altogether,
a constitution to which there is the blindest
attachment on the part of the great majority of the
people, who, if any change be proposed, immediately
exclaim, “ See how our island has flourished! ” The
flourishing condition of the island, is not, however,
owing to the privileges, which are so much valued by
the people, and which may be termed political privileges,
but is owing to its great commercial privileges:
when I come to speak of the commerce of the island,
these will be enumerated and explained; meanwhile
I would only observe, that it is these commercial privileges
which have filled its harbour with shipping,
and extended its commerce over the world; these
which confer upon it the advantage it possesses over
other spots, in commanding at a lower price, the luxuries,
and many of fhe necessaries of life. This m
conjunction with the absence of taxation, is the attraction
which has drawn some thousands of English
residents to its shores; this it is, which has covered
the environs of the town with villas, and formed new
streets, and opened shops, and raised the value of
property, and in fact, made Jersey what it is.
The privileges of Jersey, are great and invaluable
—impossible to be enjoyed without producing important
benefits upon the people who enjoy them.
Here, the tax-gatherer’s knock is unknown: here, a
year’s poor-rates are paid by a wealthy man, with a
sum that would not furnish him with a dinner in England
: here, if we say to a shopkeeper, “ the article is
dear,” we are not answered, “ It is owing to the high
duty. S ir; I get nothing by i t :” here a man may sit
down to a well-spread table covered with foreign,
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