1859.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 45 



BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 



Channel Islands. By John Lloyd. 



Wednesday, the 4th of August, bemg a splendid morning, and 

 having business to transact near to St. Peter's, I left St. Helier's 

 at an early hour, intending to botanize a little upon my way there 

 and back again. In leaving the town behind me, and taking the 

 road toward St. Aubin, I came to an eminence on my right-hand. 

 I ascended to the top of the hill and enjoyed a beautiful view of 

 the bay, the town of St. Helier's, the distant town of St. Aubin's, 

 and the adjacent country. It being an early hour, but few were 

 astir. I saw a man, who appeared like a tradesman of the town, 

 taking an early v/alk before the hours of business. I made to- 

 wards him, with the intention of getting some information from 

 him. After the usual salutation, I inquired the name of the hill 

 upon which we were, and was informed that it bore the name of 

 Gallows Hill. The appellation suggested to me the fact that I 

 had not observed a prison in the neighbourhood of St. Helier's, 

 and upon my remarking so to my new companion, he told me 

 that they had such an edifice (he called it a jug) ; and he added 

 that they sometimes put Englishmen into it who did not conduct 

 themselves with propriety. I was more amused with his wit 

 than offended with his rudeness, and when he found that I did 

 not take any offence at his remark, he altered his behaviour, and 

 soon became very communicative. I had before observed that 

 the natives of the island appeared rather unwilling to converse 

 with me, and I afterwards learned that they are very shy of the 

 English : they have p«robably their reasons for being so. Several 

 of the visitors of the island appeared to belong to the lower 

 order of the middle ranks, with a portion of the better order of 

 the working classes, and being gentlemen for the nonce, they 

 perhaps arrogate to themselves more consequence than they are 

 properly entitled to. To such I would say, put a charitable con- 

 struction upon everything that you see ; make no invidious com- 

 parisons between the States and England ; and by no means pass 

 any impertinent jest upon any Caesarian damsel, for be her sta- 

 tion ever so humble, they may feel assured that such conduct 

 toward her will be deemed highly offensive, and that it will not 

 be tolerated. If any one should require information from one, 

 and will take the trouble to preface his question with a " Will you 



