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superior to those of any of the fathers who preceded him. 

 tlents were better than hi* temper ; an'! lie made 

 greater attainments in the knowledge than in the spi- 

 rit ot He was a man of the most choleric 

 disposition, ami ready to burst into the most outrageous 

 abuse upon the slightest provocation ; insatiably greedy 

 of fame, and bitterly censorious of his most respectable 

 rivah. and opponents. The first edition of his works 

 was published 5-y Erasmus at Basle in 1 526, with an 

 account of his lift prefixed ; but the latest and fullest 

 w*s published t Verona by Vallersius, in 1 1 vols. folio. 

 They consist chiefly of his Latin version of 'he >crip- 

 turr. distinguished by the name of the Vulgate, com- 

 mentaries on different books of scripture, polemical trea- 

 tises, letters, and biographical accounts of preceding 

 ecclesiastical authors. Of these, the commentaries and 

 letters are accounted the most useful, and the chief ad- 

 vantage of hi* writings consists in the information which 

 they afford respecting the opinions of the learned Jews 

 in biblical literature, and the fragments which they 

 contain of the ancient Greek translations of the Bible. 

 See Moaheim's Cl> //u/. vol. i. ; Lardner's Work*, vol. 

 ii ; Milner's Ck. Hni. vol. iii. ; Cave's Hut. Liter, vol. 

 ii ; Le Clerc's QuetHomrt Hieronymianee ; and Jortin's 

 Remarkt on Eccl. //../. ( ? ) 



JERSEY, ia an island in the English Channel, sub- 

 ject to the dominion of Great Britain, lying off the coast 

 of Normandy in France. Its form is sn irregular paral- 

 lelogram, the extreme length of which is 1'.' inn. - the ex- 

 treme breadth 7, and the superficial area ri'J i squaremiles, 

 or 4O,OOO acres. The climate u so mild, that frost is rarely 

 of any duration, and snow seldom lies alxwe two or three 

 days in winter. Shrubs requiring shelter in the south- 

 ern parts of England, sustain no injury here from ex- 

 posure, and spring Bowers blow in the open air of the 

 colder season. Fogs are not uncommon, and there are 

 frequent gales, together with keen and penetrating 

 winds from the east, which are severe on delicate con- 

 stkutions. Pulmonary affections are often fatal, and 

 there are numerous case* of scrophula, which sonic have 

 ascribed to the habitual use of salted provision*. 



The surface of Jersey is an inclined plane, rising 

 Inaptly from the sea on the north, where its lofty 

 cliffs are in general 100, or frequently 200 feet high, 

 and declining gradually to the southern coait Its 

 hare M deeply indented by many fine bays, of which 

 St Anbin, Brelade, dc Lecq, and Boulsy, are the roost 

 important But they are not well sheltered from 

 storms, and the ports of St Helier and St Aubin are 

 t*oth dry at low water. A chain of rocks runs out from 

 the north and north-east, dangerous to mariners, as are 

 the shallows in other parts ; and the tides, which rise 

 from 4O to 30 feet, exhibit some singular phenomena. 



The island is watered by numerous streams, and so 

 copiously, that it has been observed, there is scarcely a 

 houM which has not a spring or a brook near it All 

 the mineral waters hitherto discovered are chalybeate ; 

 but only two have attracted any notice on account of 

 their medicinal properties one in the parish of St Ma- 

 ry, the othrr in that of St Saviour. 



A large portion of Jersey consists *f sienite, espe- 

 cially the northern coast, where there are rocks of va- 

 rious elevation, generally exhibiting broad and perpen- 

 dicular face* to the sea. and every where intersected 

 by veins also perpendicular running north and south. 

 Many remarkable caverns have been formed in them 

 by the action of the waves. What approaches nearest 

 to granite i* quarried at Mont Mado, of which ample 

 use U made for architectural purposes. Varieties equal- 

 ly bard and compact are obtained at St. Brelade's 

 Bay and Plemont These of sienite appear in some 



places to pass into porphyry, in others into a kind of 

 green stone in a state of partial or entire decoraposi- v 

 tion. No metallic traces, except of iron and manga- 

 nese, are s>een in any part of Jersey. It has been 

 said that copper on is found. Ochre of different co- 

 lours is obtained in various places, and there are some 

 specimens of tripoli. 



The surface of the island is extremely irregular, Vt 

 consisting of numerous small vallies running across produce. 

 the island ; and the soil, which is principally a light 

 and fertile earth, has been compared to that of Guern- 

 sey. Considerable variety of vegetables is produced 

 here. Madder grows wild, also the luteola, single 

 chamomile, and a number of aromatic herbs. La 

 ver and samphire grow on the coast, and chiefly to 

 the north. Fine fruits of the highest flavour come 

 to maturity in the orchards. A kind of pear call- 

 ed chaumtitlrlle is particularly celebrated, some at- 

 taining a pound in weight. It sells for a high price 

 at all times, and is sent in presents to England. From 

 the profusion of apples a great quantity of cider is ob- 

 tained yearly. There are no woods of forest trees 

 throughout the island ; but one of the most important 

 vegetables is sea weed, or vraic, which grows all around 

 the rocky shore, and is used, either in a recent state 

 for manuring die land, or when dried, as fuel. Only 

 two seasons in the year, which are proclaimed by order 

 of the mairistrates, being appointed for cutting it, whole 

 families watch the period when it is torn ofl* the rocks 

 by tempests, to rake it together. The ordinary farina- 

 ceous grain of England is cultivated : also bearded 

 wheat, called fromenl iremau in Jersey, which is reaped 

 in three months, and the various edible roots. Lucern 

 and clover are in general cultivation, but hops have 

 not succeeded. Instead of reserving a field for each 

 kind of grain, it is common to sow several in patches 

 in those of very small size. The vegetable produce of 

 the island is considerably less than its consumption ; 

 and there is sometimes a temporary scarcity in the 

 town of St Helier, extending both to bread and meat. 



Many species of fish frequent the shores, but the in- Animal); 

 habitants do not seem to avail themselves of the great 

 advantage to be derived from them. Hays, turbot, plaise, 

 soles, and mullet are caught, besides others. " But,'' 

 in the words of an old author, " the sea about Jersey 

 may be stiled the kingdom of congers," which are seen 

 among the rocks at all seasons; some six feet long, 

 and weighing 54 pounds. Oysters, lobsters, and crabs, 

 are plentiful. Numbers of small snakes, all harmless, 

 and also beautiful lizards, are seen on the island. It is 

 infested by toads of monstrous size, though none are 

 found on Guernsey. The red legged partridge was once 

 common, but is now nearly extirpated. There are three 

 species of field mice, one of which, in as far as we can 

 learn, is the nms typbJus, or blind mole, hitherto ascribed 

 to southern Russia. It approaches to the size of a rat, 

 and is of a grey colour, with long hair : the eyes are BO 

 small as to be scarcely discernible; and under the fur 

 there are in the site of the ears two bare vesicles. The 

 hones of the island are small, strong, and hardy ; and 

 the cows are of that breed known in England by the 

 name of Alderney cows. Sheep are diminutive in size, 

 and mostly black. Another species is alluded to by 

 authors of the seventeenth century, as " those famous 

 sheep with six horns, three of each side ; one whereof 

 bent towards the' nose, another backwards towards the 

 neck, and the third stood erected upwards in the midst 

 of the other two, mentioned by writers as one of the 

 singularities of this island, are become very rare." 

 Some goats are bred ; and hares are scarce. 



The inhabitants are distinguished by few peculiar!- inhabitant*- 



