WALES AND THE ISLANDS. 283 



rank among the most prosperous in France : that of La 

 Manche standing eighth out of eighty-six, and the Cotes- 

 du-Nord twelfth, in point of density of population and 

 richness ; yet, while Jersey counts nearly three inhabi- 

 tants to two acres, La Manche and the C6tes-du-Nord 

 count less than one; and the same disproportion is ob- 

 servable alike in the gross and the net produce of the land. 

 Certainly in this instance the difference cannot be attri- 

 buted to large property and large farming, since the land 

 is much more divided in Jersey, than with us. It must 

 be admitted that the real cause lies somewhere else. 



This small island has uninterruptedly enjoyed, for 

 many centuries, almost complete independence, which has 

 secured to it the two greatest earthly blessings peace 

 and liberty. It has not known the bad government, 

 revolutions, or wars which have so often retarded the 

 progress of its French neighbours. In this respect it has 

 been more favoured than even England itself. 



With such a history, everything should prosper. Left 

 to itself, the local development took the form of small 

 property and small farming ; though it might have taken 

 others, which would equally have succeeded. I believe, 

 however, that had they adopted other methods, these 

 islands would have found it difficult to support such 

 a large population. As they have plenty of capital, 

 small property and small farming become, so to say, un- 

 bounded in productiveness. A large empire could not 

 be organised quite in this way, because the condition 

 and circumstances of its people must necessarily be more 

 various. These islands have neither to govern nor to 

 defend themselves ; they have nothing to do but to be 

 happy, and they are so ; a limited and monotonous sort of 

 happiness no doubt, but of old standing, and worthy of 

 respect. They have made no figure in the arts, politics, 



