256 ISLE OF WIGHT, JERSEY, GUERNSEY. 



place of confinement for his children ; and his daughter, the princess 

 Elizabeth, died in it. There are several other forts in this island, 

 which were all erected about the 36th year of the reign of Henry VIII, 

 when many other forts and blockhouses were built in different parts of 

 the coast of England. 



In the English Channel are four islands subject to England : these 

 are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark ; which, though they lie 

 much nearer to the coast of Normandy than to that of England, are 

 within the diocese of Winchester. They lie in a cluster in Mount 

 St. Michael's Bay, between Cape la Hogue in Normandy, and Cape 

 Frebelle in Brittany. The computed distance between Jersey and 

 Sark is four leagues ; between that and Guernsey, seven leagues ; 

 and between the same and Alderney, nine leagues. 



JERSEY, anciently CiESAREA, was known to the Romans, and 

 lies farthest within the bay, in forty-nine degrees seven minutes north 

 latitude, in the second degree twenty-six minutes west longitude, 18 

 miles west of Normandy, and 84 miles south of Portland. The north 

 side is inaccessible through lofty cliffs ; the south is almost level with 

 the water ; the higher land, in its midland part, is well planted, and 

 abounds with orchards, from which is made an incredible quantity of 

 excellent cider. The vallies are fruitful and well cultivated, and con- 

 tain plenty of cattle and sheep. The inhabitants neglect tillage too 

 much, being intent upon the culture of cider, the improvement of 

 commerce, and particularly the manufacture of stockings. The ho- 

 ney in Jersey is remarkably fine ; and the island is well supplied with 

 fish and wild fowl of almost every kind, some of both being peculiar 

 to the island, and very delicious. 



The island is not above twelve miles in length, and is divided into 

 twelve parishes. The air is so salubrious, that, in Camden's time, it 

 was said there was here no business for a physician. The inhabitants 

 are in number about 20,000. The capital town of St. Helier, or Hi- 

 lary, which contains above 400 houses, has a good harbour and castle, 

 and makes a handsome appearance. The property of this island be- 

 longed formerly to the Carterets, a Norman family, who have been 

 always attached to the royal interest, and gave protection to Charles 

 II, both when king and prince of Wales, at a time when no part of 

 the British dominions durst recognise him. The language of the in- 

 habitants is French, with which most of them intermingle English 

 words. Knit stockings and caps form their staple commodity ; but 

 they carry on a considerable trade in fish with Newfoundland, and 

 dispose of their cargoes in the Mediterranean. The governor is ap- 

 pointed by the crown of England, but the civil administration rests 

 with a bailiff, assisted by twelve jurats. As this island is the princi- 

 pal remain of the duchy of Normandy depending on the kings of 

 England, it preserves the old feudal forms ; and particularly the as- 

 sembly of states, which is, as it were, a miniature of the British par- 

 liament, as settled in the time of Edward I. 



GUERNSEY is thirteen miles and a half from south-west to north- 

 east, and twelve and a half where broadest, east and west. It is di- 

 vided into ten parishes, which have only eight churches, four of the 

 parishes being united, and Alderney and Sark, which are appendages 

 of Guernsey, forming each a separate parish with its appropriate mi- 

 nister. Though this is naturally a finer island than that of Jersey, 

 yet it is far less valuable ; because it is not so well cultivated, nor is 

 it so populous. It abounds in cider. The inhabitants speak French, 



