152 
A natuealist’s kamble in gueensey. 
the only local coins in existence are bronze, doubles, two-doubles,, 
four doubles, and eight-double pieces, called pence, and exactly 
on par with the French “ dix centimes,” so that ten eight-double 
pieces make a franc. The States and two local banks issue 
notes of £1. Prices are always quoted in shillings and pence, 
but shillings are non-existent, having to be made up by a franc 
and two eight-double pieces. English money commands a 
premium, varying with the exchange on Paris — a sovereign is at 
present worth a Guernsey pound note, a shilling, and a half- 
penny. This complicated system is kept up apparently on 
account of the advantages it offers to the States and shareholders 
in local banks, who, being persons of influence, can control the 
action of the States in this matter. A prejudice against French 
gold is wisely stimulated, so that all who have to pay or 
receive large amounts are compelled to emplo}^ £1 notes, which 
therefore circulate to a large amount (£90,000). There are few 
strangers who get to comprehend this complicated system even 
in a year’s residence. 
The language is a French patois, but the rising generation 
evince great desire to acquire English, as their prospects in after 
life depend greatly on a knowledge of it. In the “ Folk-Lore of 
Guernsey and Sark,” by Louisa Lane-Clarke, the Guernsey- 
French is thus described : — “ The language of the townspeople, 
from their constant intercourse with strangers, is very intelligible 
English, though spoken with a peculiar accent, and frequently 
interlarded with the mother tongue ; but in the country, or if 
marketing on a Saturday, when the town is thronged with 
peasants, the stranger may be greatly puzzled to make out what 
language the people are talking. It is a good old dialect, which, 
during the last century at least, has proceeded in a steady 
course of gathering, like a rolling snowball, from everything it 
encountered, and increasing its vocabulary by various compounds 
of Latin, Welsh, Scotch, German, English, and Italian, added to 
