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is now converted into a parade, and round part of it runs a gravelled walk.

The town possesses a public Library: the building was erected at the expense of the Rev. Philip Falle, the historian of the Island; who presented to it a valuable collection of books, to which the late Rev. Dr. Dumaresq made a considerable addition; and the States have lately voted an annual grant of £100 to be laid out in the purchase of modern publications. This is a most valuable acquisition, as the library formerly consisted of old works, and mostly on divinity: it contains upwards of 6000 vols. The annual subscription is very moderate. There are several Reading Societies, and other private associations. Newspapers, both in English and French, are published on different days in the week.

The Theatre stands in the centre of a crescent, at the east side of the town: it is a modern structure, built in 1827. English and French comedians perform occasionally. There is also a minor theatre in Regent Road; this is principally engaged by amateur performers. The Assemblies and Concerts are held at the Royal Yacht Club Hotel, on the pier they commence in October, and continue through the winter, every fortnight. There is usually a Fancy Ball during the season.

The Baths are situated in Bath-street. Hot and cold, with either salt water or fresh, and shower baths, may be had from seven in the morning till ten at night: the charges are moderate. A Reading room is connected with the baths, in which some of the London and provincial English papers are taken in, with a few periodical publications. Attempts have more than once been made to establish Bathing Machines, but they have hitherto failed; a spirited individual has, however, lately renewed the attempt,

and with such means as furnish strong hopes of success. They are situated at Gréve d'Azette.

There are several Benevolent Societies established in the town, a list and particulars of which will be found in the Appendix to this work.

In the town are several Hotels, respectable Inns, and Boarding-houses. Steam Packets are constantly sailing from Jersey to Weymouth and Southampton: they always stop at Guernsey, to receive or land passengers. The reader is also referred to the Appendix for a particular account of these, with the times of their sailing, and many other particulars alluded to in the body of the work.

We cannot finish this account of the town, without alluding to some valuable observations of Dr. Hooper, in his work already quoted, on the comparative salubrity of the respective towns of St. Helier and St. Aubin. The patient who comes to Jersey for the benefit of his health, would do well to consult this before he fixes on the place of his abode.

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CHAPTER XI.

THE INHABITANTS.

Physical Peculiarities; Sketch of general Character; Vaiking; Pic-nic Parties; Amusements; Theatricals; Balls and Concerts; Races ;-Other Amusements recommended.

THE person of a Jerseyman is about the middle size; it is very unusual to see a remarkably tall man; he retains much of the physical characters of his two originals, the Celts and the Scandinavians, especially in the northern districts of the Island, where the race has suffered the least admixture. The hair is mostly dark brown or light chesnut; the features sharp and intelligent, though a skilful physiognomist would probably discover much is harsh and phlegmatic: the complexion is generally tawny, the limbs are muscular, not bulky-well adapted for active labour: an agricultural labourer is not so clownish in his manner as one of the same grade in England; this is to be ascribed to his being trained to military exercises, which would necessarily improve his deportment. Of the females it has been observed, "though comely and well-built, they are more remarkable for neatness of figure than elegance of stature and regular beauty." There is something peculiar in the gait of a Jerseyman, though not sufficiently marked to distinguish him from an Englishman or a Frenchman.

There will not be much difficulty in the delineation of the character of a Jerseyman: hypocrisy is not a promiminent feature-he is what he appears to be. A deportment amounting to bluntness and rudeness has been charged on him. These are comparative terms: an Islander in the society of persons in England, scarcely a degree above himself, would be deemed deficient in good manners, though scarcely chargeable with being either blunt or rude: the English language has not a word to express exactly the character in this respect, the French would say he is brusque. Occasional admixture with society above his own rank, and which is only to be found in large communities, can alone remove this, and communicate ease of manner, and a greater measure of exterior polish.

There is an independence of character in a Jerseyman, which may in some measure contribute to the feature already noticed, and this is easily explained: he is generally an independent man, either living on his own property, or possessed of rents: almost all have political rights, they elect their own judges and magistrates: this of itself every Englishman will allow must induce a feeling of independence, by bringing him more in contact and temporary equality with his superiors, and more frequently than in England. Party spirit certainly runs very high in Jersey, the whole Island being ranged on one side or the other; and the many clubs that are established, in which island politics are discussed, tend very much to keep up this spirit. The old distinctions of Magot and Charlot have given way to those of ROSE and LAUREL : the liberals take the Rose as their emblem, the high party in church and state the Laurel. Thus, Island politics seem to absorb all their thoughts, beyond their own individual concerns; and party strife is found too

much mixed up even with these: the politics of England, or even of the world generally, engage very little of their attention they live in a world of their own.

It has also been said that this same party spirit exists in matters of religion, but probably not more than in other places. In what town in England does the churchman and dissenter meet in social harmony? this difference always did, and ever will, exist; and it may well be vindicated on the ground that in the highest concerns of a man's life he is not disposed to yield to his neighbour: if either is to enjoy his own opinion, and live in peace with each other, they must live without social intercourse. It must, however, be admitted to their praise, that Jerseymen, both churchmen and dissenters, are generally moral and devout, and the sabbath is more strictly regarded by them than in England.

Frugality is a very prominent feature in a Jerseyman; this within its proper limit is commendable,—every man is bound to provide for his present household, and for those who are to succeed him; but when it trenches on liberality as a duty, when it shuts the heart and hand to the calls of humanity, frugality no longer ranks among the virtues, -then it degenerates into parsimony, and will most likely end in avarice. This has certainly been charged on the Islanders, and perhaps with some truth: their excuse must be found in their insular situation, and the minute subdivision of their property, which requires that they should make the most of what they possess. It should however be observed, that the many benevolent societies in the Island show that they are not so regardless of other claims, besides those of their own family, as their accusers would lead us to imagine.

Whatever there may be of justness in the charge, it is

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