parative minuteness, whereby every part receives a portion of the vapours exhaled from that immense body of water.

In the latter part of the spring a keen easterly wind prevails, usually, for some time: this is remarkably penetrating to delicate constitutions; but on the whole, the climate may be considered mild, and the air very salubrious. Agues are, indeed, not uncommon in the few swampy parts; and it must be admitted that pulmonic complaints are not unfrequent; these last chiefly attack young persons, and they may in some measure be attributed to causes which have not any reference whatever to climate, but rather to the want of attention in the clothing during the variable season of spring. Bilious affections are likewise prevalent, particularly in the summer season. Perhaps, however, no part of Europe can furnish more instances of vigorous longevity.

It will be interesting to the reader who may seek particular information on this subject, to give some extracts from a work, written by Dr. Hooper, on the topography, climate, and prevalent diseases of the Island. The work is the result of many years minute observation on the subject, and careful registration of the facts as they occurred.

On the Climate Dr. Hooper observes—

"The island of Jersey, from its situation and small extent, enjoys a remarkably mild climate; so mild, indeed, that with regard to temperature simply, it will be found superior to most neighbouring places, and equal to many in more southern latitudes.

"From observations continued during five successive years, it has appeared that the mean temperature of St. Helier averages at 53° 06. In the same lapse of time the entire range of the mercury in the thermometer was 26°, the two extremes being 88, and 62°,

Atmospheric heat, averaged on the whole month, arrives at its maximum in August, and is at the lowest level in January; arranged according to their mean temperature, the months stand thus, 1 August, 2 July, 3 June, 4 September, 5 May, 6 October, 7 April, 8 November, 6 March, 10 December, 11 February, 12 January."

Jersey according to Dr. Hooper's opinion approximates, in respect of climate, more nearly to Penzance than to any other of the mild situations on the south of England.

"The progression to temperature through the months from one extreme to the other, appears more gradual in Jersey than at the other Islands, and the variations being decidedly less in the spring than in the autumn; the difference is however of trifling importance, compared with those which exist between the two localities with regard to equality of temperature. In this point of view, Jersey lays claim to a superiority, which undoubtedly more than counterbalances its disadvantages in other respects. Its climate in winter is singularly favourable, and fully proves the correctness of Dr. Young's conclusion, that for equality of temperature, a very small island must have great advantages over every other situation on shore."

In the following remarks, which describe generally the character of the climate during different seasons of the year, will also be found some useful hints, worthy the attention of the visitor, and especially the invalid

"The Island enjoys an early spring and a lengthened autumn; vegetation being usually active and forward in March, and the landscape far from naked as late as the end of December. The dreary aspect of winter is comparatively short-lived, but the season of spring is marked by the same unsteadiness of temperature, and harsh variable weather, as in most spots under a similar latitude; and this disadvantage is particularly felt in May, which often fails to bring with it the expected enjoyments. Generally speaking,.

our March is mild, compared with what it is in neighbouring places: October possesses a still greater superiority in the same respect; consequently the genial qualities of the climate may be made available to the invalid, to whose case they are applicable, during a period of six months. In diseases which require the avoidance of great ranges and variations of temperature, the objectionable qualities of the months of April and May, though in a certain degree tempered by the causes which mitigate the severity of our winter, are nevertheless such as to call for great care in the use of exercise in the open air. To those who quit warm clothing, or in any other way relax in their precautions against the effect of cold by anticipation, these months too often prove very dangerous. Bating this circumstance, a securer spot could scarce be found by a numerous class of English invalids within a much greater distance from their home. The summer is generally and always comparatively dry and cool, restricting, of course, the meaning of the words to the quantity of rain and the mitigating influence of the surrounding ocean upon the power of the sun's rays. The winter, however, is the season, which of all others contributes the most to the peculiarities of the climate; with rare exceptions, it passes off in soft, rainy, or windy weather, with intervals of astonishingly mild days, and with scarcely any frost or snow."

"By reason of the mildness, trifling range, and variations of temperature, chronic disorders proceed slowly towards their termination; a circumstance of no mean import, since by allowing more time for the operations of nature and of art, it adds to the chances of recovery, in cases not absolutely hopeless.*

-See Appendix.

* It will not be expected in a work of this kind, to treat of the Pathology of the Island; but to the medical student, who may desire information on the subject, a perusal of Dr. Hooper's work is strongly recommended: it is entitled "Observations on the Topography, Climate, and prevalent Diseases of the Island of Jersey, by George S. Hooper, M. D.

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CHAPTER VI.

Mineralogy.

THIS Chapter on the Mineralogy of Jersey was originally written by Mr. Plees, whose work is alluded to in the preface: his taste and knowledge of the subject rendered him peculiarly qualified; and Mr. König, of the British Museum, whose valuable contribution is acknowledged in the original work, has lately revised the whole: it is therefore presumed that it will prove an interesting chapter to the scientific reader.

In the accounts of Jersey that have been published the subject of mineralogy has been scarcely noticed. Dr. Mac Culloch was the first who made it an object of scientific inquiry; but he did not enter minutely into the geological character of the Island. Sercq appears to have more particularly engaged his attention. From his account of the rocks that are dispersed throughout St. Michael's bay, there is reason for supposing that Jersey, and all the other Islands in the same quarter, are composed of secondary rocks, resting on a basis of real granite. This primitive mass, though not found in its strict form in Jersey, exists in some of these Islands: indeed each of them exhibits various stony substances, that are not common to the rest: this, in so circumscribed a dis

* See Trans. of the Geolog. Soc. vol. i.

trict as St. Michael's bay, is a curious and unusual circumstance, especially if connected with the idea that the whole was, probably, a part of the continent itself. Thus, in Jersey, no rocks of steatite have been observed, though along the northern and north-eastern shores innumerable small portions are found. This exists in Sercq; and as the tide, at its outset, rushes from thence to Jersey, detached pieces are probably carried thither, broken still more in their passage through the Pierres de Lecq, and the Dirouilles. Gneiss is found in Guernsey, but not in Jersey. Though Sercq contains a diversified assortment of mineral substances, it is deficient in sienite, which granitic variety may be traced in almost every quarter of Jersey. Those remarkable pudding-stone masses, that form the lofty north-eartern boundary of the latter, do not exist in any of the other Islands.

Dr. Mac Culloch, speaking of Jersey, says that, in a general view, the whole of the high and northern tract may be said to consist of granitic rock, and the southern and flatter part of a mass of schistus, incumbent on it. He mentions a pudding-stone rock, of argillaceous breccia, consisting of large and small scraps of schistus, cemented by a basis of the sa ne nature, but having lost its tendency to a schistose fracture, and occupying the whole of Boulay bay, from Rosel to Belle Hougue; Dr. Mac Culloch does not however give the full extent to the rock, as it rises in St. Catherine's bay, of which it constitures the northern boundary; nor does he distinguish between this rock and another, nearly similar in quality, connected with it, which runs inland.* These deficiencies must be imputed to the short space of time in which his observations were made.

* See Mr. König's account, subjoined.