The assembling on the "lit de veille" is a custom that prevails in both Islands, but particularly in Guernsey. This lit de veille is a large low frame, not unlike a stump bedstead, and usually standing in one corner of the room: during the winter evenings, the young of both sexes meet at different houses, and seated on this frame form a circle, their feet meeting in the centre; over which is suspended a lamp, which of course serves to light the whole party: the girls sew or knit, while the young men amuse them by singing or relating stories. Where there is no lit de

straw is spread on the

veille, or when the party is large, floor, on which the assembly sit. It is probable that this custom took its rise from the frugal character of the inhabitants: one light serving for several persons, and little fire being needed, where so many were assembled in one room; and for the same reason, probably, the decline of this custom is greater in Jersey than in Guernsey, as the increasing wealth is more diffused in the former than in the latter Island.

At Midsummer the natives of Jersey and Guernsey respectively pay visits to their relations and friends in the sister Island, and these visits are generally prolonged to a considerable time: the festivities of Christmas are still maintained in a high degree. The declension which has begun in England in this respect, has not yet had an influence in Jersey.

Marriages, among all but the lower classes, are generally solemnized in the evening, and at home. The rite

of different rude materials, and, in a kind of song, invoke that goddess to destroy the moles and field mice, and to grant a plentiful harvest. Part of that district in Normandy, Le Contentin, still bears the name of le Val de Ceres. May-day is not celebrated in Jersey.

of baptism, if performed in private, must be renewed at the parish church.

When a death occurs in a family, it is usual to send an early notice to relatives and particular friends: these, in return, are expected to pay a visit of condolence, before the funeral. A general invitation for relations, friends, and neighbours, to attend the funeral, is then issued. A corpse is therefore followed to the grave by a numerous concourse, who, even among the lower ranks, are mostly in mourning: this indeed forms a very general dress of the Island, among the middle and higher classes: intermarriages link so many persons together, that family connexions are extensive, and it is customary to assume the sable garb, even for an infant. The interment fre

quently takes place within two or three days after death, and a subsequent visit to the nearest relations is again expected from those who received an early intimation of their friend's decease.

72

CHAPTER IV.

Trade, Commerce, Shipping, Banking,
and Manufactures.

Ir is of very recent date that Jersey has attained her present eminence in a commercial point of view. Peter Heylin, the author of the "Cosmography," who visited the Channel Islands in the year 1656, and wrote an account of them, notices the poverty of the inhabitants, which he ascribes to their "dislike of traffic :" the men were principally employed in agriculture, and the women and children in knitting stockings; and so extensive was this trade to France, in the year 1734, when Falle published the second edition of his work, that he computes no less than ten thousand pair were weekly exported from Jersey to Paris, Lyons, and Rouen. It is necessary in some measure to qualify the above remark respecting agriculture: the Island at that time, as at present, abounded with orchards, and the manufacture of cider constituted the principal employment of the men, which better suited the habits that then prevailed among them, than the more tiresome labour of tilling the ground, and it was probably more profitable.

At this early period of the commercial relations between Jersey and other nations, the States of the Island were no great advocates for the freedom of trade, for they passed a law in the early part of the 17th century, prohibiting several specified articles being sold wholesale to the mer

chants, until they had been offered retail on board the ships for four days,-corn, salt, and coals were the prin cipal commodities subjected to this regulation. The Royal Court usually fixed the price of labour, and of the common articles of consumption. In 1607 the Viconte or sheriff was directed to see that nothing was brought to the Island but what was useful to the public; that principle in trade which regulates the supply according to the demand, was not so well understood as it is at present, or this would have been left to be regulated by the inhabitants themselves: since more enlarged views have been entertained, and a better line of policy has been adopted by the States, the trade of the Island has increased in a surprising degree. Its commercial relations were formerly almost entirely confined to England and France; Newfoundland* afterwards opened a field to the speculation and enterprize of the Islanders: at the present time they trade with almost every country in Europe, with America, and some of our colonies in the West Indies.

The commerce with England is subjected to several regulations and limitations; principally with a view to prevent any contraband traffic. But every article "of the growth, produce, and manufacture" of Jersey is admited into the mother country, on payment only of the same duties that are imposed on similar commodities, grown, produced, or manufactured there.

Jersey receives from England manufactured goods, iron, copper, cloth, linen, and cottons; together with coals, crockery, glass ware, flat paving stone, and a great variety of other useful and ornamental articles. In return she

* This branch of commerce declines considerably when Great Britain is engaged in a Continental war-so many of the usual markets for salted fish being closed against its subjects.

sends to England apples, cider, cows, heifers, potatoes, stone, potatoe-spirit, and oysters.

The produce of the Island exported to foreign parts is very inconsiderable. It consists principally of potatoes to Gibraltar and Malta, while the articles imported from abroad, and actually consumed in the Island, form a large aggregate amount.

As the whole export of Jersey produce is so extremely inadequate to the imports consumed, it is evident that, without a foreign trade, or an accession of income from other channels, the Island could not support its present increased expenditure. A large additional income is certainly produced: of this no small portion is derived from considerable sums spent in the Island by English and other families residing there: still however the foreign commercial relations of Jersey must have become a source of advantage to the Island, or there could not have been that rapid influx of wealth, which has introduced a degree of luxury and expensive living, formerly unknown in the Island.

The late war made, so far as this Island was concerned, a great difference, in every respect, from any former state of hostility. It enriched not only the merchants and the retailers, but all the country inhabitants. It so increased the value of estates, that land was then let in the parish of Grouville, at the exorbitant rate of five pounds sterling per vergee:* equal to about twelve pounds per acre.

It is a remarkable fact, that Jersey continued to flourish, while every other part of Europe groaned under the most severe pressure.-The crowds of emigrants, particularly from France, that sought an asylum in the Island, great

* A vergee is somewhat less than half an acre.