JERSEY, an island in the English channel, believed to be the island called in the Itinerary Cæsarea, in succeeding times Augia, by us Gersey, more frequently Jersey. It is situated 25 leagues south from the continent of Britain; five leagues west from Cape Carteret in Normandy; three leagues south from Sarke; seven leagues, according to the common computation, south-east from Guernsey, but in reality not so much; and nine leagues south from Alderney. It is of an oblong figure, measuring 12 miles from west to east, and six from north to south; in circumference between 35 and 36; and, in point of extent, nearly equal to, or rather somewhat larger than, Guernsey: elevated like that; but on the opposite side declining from south to north, the cliffs on that side which looks towards Guernsey being 40 or 50 fathom in height, whereas on the south it is in a manner level with the sea. Hence the distance between St Peter's and St Helier's is really seven leagues, though the islands have not above four leagues of sea between them. The people of Jersey think, that from this elevation, they have a great advantage in point of climate; that their summers are warmer, and that their corn and fruits ripen better. The country is beautifully diversified with little hills, warm valleys, and, towards the sea, with pleasant plains. The soil also varies very much; in some places gravelly, in others sandy: but the greatest part is a deep, rich, fertile mould; and there is hardly any part of the island that
that can be styled barren. It is also thought to be better watered than Guernsey, abounding every where with rills, rivulets, and living springs; so that there are between 30 and 40 corn-mills driven by water, exclusive of seven fulling, and several windmills. The produce of this island is much the same with that of Guernsey; their pasture is so sweet, that no country in Europe can boast of richer milk or finer butter; and they have grain of all kinds, and particularly a sort of wheat called froment-tremais, from its being sown in the latter end of May, and reaped in the beginning of August. But what chiefly distinguishes this island at present, is its orchards; which are very well fenced, regularly planted, and yield commonly immense quantities of fruit.
On the south of the island the sea seems to have encroached upon the land, (which, as we have before observed, declines on that side), and to have swallowed upwards of six square miles, making a very beautiful bay of between two and three miles broad, and near the same in depth. In the east corner of this bay stands the town of St. Helier, very happily situated, having a prospect open to the sea and Mount Elizabeth Castle (which, since it was repaired and the works augmented in the reign of Charles II. entirely occupies a rocky isle, which the sea, when it devoured the soil, could not digest), covered with hills to the north, with meadows between them and the town, through which runs a copious and delightful stream that waters the place as well as can be wished. The streets are open and well-built, with a handsome square in the centre, and well accommodated in point of markets, and every thing that can contribute to the convenience of the inhabitants, of whom there may be about 2000. There has been of late years a pier raised; which is a great advantage to the port, and of course not a little to the benefit of the town. But the principal haven is on the other side, in the western corner of the bay, which receives its name from it, being called St. Aubin's. It is about half the size of St. Helier, chiefly occupied by merchants and masters of ships; and most of the buildings being new, make a very neat and elegant figure. A little to the eastward of the town a rock rises up in the sea, upon which the fort of St. Aubin is erected; to which the inhabitants having joined a strong, well-built pier, their haven is now equally secured against the fury of the winds, and the insults of an enemy. Within the pier, a sixth-rate just floats at a dead neap, and a vessel of 200 tons at all times; but ships of superior size must lie without, in the road, where there is good anchoring; and the whole bay being a fine, clean, hard sand, renders the intercourse between the two towns, which are about three miles distant, perfectly easy. There are, besides these, several other havens of less note; as, St. Brélade's Bay, at the back of St. Aubin's; the great bay of St. Ouen, which takes in the greatest part of the west side of the island, where the largest ships may ride in 12 and 15 fathom, safe from all but east winds. La Crevasse is a port only for boats; Greve de Lecq and port St. John are also small havens on the north side, where is likewise Bonnenuit. On the east there is the bay of St. Catherine, and the harbour of Rosel; to the south of which lies the famous Mount Orgueil Castle, formerly Castle Gourray, upon a solid rock, which was entirely covered with its
out-works; once the glory of this isle, and still majestic though in decay. To the south-west lies the haven de la Chaussée. The last we shall mention is the port de Pas, a very little to the eastward of St. Aubin's bay. All these are covered with breast-works, well defended by cannon.
The state of things and the occupations of the people are very much changed from what they were a century past, or a very little more. The country then was in a manner altogether arable or pasture, and the people in general applied themselves to agriculture: whereas now every house has its orchards; and these orchards are so fenced with strong and thick mounds of earth and stone, frequently surmounted by hedges, and sometimes by trees, that it has been thought, not by transient spectators, but even on reflection affirmed by the most competent judges, these inclosures, together with larger or lesser roads, take up not less than a third part of the surface of the island; and they have such an abundance of fruit, that it is believed in a good year they make between 20,000 and 30,000 hogsheds of cyder; and if we consider that this is the common drink of the inhabitants, we may easily acquiesce in the account. Their great manufacture is the same with that of Guernsey, the working up of their own wool, and that which by two acts of parliament they are allowed to import from England, which is 4000 tods; and some say that 10,000 pair of flockings, of all sorts and sizes, are brought weekly to the market of St. Helier. In ancient times they depended greatly upon their fishery, in which they are much inferior at present to Guernsey: but whereas they had formerly larger ships, and a greater share of commerce, that is now in the hands of the people of Jersey, who send annually 30 stout ships to the Newfoundland fishery; and in time of peace, great quantities of tobacco are smuggled from thence into France. For the defence of the island they have two troops of horse, five regiments of infantry, and a fine train of artillery, exclusive of what is in their several castles, and on the redoubts and breast-works upon their coasts, amounting in the whole to 115 18-pounders, given by King William to the island in 1692. There are always regular troops in Elizabeth Castle and in Fort St. Aubin; and in time of war, they have commonly a body of forces from England. The whole number of inhabitants is computed at about 25,000, all of whom are (except a very few) natives of the place.
The island of Jersey, with those of Guernsey, Sark, Alderney, and their appendages, were parcel of the duchy of Normandy, and were united to the crown of England by the first princes of the Norman line. They are governed by their own laws, which are for the most part the ducal customs of Normandy, being collected in an ancient book of customs intitled Le grand customier. The king's writ, or process from the courts of Westminster, is here of no force; but his commission is. They are not bound by any common acts of our parliaments, unless particularly named. All causes are originally determined by their own officers, the bailiffs and jurats of the islands. But an appeal lies from them to the king and counsel in the last resort.
New Jersey, or, as it is commonly called, the Jerseys (being two provinces united into one government),
ment), one of the British colonies in North America. They lie from 39 to 41 degrees of north latitude, and from 74 to 75 degrees 30 minutes longitude west from London. In length 150 miles, in breadth in some places about 100. Bounded on the north by New York, on the east by the Atlantic, on the south by Delaware Bay, on the west by Pennsylvania. This situation, and their having on all sides either the sea or cultivated countries, accounts for the mildness of the climate, which is equally serene and pleasant. The soil is almost every where deep and fertile, producing vast quantities of excellent wheat and all other kinds of grain in abundance, a variety of rich fruits, fine timber trees fit for building, and prodigious quantities of cattle of all sorts. Abounding also in copper and iron ores, which are very rich. The inhabitants live here much at their ease, and with little labour, enjoying not only all the necessaries but most of the conveniences of life, from whence this country hath not been improperly styled the Garden of America. It is a royal government, the governor being assisted by a council of 12 which compose the upper house, as the representatives of the people do the lower house of assembly, and are in number 24. In East Jersey, the capital is Perth Amboy, which hath a fine port, notwithstanding which Elizabeth-Town is much larger. In West Jersey they have two ports, Burlington and Salem. The commodities of the Jerseys are the same with those of New York, and the number of inhabitants is said to be 60,000.
The duke of York, as proprietor of the province last mentioned, by a deed, dated the 24th of June 1664, granted the southern part of it to Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton, which part was called New Jersey. Ten years after this the two lords proprietors, with the consent of the duke, divided this country into East Jersey under Sir George Carteret, and West Jersey under Lord Berkeley. The duke of York, notwithstanding this, resumed for a short space the government of West Jersey; but by a new deed, in the year 1680, revived and confirmed the former division, by which West Jersey was restored to Lord Berkeley. These proprietors afterwards assigned their rights to others; and the inhabitants frequently falling out with the governors they sent over, and the assignees of the original proprietors disagreeing amongst themselves, the latter, by a solemn act, April 17th, 1702, resigned both provinces to the queen, reserving however the property in the soil, &c. Since this period it hath been a royal government, though sometimes the same person hath been governor of New York and the Jerseys. The exports, 1769, amounted to no more than 2531 l. all for the British or foreign West Indies. In 1770, there were entered inwards two ships and 41 sloops; cleared outwards two ships and 47 sloops.