JERSEY, the largest and most important of the Channel Islands, is situated in the bay of St Michael, 13 miles W. of the nearest coast of France, and 85 miles from the nearest point in the English coast; N. Lat. (St Helier's) 49. 11. 3., W. Long. 2. 7. It is 12 miles in length from E. to W., and 7 in breadth from N. to S., and has an area of about 40,000 acres. The N. coast of the island is rocky, bold, and precipitous, rising sometimes to the height of more than 200 feet above the sea. From this the land has a general slope to the S. coast, where it sinks nearly to the level of the sea. The surface is hilly and undulating, and diversified with many deep and well watered valleys. The prevailing rocks are granitic, in some localities overlaid by schists. Along the northern coast sienite is abundant, and passes in some places into porphyry and greenstone. The climate, though moist, is mild, and the mean annual temperature (52° Fahr.) is higher than that of any part of England. The mean summer temperature is 62° 2, and the mean winter 42° 6. The island enjoys an early spring and a lengthened autumn, vegetation being generally well advanced in March, and the landscape far from naked at the end of December. Snow and long continued frosts are rare, but rains and dense sea fogs and violent winds are frequent. Agriculture has recently been greatly improved, but its progress is still much retarded by the minute division
Jersey. of property occasioned by the law of gavelkind. The farms average about four acres, and few of them exceed ten. The principal manure is vrac, a sea-weed which at certain seasons is gathered in large quantities, and is used, either fresh or after it has been burned, for fuel. Wheat is the principal grain crop; but barley and oats are also grown. Potatoes and parsnips are extensively cultivated. Lucerne is also extensively reared, being a great favourite with the farmers, as it grows well on soils unfit for other purposes. A large portion of the land is laid out in orchards, apples and cider being among the chief exports of the island. The common fruits of England are abundant, and the grape and melon are raised in the open air. The great pride of the island, however, is the Chauumontelle pear, which attains great perfection, and is frequently a pound in weight. Cattle-rearing is conducted on an extensive scale. The cows, which belong to the variety known in England as the Alderney, yield large quantities of butter for exportation. Few sheep are reared. The horse is a small, hardy variety. The Channel Islands are considered as belonging to the crown, but as forming no part of the realm, so that they are not represented in Parliament; and Acts of Parliament, as such, have no legal force as regards them, unless they are therein specially named, or unless the acts, in virtue of an order of council, are registered on the records of the islands. In their institutions, customs, and laws, the people still retain much that is Norman; and, in this respect, Jersey has retained considerably more of the old institutions and of their free spirit than the sister island of Guernsey. The people appear to have at all times enjoyed much freedom and great privileges.
The island of Jersey is divided into twelve parishes, each of which has its own parochial government. The chief officer is the connétable, or constable, elected by the parishioners for three years, and who may be called the mayor of the parish. He is aided in his duties by centeniers, vingteniers, and officiers du connétable. The centeniers are elected by the rate-payers of each parish for three years, and are two in number for each of the country parishes, and eight for St Helier's. The vingtenier is an officer appointed over a vingtaine, or district of a parish, their number varying with the number of vingtaines into which each parish is divided. He collects the parish rates, and is also invested with considerable power in his district, subject, however, to the approval of the centenier or connétable. The connétable and centenier are assisted in their police duties by the officiers du connétable, of whom there are twelve in each parish, with the exception of those of St Brélade's and St Helier's,—the former having fifteen, and the latter twenty-four. They are elected by the rate-payers for seven years, in all the parishes except St Helier's, where their term of office is only four years. The duties of all these offices are performed gratuitously. The superior offices are eagerly sought after, from the honour and influence attached to them, and even the subordinate offices are much desired, and are filled by persons of good social standing. The connétable, centeniers, vingteniers, and officiers du connétable, are ex officio members of the parish assembly, composed of all the rate-payers in the parish above a certain rate, and certain officials. In civil matters the connétable presides over the parish assembly, in ecclesiastical the rector. The connétable is, in virtue of his office, a member of the legislative assembly or states, and thus has a voice in the general direction of the affairs of the island. The states are composed of a bailiff, as president, twelve jurats, twelve rectors, and twelve connétables. There is no regular session, nor any fixed times of meeting. They are convened by the bailiff whenever he believes that a meeting is necessary to consider certain measures. The bailiff is chief justice of the island. He is nominated by the crown, and holds office durante bene
placito. He has a salary of L.300 per annum from the crown, which, with certain fees derived from the office, make up an income of about L.800. The bailiff, with the twelve jurats, compose the royal court. The jurats, or judges, are elected by the people and hold office for life. They receive no salary, the honour and dignity of the office being considered a sufficient reward. The qualifications required for the due discharge of the office of jurat are,—an inviolable attachment to truth, justice, and equity; an acquaintance with the laws, customs, and history of his country, to understand the spirit and working of its institutions, and the devotion of all his energies and ability to the promotion of the welfare and well-being of his fellow-men. The attorney-general, vicomte, and solicitor-general, are appointed by the crown, and have each a fixed salary from the crown revenues. They have seats but not votes at the states, and the attorney and solicitor generals may also express their opinions on matters brought before that assembly, but they cannot introduce a measure or make any proposition. The vicomte has not the right of discussion. He is the chief executive officer of the court, both in civil and criminal affairs. The twelve rectors are appointed by the governor for life, and, in addition to their ecclesiastical, have certain civil duties to perform as members of the states. The dean is the head of the church, and his nomination is in the hands of the crown. He must be a Jersey man, and has invariably been one of the rectors. The governor and lieutenant-governor are named by the crown. The former holds office for life, and has the appointment of a receiver of the crown revenues, and the nomination of clergy to vacant cures. He is not required to reside on the island, nor is it even necessary for him to visit it. He derives a large income from the crown revenues. The lieutenant-governor, who is usually a major-general in the army, is commander-in-chief of all the forces and militia in the island. He may negative any act passed by the states, and may even withhold his consent to their assembling, but in such cases he must give his reasons to the secretary of state. The lieutenant-governor has the power of ordering foreigners out of the island, which, however, is rarely exercised.
The language of the churches and courts of law, and of the upper classes generally, is French; that of the common people is the old Norman or Romance language. English, however, is becoming daily more common, and is now very generally understood and spoken.
The island of Jersey was visited by Her Majesty in 1846, and in commemoration of that event, a college was founded, which was opened on 29th of September 1852. It has professorships of the classics, mathematics, English, French, German, and drawing; and in 1855 had 118 students.
Since the commencement of the present century, commerce has been making rapid progress in the island. At the latter end of the seventeenth century there was no harbour at St Helier's, and even a century later, only two vessels could unload at a time in the harbour. In 1790, the north pier was commenced, but from want of funds it was many years in completion. The commercial or merchants' quays were built soon after by the chamber of commerce and the merchants at their own expense. The old south pier was commenced in 1821. The accommodation having soon become insufficient for the increasing traffic, a new harbour was commenced in 1841, and completed in 1846. In 1842 the shipping belonging to the island consisted of 296 vessels, having an aggregate of 27,075 tons; and in 1854, of 381 vessels, having an aggregate of 36,404 tons, and navigated by 3057 men. In 1854 the arrivals at the port of St Helier's were 1677 vessels, of the aggregate burden of 138,177 tons. The gross amount of harbour dues received during that year was L.4800.
The principal source of revenue is the duty on spirits and
Jersey
Jerusalem.
wines, imported and consumed on the island. The net total amount received from this source for year ending 25th of March 1853, was £14,950. Another source of revenue is the licences to publicans, which produces about £1500 annually.
The manufactures are almost entirely confined to shoe-making, hosiery, and ship-building. The oyster fishery affords employment to many of the inhabitants. Steam-packets leave Southampton for Jersey three times a week, and there is also a weekly steamer from Plymouth. Traders are constantly sailing from London, Weymouth, Bristol, and other English ports. The exports to England are chiefly cattle, potatoes, apples, cider, spirits, oysters, and granite, in return for cotton and woollen goods, hardware, and cutlery, earthenware, glass, soap, and coals. The foreign imports are wine, brandy, fruit, skins, poultry, timber, tallow, hemp, linen, and corn. The population of Jersey has been rapidly increasing from 28,600 in 1821, to 57,020 in 1851.
The Channel Islands were united to the English crown at the Norman conquest, having previously belonged to the dukes of Normandy. When the English lost the continental portion of Normandy, they kept possession of these islands, and have retained it ever since. Their importance in a military point of view, and their proximity to the coast of France, caused them to be eagerly coveted by the French, who have made frequent attempts to seize them, but always without success. The last attack was made in 1781, when the Baron de Rullecourt, with 800 men, landed at Jersey
during the night, and, surprising the governor in bed, compelled him to sign a capitulation. The garrison, however, with the militia, under the command of Major Pierson, completely routed the invaders, whose general was mortally wounded. The loss of the English was small, but they had to lament the death of their gallant commander, who fell while cheering on his men at the moment of victory.
Jersey City, a seaport-town of the United States of North America, capital of Hudson county, in the state of New Jersey. It stands on the right bank of the Hudson River at its mouth, opposite the town of New York, from which it is 1 mile distant. The streets of the town are broad and well built. Besides several churches belonging to the leading sects, there are a good many educational establishments, the principal of which is the High School. The manufactures are important, including soap, glass, porcelain, delft-ware, black lead, iron, ropes, and starch. One or two newspapers are published in the town. Jersey City has become of considerable commercial importance from its proximity to New York, and from the great advantages it has in river, rail, and canal communications. The Great Southern Railway, as well as the Morris Canal have their termini here, and steam ferryboats constantly ply between Jersey City and New York. The town was incorporated in 1820, and in 1851 the adjoining villages of Harsimus and Pavonia, &c., were annexed to it. In 1850 the population of Jersey City proper amounted to 6856, while in 1853, along with its recent accessions, it had 18,456 inhabitants.