become a source of great profit, or there could not have been that rapid influx of wealth, which has introduced a degree of luxury and dissipation, formerly unknown in the island, and which appears rather to increase than diminish.

In fact, the traffic with foreign nations has been, during the late war, very considerable. Though the salted fish from Newfoundland finds, in Jersey, too ready a consumption for the health of the inhabitants, yet a far greater proportion is destined for the continent, from whence the vessels have returned home laden with European merchandise. Commodities of various kinds, and from different quarters, have frequently been reshipped by the importers, or by other merchants, who purchased them for the same purpose.*

Thus the late war made, so far as this island was concerned, an unusual 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 greatly increased the value of estates, that farming land is computed to have averaged the enormous rate of from 1,600 to 1,800 livres, (or from nearly £68 to £75 sterling) per vergee. Much has been sold considerably higher. Large portions of ground, without even a house

See Note (S).

on them, have been let in the parish of Grouville, at the exorbitant rate of five pounds sterling per vergee, or eleven pounds five shillings per acre: four pounds per vergee was an average rent. An orchard is, however, commonly found on every farm.

We will endeavour to explain the circumstances that occasioned Jersey 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 Jersey, greatly increased the number of its inhabitants. The military establishments were augmented beyond all precedent, and public works, on comparatively an immense scale, were carried on, which brought from England a vast body of workmen. This amazing influx of adventitious inhabitants, most of whom were furnished from ex-islandic sources with the means of supplying their wants, expended their respective incomes, or earnings, in Jersey. The more immediate effects were felt by the retail dealers in the town of St. Helier; but those effects soon extended through the whole island, and to every description of property. Every article, grown or reared in Jersey, made continual advances. The large landed proprietors raised the rents of their farms : their tenants reimbursed themselves by increased charges on the public. The smaller proprie

tors, accustomed to consume the greater part of their produce, found it more advantageous to sell it. Riches flowed in at every channel. A spirit of enterprise dif fused itself among the men of business. The merchants sought out new markets, which the firm policy of Great Britain, by assisting weaker nations in stemming the overwhelming torrent, enabled them to find. The trades→ men, leaving the details of a shop to their wives, became merchants likewise; and, uniting in temporary partners ships, freighted their own vessels with valuable cargoes. Some, in addition to these concerns, added the more ha zardous undertaking of fitting out privateers. Very few, annuitants excepted, complained of the war; though, in a religious point of view, all real Christians must have deplored its long continuance, and the unusual horrors that too frequently characterized it, and distinguished it from former seasons of hostility.

In England, merchants are seldom owners of the vessels on board of which they ship their goods: in Jersey, on the contrary, ships are usually freighted by their proprietors. The regular traders, that go to Southampton and to London, are the chief exceptions to this custom. In 1813, there cleared outwards-In ballast 440 Laden - - 373

Neither packets, privateers, nor prizes, are reckoned, as they do not clear out at the custom house office. The difference of 79, between the clearances and the entries, is accounted for, from the circumstance of vessels coming from England for oysters: these vessels proceed direct to the oyster beds, and therefore make no entry inwards; but, on returning to England, they clear outwards.

With but few restrictions on the commerce of Jersey, the mercantile inhabitants possess many facilities that are denied to most of the European states. Loaded with taxes, shackled with prohibitions and oppressive duties, the latter cannot freely enjoy the bounties of Divine Providence. The mad ambition of princes, or of their ministers, in former times, created national debts; their successors added an enormous increase, with which the present generation is now bowed down; and modern potentates and statesmen, have not often profited by past experience. From these paralyzing inconveniences, Jersey is, happily, in most respects exempt.*

• "The public accounts for Great Britain, for the year, ended the 5th of January, 1812, state that fifty-nine vessels, admeasuring 6,003 tons, navigated by 549 men, belonged to Jersey."

COLQUHOUN on the Wealth, Power, and Resources, of the British Empire.

MANUFACTURES.

It is uncertain whether there were formerly in Jersey any establishments that might be termed manufactories ; though several articles were probably made then, as they are still, in the houses of private persons.

In Mr. Falle's time, the principal articles of islandic manufacture, consisted of cider, of its own growth, together with knit stockings and gloves, made principally of English wool; and yet he says, in the reign of Queen Mary, the quantity of cider made in the island was so inconsiderable, that the inhabitants were under the necessity of applying for leave, to import annually from England, duty free, five hundred tuns of beer, for their own provision, besides one hundred and fifty tuns, for the use of the garrison. In times still more remote, the common beverage was mead. At present, though there are not any manufactories on a very extensive scale, yet a variety of useful articles are fabricated, as well for exportation as for internal consumption. There are two manufactories for cider, besides large quantities made by the growers. There are also ropemakers, brewers, brickmakers, limeburners, tanners, soapboilers, candlemakers, and distillers, that have regular establishments. Independently of