FROM the rocks off Jerbourg and St. Martin's Point in Guernsey, to Cape Grosnez, the nearest point of Jersey, is a distance of seventeen and a-half statute miles, of which about thirteen miles is a channel, having from twenty-five to thirty-five fathoms water, the bottom consisting of rock, coarse stones, shingle, and shell-sand or shells. This channel is called 'la Déroute;' and from it, eastwards, to the Normandy coast, the water gradually shoals. Before reaching the northern coast of Jersey, and about three miles distant from it, there is a succession of almost continuous banks and shoals, which reach to the French coast. The rocks above water reduce themselves into three principal groups:

one to the west, called the Paternosters; another, nearly central, called 'Dirouilles;' and a third, to the east, called the Ecrehou rocks. Between the eastern extremity of the latter rocks and Cape Carteret, the nearest French land, there are unsafe channels, interrupted by violent over-falls; sand-banks, almost exposed at low water, and some rocks. There is a tolerably good channel between the Dirouilles and Ecrehou into Bouley Bay, the north coast of Jersey; but on the whole, the navigation along the north of the island, and also between Jersey and France, is very dangerous, except for vessels of small burden.

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Jersey is a compact island, of oblong form, ranging east and west, and situated between north latitudes 49° 15′ and 49° 10′, and between west longitudes 2° 04' and 2° 15'. It is about eleven statute miles in length, from east to west, and in some places half that width. It is estimated to contain 39,580 English acres, or about sixty-two square statute miles,-this estimate including all the land to low water mark. Of this area, about 25,000 acres are under cultivation.

The distance of Jersey from the nearest point of France is not more than sixteen miles; but there is at present no convenient or safe approach to any port on the coast of Normandy nearer than Granville, which is about thirty miles distant. The usual communications are from St. Helier's with St. Malo, on the coast of Britany, situated due south, and with Granville to the east.

In Jersey, a belt of elevated land, from 250 to 300 feet above the sea, ranges from east to west, rising very abruptly from the north coast, and less abruptly from the south-east and west coasts; differing, therefore, in this respect, from Guernsey, where the slope is towards the north, and more gradual. The natural drainage of the island is by several small pellucid streams, rather deeply intersecting the land. Of these streams, the largest enter St. Aubin's Bay. One small group is lost in the sands to the east, near Gorey; and another is lost in a similar manner at

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St. Ouen's, on the west coast. Several small streamlets fall into the sea, in miniature cascades, over the cliffs on the north and north-west coasts.

On the east, south and west, the coast of Jersey consists of large, open bays, each terminated by rocky headlands. Within these bays the country remains low and flat for some little distance, except where rolling sand hills intervene. In this respect there is little real resemblance to any part of Guernsey, though the bays between Lihou and Grande Havre, in that island, are not at first sight very dissimilar.

On the north, north-east and north-west shores of Jersey there is much picturesque rocky and cliff scenery, of the same kind as that on the south coast of Guernsey, but more indented and inferior in height. Here are the principal steep cliffs, caverns, arched rocks and large semi-detached masses of rock, or separate islets. The island throughout is well wooded; in the interior the numerous cross roads being almost concealed by the overhanging branches of trees planted in the hedges or fields adjoining. The wood often grows on the slopes of the hills, even to the water's edge, and is generally distributed so as to give a peculiarly rich and pleasing expression to the landscape, either from the little bays or wherever a wide and distant view can be obtained.

Almost the whole island is broken up into small enclosures by lofty hedges. In the western part of the parish of St. Brelade (on the south-west of the island) is an extensive tract, at some height above the sea, called the Quenvais, covered with drifted sand, and below, but near it, to the west, is the sandy district of St. Ouen's. Wet places occur in several of the valleys; but the principal marshes are near the sea, one at the lower end of St. Peter's valley; another near St. Ouen's pond, in the bay of that name; another within Grouville Bay, near Gorey; and one between St. Helier's and Plat Rocque, on the south-eastern coast.

Approached from the sea, the view of Jersey, especially on a fine summer's day, is wonderfully varied and picturesque. The two principal bays of St. Ouen's and St. Aubin's are very much larger than any of those of Guernsey, and are better enclosed by cliffs than those on the western side of the latter island, which, in other respects, most nearly resemble them. Detached rocks, visible on the south-western extremity, are bold and numerous; and Elizabeth Castle, on the south coast, stands out among a group of high rocks and islets, detached at half tide. In some of the wide, open bays, the water runs out at low tide for a great distance over a noble expanse of sands, but the rocks are nowhere very far off. As the central part of these bays recedes, and the shore is perfectly level and well sheltered, there are roads and houses always in sight, and cultivated lands, to break the monotony of the scenery. Many of the bays, however, are characterised by rather high, rolling sand hills, near high water mark; and within these is another flat expanse of sand, below the level of the highest tides, and subject to occasional inundation. There are small towns and villages at various points of the coast, which we shall notice in giving a rapid survey of its most striking points of view. It will be convenient to begin our account of Jersey at the principal town, which is situated near the middle of the south side of the island, in the bay of St. Aubin, and is called St. Helier's.

The town of St. Helier's, whether seen from the sea, or indeed from any other of its approaches, is altogether wanting both in architectural and picturesque effect. This want of beauty in itself is, however, somewhat redeemed by Elizabeth Castle and Fort Regent, which stand as two sentinels, one on either side of the harbour. The effect is also somewhat improved by the green background. As a mere town, it has no other objects of interest than the shops afford,-the churches, the town hall, the hospital, the theatre, the markets and the gaol, being none of them ornamental; while the narrow and irregular streets, the

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small, paved space, ostentatiously called the Royal Square, the various crescents and terraces, and the general style of construction of the private houses, do not rise beyond the level of second rate English watering places. The Victoria College, indeed, stands well, on high ground to the east of the town, and is surrounded by a rich belt of well-grown trees, beneath whose shade are public walks. One view of the college is good; and though wanting vigour, the style selected is not without merit. There is, however, a want of some centralising feature especially noticeable from the west and north; and the building is hardly seen from most parts of the town, owing to the absence of any tower or prominent elevation.

The most important public works of St. Helier's are the harbour-works and pier, and the fort. The former are very extensive, and no doubt have proved of great value in a commercial sense. They are nowhere unsightly; and from some points of view are even grand and picturesque. But although large and

costly, they are not complete, as they still do not enable the steamers to enter and land passengers at all times of the tide; nor is the entrance wide or sheltered enough to allow large steamers to