//istory.—The early history of the Channel islands is mythical and legendary; but it is probable that the earliest inhabitant; were Bretons. The islands were under Roman occupation during the 3d and 4th centuries, tire name of Caesarea or Jersey (Caesar's occurring in the Itinerary of the Antorrines. Christianity was probably introduced by missionaries from Ireland about 460 A.D.-St. Helerius being the traditional apostle of ' Jersey, and St. Sampson of Guernsey. Probably, a mixed population of Saxons, Danes, . Goths, and Gauls betook themselves jo these islands during succeeding centuries, as the Franks possessed the continent. The islands were taken possession of by Rolf or Rollo previous to his invasion of Normandy. After the Norman conquest the islands were alternately English, under William the conqueror; Norman, under Rufus; English, under Henry I.; and Norman again, under Stephen. With Henry 11. the allegiance of the islands reverted to the king, as sovereign of Normandy as well as England; and after the loss of Normandy the islands still remained faithful to England.
John is said to have given a constitution to Guernsey. The islands still belonged ecclesiastically to Normandy, the bishop of Coutances being their diocesan. Edward III. and Henry V. materially weakened the papal bond; but it was not wholly severed till the reformation, after which (in'1658) they were attached to the see of Win Chester. 1u Henry VI.'s time the French held Jersey for six years. During the civil war Jersey was loyal and Episcopal; Guernsey, republican. and Presbyterian, and traces of this divergence are still to be found. In 1781, during the first American war, a French expedition, under the baron de Rullecourt, landed in Grouville bay. and marched into the market-place of St. Helier, but was repulsed with loss by the garrison and militia. During the French and American wars the islanders fitted out many privateers, and obtained rich prizes. Smuggling was finally suppressed in 1800. Since the peace the Channel islands have thriven and prospered by commerce and agriculture, and especially by becoming the resort of numerous families from England, who have been attracted thither by the beauty of the scenery or the salubrity of the climate.
there were many cromlechs in the islands; the largest remain ing are those near Mont Orgucil in Jersey, and at L'Ancresse bay in Guernsey. A few old chapels of Norman architecture remain. The oldest church in Jersey is that of St. Brelade, said to have been built in 1111.
vernacular language of the islands is the old Norman-French. It
retains its peculiarities of spelling and pronunciation in Guernsey more than in Jersey, where the French, and in Alderney, where the English element predominates in the dialect. French, however, is the language used in the law-courts of all the islands; but English suitors may address the court or examine witnesses in English. The church services are performed in French in the country parishes, but an English service takes place in most of the town churches.
proportion of strangers in Jersey is very large, British being about 13,000, French 2,000; the native population about 41,000, nearly all of whom live in the country. The natives are generally frugal and independent. Society is much divided into cliques; the " sixties" and "forties" in Guernsey are a marked division.
Government and belonging to the British crown, the islands have a certain independent status and action. The principal officer in each island is the who is a general officer in the army, and supreme in all military matters; but he has also certain civil and municipal duties. In Jersey especially, his civil jurisdiction is very extensive. He continues in office five years.
The ba iltf or judge is the first civil officer in each island. He is also appointed by the crown. generally for life. He presides at the royal court, and has a casting vote in civil and criminal cases. He originates all measures proposed to the states, and repre sents the crown in all civil matters. • The jurats are twelve in number, elected in Jersey by suffrage of rate-payers for life. They sit in all the courts, and have a voice in all delinerattons: in Guernsey they are elected by the elective states. The rectors of the different parishes. have also a seat in all councils: in Guernsey, however, only eight out of ten have a vote, Besides these officers there are an attorney and a solicitor general in each island, and alligh-sheriff, called in Jersey the vicomte, and in Guernsey the prere't.
The other members of the "states" or assemblies are, in Jersey, the constables of the 12 parishes and the 14 deputies of the vingteniers, who are elected from the vinglaincs of each parish. The royal court on each island consists of the bailiff and jurats. The " states," not convenable without the consent of the governor, pass ordonnances, which are in force for three years; laws intended to be permanent must be submitted to the sovereign. The lieutenant-governor has a veto on all questions deliberated.