GUERNSEY, the Sarnia of the ancients, is an island belonging to Great Britain. It is one of the Channel islands, lying within the bay of St Michael, and about seven leagues from the coast of Normandy. This island is of a trian gular shape. Its extreme length is about 74. miles, and its greatest breadth about 4 miles. It is about 21 miles in circuit. According to the recent account of it given by 'Dr Macculloch, it is elevated to the south, and shelves towards the north. The southern coast is bourfded by high cliffs, stretching along part of the eastern coast. The rest of the eastern coast, and the northern coast, consists of a number of flat bays, separated by ridges of lofty rocks. Dr Macculloch conceives the island to be divided by art imaginary line, drawn from the town of St Peter's Port to Pezeries. A level tract, broken only by cairns and rocky hillocks, lies to the north of this line. This tract com prehends an inundation of more than 60 years standing, which covers three hundred acres. It was formerly quite dry before the time of low water, but has lately been em banked and drained. Towards the south of the imaginary line, the country forms a higher stratum, everywhere in tersected by deep glens and narrow vallies of various di rections. With the exception of two or three narrow caves, which form the mouths of small vallies intersect ing the high land, the lofty cliffs which bound the south ern tract are continuous. There are here few detached rocks, but the northern coast is covered with them. Dr Macculloch observed, that the island is entirely of granitic formation; that the southern division consists wholly of gneiss ; and that the rocks which form the northern point, exhibit various kinds of granite, or granitel. At the foot of a rocky steep, near Prevolet Point, is a curious cave, called La Cave Malae. It is about 200 feet in depth ; and from an entrance 9 or 10 feet wide and 6 high, it extends from 50 to 60 feet in height and breadth, ending in granite points.
The soil of Guernsey, which is decomposed gneiss, is very fertile, and is well watered by springs and rivulets. Agriculture is carried on with great care. The lands are inclosed with stone fences. The seats of the gentry, and the farm-houses and cottages, which are very handsome, are agreeably situated among orchards and gardens. The ordinary food of the inhabitants, is a soup made of cab bage, pease, flour, and a few slices of green bacon. Their beverage is cyder. The produce of the island is nearly the same as that of the west of England, The fruits are very fine. Pigs are fed in winter on parsnips ; and the butter, pork, and veal, arc in the highest perfection. Red and grey mullets, mackarel, congor eels, and lobsters, are caught in great abundance round the island. Coals are imported ; but the principal fuel of the poorer inhabitants is sea-weed, the ashes of which are used as manure by the farmers.
The climate of Guernsey is mild and temperate, and is not subject to excessive heat's or colds. The winters
and springs are moist, and high winds often prevail.
Guernsey is divided into ten parishes, each of which is divided into several vintons, for the better management of affairs. The island is in the diocese of Winchester, and province of Canterbury. The convention of the state, consists of the governor, a bailiff, 12 ju•ats appointed by the king, who administer the laws, which are quite dif ferent from ours. These officers hold their places during pleasure ; and they judge in all civil and criminal cases excepting high treason. The governor receives tythes of all kinds of grain. He has under him a lieutenant-gov ernor, who is called the constable of the castle. The prevailing religion is that of the church of England, though the followers of Wesley are numerous. The Catholics are very few in number.
The only town in the island is St Peter's Port. It ori ginally consisted of a narrow street of high houses, but the buildings have been extended across a ravine over the surrounding heights. The lower streets are narrow, dirty, and irregular. The principal church, built in 1312, is of granite. It has Gothic mouldings, though no pointed arches. Its exterior is handsome. Its porch is remarkable for the depth and extent of its mouldings ; and its tower is a great ornament from the pier an,i load. It contains some good modern monuments. The new court-house is handsomely built of granite, and fitted up with suitable offices for the preservation of a few records. The new prison, built after the model of the debtors' gaol at Manchester, is very spacious and commodious. The work-house, or hospital, is supported by an endowment, and by an assess ment on lands and houses. The harbour affords sufficient shelter and security to shipping. The keys and the piers are immense masses of rough masonry, formed of granite, and extending out into the harbour. These walls are paved, and have parapets, and they inclose a space of several acres. The harbour and the road are exposed to the south-east. Harbours for vessels of light tonnage occur on the north and west sides of the island, at the creeks of Bazon, L'Accousse, Ferminer, St Sampson, and the west passage. The market-house for meat and vegetables, is a large building, erected in an open square. Two large and handsome rooms have been fitted up above the market-house, for the public assemblies and entertain ments, which are held monthly during the gay season. There is alsd a small theatre here. An ascent of about 100 steps, leads from the level of the market-place up the side of a ravine to the new town, where there are many good and open streets, one of which, called George Row, contains several elegant houses. The government house, the public walks at L'Hivreur, and the college founded by Queen Elizabeth, are the only other objects of interest.