Jersey, from its peculiar situation,Thas been strengthen ed by more than an ordinary portion of military architec ture. Elizabeth Castle, which is the proper residence of the governor, is a strong fortress in St Aubin's Bay, defend ing the approach to St Helier's, from which it is distant 663 geometrical paces, and is accessible by a sandy beach during five or six hours while the tide ebbs, but is insula ted with its flow. A fortification which was recently con structing on the town hill overhanging St Helier's, is de signed to contain 2000 or 3000 men. Here a well has been sunk 233 feet through the solid rock, which has from 80 to 100 feet of fine water. Besides these, may be named other strong places, as mount Orgueil, Fort Henry, La Rocco, Seymour Tower, a fort at Noirmont Point, and Ich Ho ; as also a chain of Martello towers, redoubts, and bat teries, in every maritime part of the island. Barracks for the accommodation of regulars are erected in various quar ters. In the time of war there were, belonging to the is land, a troop of cavalry, six battalions of militia, consisting of above 2000 men, and a company of artillery amounting to 600 or 700.
Few manufactures are conducted on a large scale in Jer sey. About 24,000 hogsheads of cider, however, which is the common beverage of the island, are made annually ; and a plentiful year will yield 36,000. Tanning, soap making, candlemaking, and other works, are among the manufactures for supplying the inhabitants. Great quanti ties of worsted stockings are spun and knit in the island. The principal exports arc cider, of which 1800 hogsheads are sent to England ; fruit, potatoes, cattle, and worsted stockings. During the five years preceding 1813, the ex ports were at an average 768 cows, 13 bulls, 900 pipes of cider, 1228 tons of potatoes. From England are imported corn, flour, seeds, live and dead stock, cloth, linen, crocke ry and glass ware, paving stone, and in general all articles necessary for subsistence, apparel, and furniture. Salt fish to a large extent is imported from Newfoundland. The commercial relations of Jersey were formerly restricted for the most part to England and France, after which ano ther field was opened to that island, where about 80 fishing vessels were employed during peace ; and now i it trades with almost every country in Europe, and also with Ame rica. During the year 1813, there entered inwards 734 vessels, and 813 cleared outwards, of which 440 were in ballast. Those constituting the difference, 79, were ves sels from England for oysters, which make no entry inwards, but clear outwards. Fifty-nine vessels, whose united bur den amounted to 6003 tons, and navigated by 549 !nen, be longed to the island in the year 1812. Until lately, the cur rency of the island was principally French, with of small proportion of Spanish money ; and the amount oi specie was about 80,0001. Sterling. After the French Revolution, the coin of England came into more gradual use, until, by the gradual rise of gold and silver, almost the whole spe cie of the island was withdrawn. The established banking
houses, of which there were three, became obliged to issue notes of live and ten shillings value. Others soon adopted the same plan ; and at length no fewer than 80 bankers were circulating notes, from the value of one pound down to one shilling. From the want of coinage of low denomi nation, they were readily taken ; but the hazard insepara ble from such an inundation of paper money was diminish ed by the introduction of 10,C001. of silver coinage by go vernment, accompanied by a prohibition against issuing notes of lower value than one pound. Mr Colquhon, in his work on the Wealth and Resources of Great Britain, computes that the total worth of the island, as proper ty, is 2,610,0301, In this estimate arc included the value of the soil, of the public and private buildings, farm stocking, shipping, furniture, and coinage ; but probably the whole is not worth above 2,000,0001. at the highest calculation.
Jersey is under a peculiar form of government, which some have supposed to be exactly similar to that of the British islands. It consists of a court Of judicature, and an ecclesiastical body, separately exercising their respective jurisdiction, but which, together with twelve constables, and a military governor, are combined into an ?ssen2bly of the States. The court of judicature is composed of a bai liff, who presides, and twelve jurats ; together with an attor ney and solicitor-general, a high sheriff, two under sheriffs, six pleaders, and an usher. The bailiff is appointed by the king, and the jurats are chosen by the masters of families: he keeps the public seal, which however he con not use without the consent of three jurats. The clergy consist of eleven rectors and a dean, corresnonding to the twelve parishes in the island, and forming a regular spiri tual court, of which the dean is the head. In the assembly of the States, the attorney-general and high sheriff are ad mitted ex officio, but have no vote. No assembly can be held without the governor's permission, who has a negative voice. But by an order of James VI. in council, must summon the States within 15 da) 6, if the bailiffs or jurats require it. Likewise he is directed to abstain from• using his negative voice, except in such points as shall concern the king's special interest. Seven of each class of jurats, clergy, and constables, must be present, to constitute an assembly of the states, whose business is chiefly raising money for the public service. There arc several peculiari ties in the laws of Jersey, of which a code was compiled by the States in 1771, and sanctioned by the king. Legitima tion by subsequent marriage is recognised, and the cessio bonorum of the Scottish law. The punishment of death is seldom inflicted ; but mutilations are practised : A crimi nal convicted of forgery, which is not a capital crime, was sentenced, in 1814, to lose the tip of his right ear.