registered in the island, the author means only to state, that this is always the mode of proceeding; and it seems to have originated in that dependence on the Norman courts, and the sovereign of that dutchy, which continued long after Jersey became subject to the English crown. (See page 173.) In several parts of the work, some names of office are written in French, others in English, even in the same sentence. The fact is, that the latter language has, of late years, gained so much ground, that several offices are now usually spoken of in English, while others retain their former appellations. Different places also have now both French and English names, and are mentioned indiscriminately in either tongue: this is in part ow ing to that intermixture of both languages which becomes daily more prevalent. The same expression or mode of speech will sometimes perhaps appear to recur too frequently, and particularly in the tour: this repetition it is difficult to avoid, as other writers must have experienced.* The author has inserted as notes, a number of extracts from other writers, in corroboration of his own sentiments; and he has, in general, mentioned the sour ces from whence those extracts have been drawn: this mode he has thought more likely to give his opinions weight, than if he had, by varying the phraseology, introduced the quotations as his own. He has thus also prevented the charge of plagiarism. In his own obser * "Some, perhaps many expressions, and occasionally whole sen. "tences, may have been inadvertently repeated: a fault, great with. "out doubt, but pardonabie because almost uuavoidable in descrip❝tive composition.” Eustace's Classical Tour through Italy. vations, he has frequently spoken in the plural number, as savouring least of egotism. From a perusal of this work, it will be readily perceived, that it was begun during the long war against Buonaparte. The wonderful events that occurred in that terrible space of time, were succeeded by others, if possible, still more astonishing. When an apparently lasting peace was concluded with France, in 1814, various additions and alterations, accommodated to the then existing circumstances, were made by the author; and though he contemplated the hope of general permanent tranquillity with a fearful heart, he was very far from suspecting, that so desirable an expectation would, in the short course of a few months, pass away "like the baseless fabrick of a vision." From the very peculiar features of the contest that ensued, the political horizon seemed pregnant with destruction to the human race: but that all-powerful BEING who "rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm," soon displayed his divine will; and affrighted Europe saw, once more, the bloody sword returned into its scabbard. These rapid changes necessarily exacted repeated alterations in the work, as those changes affected Jersey in several respects: and as they could not always be interwoven with the body of the work, without deranging the connexion, notes, dated at different periods, were added, as circumstances rendered them requisite. So extraordinary a coincidence of opposite wonders could not possibly be foreseen: the publication of the work, already in the press, became suspended, in the hope of concluding in a more durable state of political affairs: during the interval, other notes were added and placed by themselves, at the end of the volume. The great and inconvenient distance from the press will, it is hoped, be an apology for the long list of errata. The author has to acknowledge his obligations to several respectable friends in the island, who have favoured him with much valuable information on different subjects; and he feels himself happy in thus publickly expressing his thanks to Charles Konig, esq, of the British Museum, for different extracts from a M. S. in that national repository; and more especially for his own interesting remarks on the mineralogy of Jersey. This subject would have been placed in a preceding part of the work; but the author did not receive all his information respecting it in time. Authors are frequently accustomed to plead for public indulgence: in some cases, at least, this is a reasonable claim. The writer of the present volume hopes to be favoured in the same respect. He is not the party by whom it was to have been composed, having declined the undertaking: but as he had recommended it to a gentleman, who soon after left the island, and as some expenses had been incurred, he determined to proceed himself; and it has formed the principal employment of his leisure hours. He trusts, therefore, that no one will accuse him of being influenced by the furor scribendi; and that the circumstance just mentioned will plead for minor errors: for any of a greater kind he does not desire to be exonerated. He must indeed submit to be arraigned before that formidable body of critics, who, behind the curtain themselves, even direct and regulate the public taste; at whose shrowded but awful tribunal, they who presume to enter within the literary confines, must, if summoned, appear; from whose |