When we contemplate the enviable privileges still possessed by the natives;-the immunity they enjoy, in respect of naval and military service;-the benefit of living in a free port;-their exemption from those duties and taxes that bear so heavily on the mother country, and from the vexatious prosecutions, which those imposts frequently produce: when we consider these, and other advantages, over the people of Great Britain, we are induced to say, and to think, that the inhabitants of these islands, all of which participate in the same privileges, are, or ought to be, the happiest subjects in the whole empire.

may, however, be permitted to observe, that it remains a doubtful point, whether it can, on a general scale, be considered as beneficial, even to those who do not deem it inconsistent with Christian morality. At any rate, we may say, with the reverend historian of Jersey, that, if gainful to particular persons, it cannot make amends for a peaceable open trade,

COMMERCE.

The commercial relations of this island were formerly confined chiefly to England and France: Newfoundland opened a subsequent field; and, at present, Jersey trades with almost every country in Europe, and also with America. It is under some restrictions respecting our colonies in the West Indies.

The commerce with England is subject to several regulations and limitations; principally with a view to prevent any contraband traffic; as every article "of the growth, produce, and manufacture," of Jersey is admitted into the mother country, on pay. ment only of the same duties that are imposed on similar commodities, grown, produced, or manufactured, there.+ In some respects, the trade with Jersey is restricted to Southampton.

* This branch of commerce declines materially when Great Britain is engaged in a continental war, from so many of the usual markets for salted fish being closed against its subjects. During a season of peace, about eighty vessels, (generally brigs), have been employed in that fishery: in war time, not one fourth of the number.

There is a difference between the wording of the act of Parliament, respecting Jersey, and that of the order in council on the same subject, which at one time or other, create loss or litigation: the

may,

JERSEY receives from England corn, flour, live and dead stock, fish, seeds, cloth, linen, and, generally speaking, nearly all things necessary for subsistence, clothing, and furniture; together with coals, crockery, glass ware, paving stone, and a great variety of other useful and ornamental articles.

In return for these, JERSEY sends to England, cider, cows, knit worsted stockings, fruit, and, in some years, potatoes. The quantity of cider exported annually to the mother country may be averaged at about 900 pipes; and the number of horned cattle at nearly 800.*

The produce of the island exported to foreign parts is very inconsiderable, with the exception, du

former reads, "growth, produce, and manufacture ; the latter, "growth, produce, or manufacture." The register office in Jersey is regulated by the order in council; the custom house in England, by the act of parliament. Several kinds of goods are manufactured in Jersey from foreign materials, such as cordage, soap, &c. that would, if sent to England, be liable to seizure, under the act, though admissible under the order in council. The English custom house has, at St. Helier's, an office, in which all vessels are registered. The establishment is principally intended to prevent any illicit commerce with the mother country. Whilst this species of traffic was in its vigour, Jersey participated in it, with the sister island of Guernsey, though in a far less degree, and chiefly in an indirect manner. The contraband articles were sent from Jersey to Guernsey, and from thence conveyed to England.

* The following page shows the exports from Jersey for five years, 1809 to 1813, both years inclusive.

ring the latter period of the war, of potatoes to Spain and Portugal; while the articles imported from abroad, and actually consumed in the island, form a large aggregate amount.

As therefore the whole exports of Jersey produce is so extremely inadequate to the imports consumed,* it is evident that, without an extensive foreign com

Exports from Jersey for five years.

* The horned cattle, cider, and potatoes, exported annually, scarcely paid, even during the war, for the tea alone that was imported from England.

The quantities of the last article, imported in two years, were in

Though the above quantities were actually imported, yet it is geneally supposed that part was reshipped clandestinely, and sent to Guernsey: this, though a breach of the navigation act, was no fraud on the revenue.

The quantities of tea allowed annnally to be exported from Eng

merce, or an accession of income from other channels, the island could not support its present increased expenditure. A large additional income is certainly produced: of this no small portion is derived from the considerable sums paid to the military, and to the masons and others employed on the public works: this money pays for the greater part of the goods imported from England: still however the foreign commercial relations of Jersey must, of late years, have become a source of great profit, or there could not have been that rapid influx of wealth, which has introduced a degree of luxury and dissipation, formerly unknown in the island, and which appears rather to increase than diminish.

In fact, the traffic with foreign nations has been, during the late war, very considerable. Though the salted fish from Newfoundland finds, in Jersey, too ready a consumption for the health of the inhabitants, yet a far greater proportion is destined for the continent, from whence the vessels have returned

land to Jersey, and Guernsey, with the advantage of a drawback, were before 1811 as follows:

but in 1811 the aggregate amount was ordered to be divided equally between the two islands. Since peace has been re-established, the produce of Jersey has fallen considerably in value.

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