For the account of the different denominations of dissenters, the reader is referred to Chap. XVIII; he will there perceive that toleration in this island is carried to as great an extent as in any part of Great Britain. Although men may differ about their modes of faith and worship, yet the enlightened part of mankind are well agreed as to the necessity of religion, as no man can enjoy solid happiness, if he do not possess that virtue which

Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros.

For

"What were the soul of man if void
Of the blest knowledge of a God?
His glory's and his honour's blaze
Would faintly light his gloomy days.
Religion leads us gently through
The thorny paths we must pursue;
Sweetly upon the soul she drops,
And bids the pilgrim raise his hopes.
When rest the wounded spirit seeks,
None like Religion's accent speaks;
She fills the chasm of the soul,
And gives to passion, soft controul:
All other hopes are apt to fail,
But hers o'er time and death prevail.
Why should this weak, imperfect clay
Such firm assistance cast away?

The glare of wealth, the glow of joy,
May in the end our peace destroy;

The flattering sound of fame's loud blast
Deserts our pilgrimage at last;

But true Religion ne'er will cease

To guide our souls to endless peace.”

1 Perhaps to a much higher degree, for in Guernsey, the selfordained and unlicensed teacher may set up a conventicle or have his preaching and prayer-meetings; if they do not annoy or disturb their neighbours, the constituted authorities do not interfere. It appears, however, that field and street-preaching are forbidden; for on 20th May, 1826, an individual, whose name is not mentioned, was produced before the Royal Court by the High Constable, reprimanded him, and ordered him not to do so any more. "M. le Bailiff était d'opinion que personne n'avait le droit de prêcher comme l'accusé l'avait fait. Il pouvait prêcher dans une chapelle, ou dans aucun lieu particulier, mais il ne devait troubler le répos en prêchant dans les endroits publics."--Independance, 27th May, 1826.

CHAPTER X.

"Justice oft lends her garment bright,

And Virtue gives her diadem

To Honour, whose supreme delight

Is still to copy after them.

The friend of princes, pride of man,
Patron of all that's good or great,
Whose noble empire first began
When time had civiliz'd each state."

THE office of Governor has been held sometimes quamdiu Domino Regi placuerit,1 sometimes, quamdiu se bene gesserit; sometimes durante vita; sometimes for life, and some odd years beyond by their heirs; and again, without condition, or limitation, it has been given sometimes in reversion. Our late Governor, the Earl of Pembroke, held the power for life.2

Mr. Selden cites a manuscript out of Sir Robert Cottons library, which says, That Henry Beauchamp, Duke of Warwick, who died in 1446, was King of the isles of Wight, Jersey, and Guernsey. 3

1 Falle, p. 115-119. Dicey, p. 61-66.

2 His Excellency General the Earl of Pembroke was sworn into his office before the Privy Council on the 25th November, 1807, and on the 26th October, 1827, departed this life at his house, Privy Gardens, London. The Right Hon. General Sir Wm. Keppel, G.C B., a Privy Counsellor and Col. of the 57th Regiment of Foot, was sworn in Governor of Guernsey, Alderney, etc., on 16th Nov. 1827.

3 In the Companion to the Isle of Wight, it is said, he was crowned

The Licut.-Governor is an officer appointed by, and in the pay of the Crown, for the purpose of supplying the now customary non-residence of the Governor. Should the Lieut.Governor have occasion to be absent, he commissions the next officer in command to be his deputy, who is sworn into the office by the Royal Court, during the Lieut.-Governor's absence. Anciently the Governor was a person of mixed power, having the administration of both the civil and military authority. He was Judge, as well as Governor. He was called Custos, and Ballivus, Warden or Guardian of the Laws, as well as of the land. In process of time, the Governor reserved to himself the military office only, and the title of Ballivus or Bailiff was transferred to another, to regulate the judicial part. King John began, and King Henry the Eighth completed, the establishment of a jurisdiction wholly independent of the Go

vernor. 2

The Govenor's more peculiar province is the custody of his Majesty's castles, forts, etc., with the command of the garrison, and of the militia of the island; of all which the Lieut.-Governor now takes the charge.3 The presence of the latter is also often necessary in Court, for passing such acts as concerns the King's service, the maintenance of the public peace, and the safety and good government of the island. No convention of the States (as before mentioned) can be held without his consent being first obtained in order to have the affair discussed.

The Lieut.-Governor has the Court specially under his protection, being obliged to assist the Bailiff and Jurats with his

King of the isle of Wight by patent of the 24th of Henry VI; but Henry VII resumed the jurisdiction, and it has ever since belonged to the Crown.

1 His Excellency Sir John Colborne, K.C.B., Lieut.-Governor, was sworn in by the Royal Court 21st September, 1821.

2 Report of the Royal Commissioners, 1815, p. 9, published in Guernsey, 1817.

3 All officers of the militia are appointed by the Lieut.-Governor.

3

authority, in the execution of their judgments. He has the power (with the concurrence of two Jurats) to arrest and imprison any inhabitant upon vehement suspicion of treason. 1

No stranger or foreigner (particularly in time of war), may pass into, and from the island, or sojourn, or settle in it, without his knowledge or privity; and all commanders of vessels are bound to report their passengers to the office, either by themselves or agents.

All licenses for particular importations of provisions, coal, (and formerly of wool) and other articles to be exported from England, custom free, for the use of the inhabitants of the island, and also for the carrying on their trade, allowed as well by act of parliament, as by their charters of privileges, must be signed by him or his deputy, and are obtained on affidavit made -before the Royal Court.

Before the Governor can act, he must produce his patent or commission in Court, and must swear to maintain the liberties and privileges of the island; and the Lieut.-Governor is always so sworn before he takes upon himself the government.

To support the office and dignity of Governor, the King allows him the whole revenue of the island, the gross amount of which, in 1821, was 2,8557. 18s. 4d., as may be seen by the statement published by order of the House of Commons, copied in Appendix; but the net revenue in 1821 amounted only to 1477/. 2s. 2d., according to the balance remitted to his lord

1 Warburton says, "The Governor may commit any of the Islanders to prison, but not put them in irons or into the dungeon, unless for some high offence, wherein the King or the State may be concerned; nor is he, for less offences than such, to keep the prisoner longer than 24 hours; and in those cases of such high nature, the Governor is left to his discretion, whether he shall think it convenient to impart the cause of commitment to the Bailiff and Jurats: and he is not (but in these cases wherein the King or the Government be concerned) to commit to prison the Bailiff or any of the Jurats." -Page 36.

ship. The patronage belonging to the Governor may be seen under the articles Civil Government, Ecclesiastical ditto, Endowed Schools, etc. Warburton says, (p. 33,) The Deputy Governor does claim a customary duty out of all ships which unload wine or salt in the island, which is two pots of wine, and a bushel of salt, out of each vessel; and this has been of ancient usage, and is still continued."

During a war, the office of Lieut.-Governor is generally filled by a Lieut.-General, but in times of peace by either a MajorGeneral or Colonel; and in this district, the islands of Alderney, Sark, and those in the Bailiwick, are included. The two castles, the several forts and batteries, with the numerous Martello towers all around the island, protect it from any surprise; and it is well guarded in time of war by several regular regiments of infantry, etc., as well as by a body of royal artillery; besides which, the island is well supplied with an efficient militia; consisting of a troop of cavalry, a regiment or two battalions of artillery, with four regiments of infantry, three of them light infantry; all of whom, except the cavalry, serve without pay. The arms and clothes are furnished by Government. The districts are as follow: the artillery, blue, and the first regiment or East, scarlet with buff facings, for the town and parish of St. Peter Port. The first light infantry, or north regiments, scarlet with green facings, for St. Sampson, the vale and the cited parishes. The second light infantry, or south regiment, scarlet with blue facings, comprehends St. Martin's, the Forest, and St. Andrew's parishes. The third light infantry, or west regiment, scarlet with black facings, takes in the parishes of St. Saviour, St. Peter du Bois, and Torteval.

These militia regiments, with the artillery also (for the returns of which see Appendix), are constantly supplied and kept up during peace, by receiving into their corps all youths of fourteen years of age and upwards, (excepting those belonging to Elizabeth College which are exempted by the Governor),