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SIR JAMES SAUMAREZ, BART.

ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE SQUADRON OF HIS MAJESTY'S FLEET,

KNIGHT GRAND CROSS of the most HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH,

KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL MILITARY SWEDISH ORDER OF The sword,

VICE ADMIRAL OF GREAT BRITAIN,

AND L. L. D.

THE GENEROUS SUPPORTER OF EVERY LIBERAL INSTITUTION;

AND PATRON OF MOST OF THE SOCIETIES ESTABLISHED IN THE ISLAND OF GUERNSEY

FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD;

As a small Testimonial of grateful respect for his brilliant Achievements, which have added so much lustre to the naval glory of Great Britain, and of esteem for his

distinguished private Worth and Reputation,

THE FOLLOWING

ANNALS OF The islands of guernsey, ALDERNEY, AND SARK, &c.

Petite Marche, Guernsey.

ARE VERY RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

By his most obedient and humble servant,

THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN We reflect on the various changes that fleeting time has made in the affairs of life, and are desirous of bringing to remembrance the causes that produced them, we often wonder that we have forgotten many events which may even have passed before our eyes, but which, from not having been marked by very prominent features, have glided from our memory as a tale that is told. It surely then becomes a duty to transmit to posterity occurrences which, however apparently insignificant, may yet prove important, as forming links in the chain of history. The advantage of doing so is not confined to the present age, but will certainly add to the general stock of intelligence, and form authentic materials for future history.

The defective and indistinct manner in which events have sometimes been recorded, has caused the historian to lament the deficiency of materials which might have filled up the chasm in his history, and the antiquary to search in vain for information, which might have been easily obtained,

had the apparently insignificant fact been recorded at the period which gave it existence.

Impressed with this idea, the compiler of the following pages feels little hesitation in offering to the Public, and to the Inhabitants of the Channel Islands in particular, the following data of facts which may serve to prove to the present and future ages, that Guernsey is not a place serving merely as a medium for illicit commerce, as some persons in England have ignorantly imagined, but that it is, at this epoch, a well organized and most civilized island, abounding in religion and benevolence.

The writer flatters himself that the present work will be found to concentrate many substantial materials for the future historian. The erection and consecration of St. James's Church, the first built exclusively for the English service, with that of the Parish Church of St. Philip at Torteval; the arrival of the first English Bishop; the establishment of many religious and benevolent societies; the liberal encouragement afforded to science and literature, in the erection and enlarged system of Elizabeth College, cause the present to be a very important and memorable era in the history of Guernsey.