Jersey As It Is - Part 4

This Friday is a blog in which I have transcribed a translation of an essay called "Jersey as It Is", published in 1844, as the result of a winning entry by F. Robious de La Trehonnais which won first prize in the competition of the Jersey Emulation Society.

This brings us to the end of the historical sketch of Jersey, and next will be how he finds Jersey today -1844. In between I will be posting a slightly different blog for a couple of weeks before coming back to this book.

Jersey As It Is - Part 4

Under the reign of the unfortunate Charles, it was no more a question to repulse intruders for whom they had no sympathy. Now, by a calamitous fatality, the protecting shelter they had adopted is broken asunder; the standard which had waved glorious, unconquered, over their victories, is torn by factions ; but, true to their sympathies, the islanders saw the revolutionary storm a long time beat vainly the rocks of their islet, which contained their unfortunate sovereign; and when at last number and power triumphed, when, pierced with sorrow, the valiant Carteret surrendered his sword, it was with the noble pride of having defended, to the last extremity, the only rock that remained to the exiled king out of all his extensive realm.

Everyone is acquainted with this quarrel between Charles and his parliament ; unfortunate discord which has cost so much blood and tears to England ! Unluckily for our islanders, the rebellious spirit, which divided their mother country, influenced also their little community ; but most of the inhabitants espoused the cause of the king ; and, animated by the noble example of Captain de Carteret, who refused the rank of admiral offered to him by the parliament, they hoisted the standard of legitimacy.

The grateful king knighted the loyal and disinterested captain, and appointed him governor of the island. Scarcely invested with his new authority, Sir de Carteret equipped a fleet of ten sail, which hindered a great deal the channel trade, and rendered important services to the king's cause. It was then that Charles, driven out of his estates by the power of the parliament, took refuge in the island, accompanied by Lord Clarendon, and a numerous suite of gentlemen who had shared his perils and his bad fortune.

The prince was received by the faithful islanders with the greatest deference. However, his stay in their country did not extend beyond two months; for, yielding to the entreaties of his mother, he decided upon going to France. Lord Clarendon did not follow him in this his new place of exile, he retired to the Elizabeth castle, where he wrote the greatest part of his valuable work.

When the unfortunate Charles had atoned, with the loss of his life, for the faults he bad committed, the Jerseymen immediately proclaimed Charles the Second as their legitimate sovereign. This prince, unknown to, and unacknowledged by, his subjects, came also to rest his roving and wearied life within the green and peaceful valleys of the island which formed, if I might so say, the only patch of ground that recognized his authority.

Sir de Carteret set on foot a subscription amongst the inhabitants to meet the monarch's expenses, and their enthusiasm was so great that it amounted, in a short time, to a considerable sum. But so entire and adhesive, so courageous a loyalty, fixed at last the attention of the parliament.

A fleet was sent, under the command of the celebrated admiral Blake, in the month of October, 1681, and in this fleet they embarked a large body of soldiers, commanded by general Haines. George de Carteret, with his brave companions, repulsed on several occasions this overwhelming army, but at last, unable to defend, with his few followers, all the exposed parts, he could not prevent a landing, which the parliamentary troops effected in St. Ouen's bay; then, seeing the impossibility to oppose such a force, he shut himself up in Elizabeth castle, determined to defend it to the last extremity. The parliamentary troops, finding no resistance, besieged at once the castle, and, from the hills which overhang it, bombarded it without relaxation.

The islanders, stimulated by their noble chief's example, resisted as long as their ammunition lasted; but the impossibility of receiving help, and the protracted duration of the siege, reduced them at last to the utmost distress. They decided then on soliciting the help of the king of France, through the medium of Charles, who had taken refuge in Paris; but this prince, having failed in obtaining what he asked, advised de Carteret to capitulate. 

Such a recommendation did not suit the governor's courage ; it is even recorded that he kept this message for some time unknown to his followers ; but so much perseverance and heroism could not bear up against the want which prevailed in the castle; and, yielding to an imperious necessity, he surrendered on honourable conditions. 

Thus fell the last gem of the unfortunate Charles's diadem; but as soon as the restoration brought him back to the throne he did not forget the island which had welcomed, loved, and defended him when he was proscribed and homeless. Carteret was appointed lord chamberlain and state counsellor, and the privileges of the island were confirmed and enlarged. 

From this stormy period, to the reign of George the Third, the island enjoyed a tranquillity which was not disturbed by any occurrence; but when, in the time of that prince, war broke out again between France and England, the French made another attempt to get possession of Jersey. 

On the 1st of May, 1779, a fleet, commanded by the prince of Nassau, appeared in St. Ouen's-bay: a landing was attempted ; but, either dismayed by the number of native and British troops assembled to oppose their descent, or by the roughness of the rocky beach, the French re-embarked, and, having made another attempt in St. Brelade's-bay, with the same results, they desisted from their enterprise and disappeared. 

A second expedition was defeated by Sir James Wallace, who destroyed the French fleet; but, far from being discouraged by these failures, they fitted out a third expedition, which was entrusted to the command of Baron de Rullecourt. 

This officer succeeded in landing, during the night, on the island with about twelve hundred men ; favoured by the darkness, he penetrated to the middle of the town of St. Helier’s, which he occupied without striking a blow. Early in the morning he repaired to the governor, Major Corbett, and by exaggerating the number of his forces, and demonstrating the futility of resistance, compelled him to sign a capitulation, a copy of which was sent to the officers commanding the troops of the island, with an order to lay down their arms, and to submit to the French 

This message, however, was not obeyed ; and the command of the troops having been entrusted to Major Pierson, that brave officer marched upon the town, and after a severe conflict, in which he and the French intruder lost their lives, the Jerseymen triumphed once more over this attempt on their liberty. 

This enterprise is the last which has taken place against the Channel Islands. During the long wars which attended the French revolution, no danger of any consequence threatened them. The ambition of Napoleon made him aspire to more important exploits; and the only events which we have to record, from that time to our own, are but the results of an ever-increasing prosperity, and of a reform in the constitution which encourages further hopes of a still more prosperous future. However, these were not the only instances of the islanders' bravery. 

During the frequent conflicts which ensued, the Jersey and Guernsey mariners distinguished themselves in the gigantic battles which have rendered Nelson's name immortal. On every occasion they showed that cool and determined courage, and, most especially, that strong tendency to discipline, which has attached to the memory of their ancestors so bright a glory, such spotless remembrances. 

After having thus rapidly sketched the principal features of the history of the Jersey people, in order to present more clearly their existing physiology, in establishing a comparison between the causes modified by the events which I have related, and the effects produced by these causes, I will attempt to demonstrate these effects in explaining the constitution and privileges granted to the island by the British monarchs, and in exposing the facts and advantages which make its prosperity ; but before I begin with these statistical documents, I will briefly describe the parts of the island which I have thought it most worthy of admiration, and present a few topographic observations on some principal spots, in conjuring up the legends and historical reminiscences which belong to them.