to be indifferent; but in the rearing of hogs, the islanders are very successful. I was informed, that it is no uncommon occurrence for a hog to weigh more than a well fed cow but as this might be a proof of the smallness of the cow, as well as of the size of the hog, I may state, that the weight of some of the hogs has reached 500 pounds. I saw more sheep on Alderuey, than on Jersey or Guernsey: they are small, rough, and darked faced; and appeared to be indifferently attended to.

CHAPTER III.

The people of Alderney: their character and habits; improvidence, and feasting; fishing; expenditure and mode of live: how time is passed; party spirit, and litigiousness; the climate of Alderney; health and disease, and rate of mortality.

In this chapter I proceed to speak of the people. I have already said, that properties in Alderney, are extremely small; and here, where there is not as in Jersey, or even in Guernsey, a regular trade to take off superabundant hands, and to offer some temptation to those who have not a sufficient patrimonial inheritance, the minute division of property leads to bad results; for, where no patrimony whatever, can possibly descend to a child, he is sent out into the world, to push his fortune; whereas, where there is some inheritance of land, however trifling, one is not fond of deserting it; and when after some expe

rience, it is found, that the owner cannot be supported by it, he falls into whatever calling is the readiest and most likely to better his fortune. This happens unfortunately to be the smuggling trade; for Alderney has none other.

In the other islands, few are either very rich, or very poor; but in Alderney, for the word, "few," nobody, may be substituted. Scarcely any one possesses more than thirty vergées of land; and the owners live almost exclusively, on the produce of their soil. There is one striking difference in the character of the inhabitants of Alderney, and of the other Channel Islands. The parsimony of Jersey and Guernsey, is nowhere to be seen. Indeed, in place of parsimony, improvidence rather, is a characteristic of the people. This, I should think, is to be ascribed to the effect of the smuggling trade. "Light come light go," is the rule of action; and the pound that is easily earned, easily at least, to those who are accustomed to a sea life is spent on any holiday

afternoon. This regardlessness of expenditure,

certainly enters into the general character of the

people; for although all are not smugglers, yet many have been at one time or another, indirectly connected with the trade; and besides, the example of profuseness is contagious; and I learnt from undeniable authority, that nothing is so rare, as to find the country people grow rich by saving, as they are wont to do in the other islands. The great occasion for spending, is at weddings. As much is spent at such time in one day, as would support the new married pair for a year. All relations are bidden to the feast; and when I mention, that an individual lately died, leaving behind him, four hundred and sixteen nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces, it will easily be credited that such entertainments are not given for nothing.

Some of the inhabitants unite the trade of agriculture, with that of fishing; but this latter branch is not very lucrative, nor indeed, very successful. The fish chiefly caught, are rock fish, whiting and conger eel,-considerable quantities of which, are salted and laid up for winter stock. The lobster too, is also abundant, and forms an

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article of export to England. They are not unusually purchased by contract for the London market, at sixpence a piece, if they are eleven inches long; and for all under that size, the half of this price is given.

The mode of life in Alderney, is primitive; though I should say, less so than in Serk, or even than in the inland parts of Jersey and Guernsey,' which may easily be accounted for from the fact of all the inhabitants being congregated in one place; by which, improved habits are acquired, by the influence and example of those who prac tise them. The absence too of that parsimony which is so influential in the other islands, makes the formation of superior habits easier; and it is a fact, that the "soupe à la graisse" diet, is not the favourite one in Alderney.

Although however, the business of life in Alderney is not to heap up wealth, and although profuseness is more common than parsimony, it is impossible to spend much. With the exception of the governor, nobody spends £300 per annum ; and among the most respectable classes, the more