Four-horned ewes and six-horned rams, 1779

From the New Universal Traveller, Containing a Full and Distinct Account of All the Empires, Kingdoms, and States, in the Known World, by Jonathan Carver, 1779.

Guernsey.

Guernsey is situated twenty leagues south-west of Weymouth in Dorsetshire, between eight and nine leagues west of the coast of Normandy, and seven north-west from Jersey. Its length from north-east to south-west is about twelve miles, and its breadth nine. The climate is mild and healthy, not subject to excessive heats, much less to severe cold, but is somewhat exposed to winds. This island hangs in a declination opposite to that of Jersey, being low and flat on the north-side, and rising gradually towards the south, where the cliffs are of a prodigious height. The face of the country is variegated with eminences, and tolerably well-watered. Here was formerly a fine lake, about half a league in extent, now silted up, and turned into a meadow; but many gentlemen have still very beautiful and convenient fishponds. The soil in general is rich, and affords variety of produce, which is the same as in Jersey. Here was formerly a singular breed of sheep, of which the ewes had four horns, and the rams six; but these are now become very scarce. In this, no less than in the aforementioned island, black cattle are in such abundance as not only to supply the inhabitants, but to furnish a considerable exportation. To all its numerous advantages may be added that of being free from all venomous creatures.

In this island are ten parishes, each of which is divided into several vintons, for the more easy management of affairs. Though the country is fully peopled, there is, properly speaking, but one town in the island; and this is likewise the only haven of any resort.

The town of St. Peter is seated on the east-side of the island, upon a capacious bay, and consists of about eight hundred houses. This harbour is called Port St. Pierre, or Port de la Chaussée. Ships pass into it from a good road, directly under the guns of the castle, and moor close to the town. The piers are composed of vast stones, piled up to the height of thirty-five foot.

The principal manufacture here, as in Jersey, is that of wool, of which they are allowed to import annually, two thousand tods from England; and this they work up chiefly in stockings, waistcoats and breeches. Our French and Portugal merchants have large stocks of wine here, which they import thence as they have occasion. By depositing their wine in this island, they are enabled to keep it to a proper age, before they pay the duty, and can therefore afford both to buy and sell it at a cheaper rate. By a moderate computation, the inhabitants of this island, at present, amount to upwards of fifteen thousand souls.

The several islets, and vast chains of rocks that surround this country on every side, and cause so great a variety of tides and currents, add much to the security of the place, by rendering the navigation equally difficult and dangerous for ships, unless they have pilots on board extremely well acquainted with the coast. On the south-side, as has been observed, the cliffs are prodigiously high; on the west side lie the Hanoys, which cover that coast so effectually that a descent there is little to be feared. At the north west extremity lies a little island called the Howe, and at the north-east extremity we meet with St. Michael in the Vale, a peninsula some miles in extent, connected with Guernsey by a very narrow isthmus. South-east from the Vale is situated the isle of Harmet, or Arne, about a league in compass, formerly desert but now cultivated. About a league to the southward of this lies Brickoe, of less extent; and between them the little island of Gythau, or Jethau, which serves the governor for a kind of park, or rather paddock.

Alderney.

Alderney is situated about five leagues north-west from Guernsey, and nine leagues north from Jersey. It rises high out of the sea, and, like the rest, is in a manner entirely surrounded with rocks, it is between four and five miles in length, and in some places one, in others two in breadth. The climate is temperate and agreeable, and the soil exceeding fertile both in corn and grass. The island is well stocked with cattle, sheep, fowl, and horses. The inhabitants amount nearly to fifteen hundred, and many of them live in the centre of the island, at a place called La Ville, i. e. the town, where they have a good church. The port called la Crabbie is on the south-side, secured by a rough stone pier, and is capable of admitting only small vessels. The people of this island are allowed to import four hundred tods of wool annually from England, besides what they raise of their own, which they manufacture and sell in Guernsey.

Sark.

Sarke lies two leagues east from Guernsey, six west from Cape Rosel in Normandy, three leagues northward of Jersey. It is of an oval form, having a smaller island annexed to it by a narrow isthmus. They are not together, above three miles in length, and the largest very little more than one in breadth. This island likewise rises high above the sea, and seems as if regularly fortified by a rampart of steep impenetrable cliffs, having only one access, which, however, is easy and commodious. In point of climate, this island yields not to any of the rest, and it is also extremely fertile both in corn and grass. The number of inhabitants are about five hundred, who are allowed to import from Britain two hundred tods of wool. This island, with that of Alderney, is included in the government of Guernsey.

The islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sarke, and their adjacent islets, making part of ancient Gaul, fell under the dominion of the Romans; and upon the conquests made by the Franks, this became a portion of what was called West France, or Neustria. In the beginning of the tenth century, Charles the Simple, to save the rest of his dominions from the ravages of the Romans, erected, in favour of their captain, Rollo, the duchy of Normandy, to which these islands were annexed. His descendant, William, having acquired the kingdom of England in the tenth century, enjoyed it with his duchy and its dependencies; but though Normandy was afterwards relinquished to France, those valuable islands have ever since been retained by the English crown.