Articles

Peter Paul Dobree on Cadiz, Spanish ladies, and politics, 1811

A letter from Peter Paul Dobrée, (1782-1825), who was born in Guernsey and became Regius Professor of Greek at Cambridge University in 1823. In 1811 he had visited 'Don Pedro' (Peter Carey) Tupper, the Guernsey-born and immensely wealthy British consul in Valencia. The illustration of Cadiz is from Sir John Carr's Descriptive travels in the southern and eastern parts of Spain and the Balearic isles, in the year 1809, London: 1811, in the Library collection.

The Steam Packets

From the Star, June 8, 1837

Mansell versus Robin: Brandy smuggling, 1833

Cadic's shop in 1845, Priaulx Library Collection

Lots of trouble over French brandy. The illustration is a detail from one of the earliest photographs in the Library's collection, dating from 1845, showing Cadic's 'inn near the South Pier,' not far away at all from Cow Lane, the scene of the crime. Next door to his establishment was the inn, the 'Three Tuns,' proprietor Mrs Simon.

Experiment with Diving Dress, 1833

JOHN and JOSEPH ORCHARD having constructed a DIVING DRESS for the purpose of searching the Bottom of the sea in a moderate depth of water, beg leave to inform the public that they will, on TUESDAY MORNING at 10 o'clock, go down at the pier head and walk underwater towards Castle Cornet. This being the first thing of the kind ever made in this island, they invite the attention of the public to the above trial.

What's for hunting in 1610?

In 1610 Lord George Carew replaced the late Sir Thomas Leighton as Governor of Guernsey. Upon being called almost immediately back to England he left instructions for Amias De Carteret, his Lieutenant-Governor. This is an extract from a letter he wrote to De Carteret, dated 9th August 1610, at Castle Cornet, taken from Tupper's Chronicles of Castle Cornet, 1849.

Notes on cider-making in Guernsey, 1823

Note on cider-making; by M. Bosc. (From The Accounts of the Meeting of the Agricultural Society of Rouen, 1823).

Nonsensical sheep-grassing, August 1636

According to Jean de la Marche, on Sunday, August 5, 1636, the Earl of Danby was 'out hunting in his Island of Herm, whither he had taken the greater part of the Gentlefolks of the Town (although by so doing they profaned the Day) and he having given his Horse the Spur, it ceased not to rear and turn round and round until it had thrown him to the Ground.'

Trial and Execution, July 1813

The execution of Cox and Shellard, from the Gazette de l'Isle de Guernesey, 17 July 1813. Final sentence handed down by the Guernsey Royal Court. [From the French.]

Bailiwick Prisoners-of-War, 1813

A letter from Paris, dated 3 July 1813, to Harry Dobree, who organised collections for the welfare of the prisoners. [From the Gazette de Guernesey, September 13, 1813.]

Dead cats and horsewhips: August 1825 in the Royal Court

Two unusual court cases from the Gazette de l'Isle de Guernesey, August 1825 [from the French].

Alderney on alert, 1796-7

Gazette de L'Ile de Guernesey, Saturday 27 Mai 1797.

The Town Harbour, 1853-1923

St Peter Port harbour in 1857, detail, Garnier, Priaulx Library Collection

How the sea-front looked seventy years ago, by 'Observer' (1923). The accompanying photograph, from the Library collection, is a detail from a panorama taken by Arsène Garnier of the harbour early in its rebuilding in 1857. The detail below shows the temporary cement mill erected for the works.

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