Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/376

Rh JEMIMA. 363 JERSEY. principal residence. The living ia a vie. in the dioe. of St. David's, val. 134, in the patron, of the chapter. The church is dedicated to SS. Jeffry and Oswald. JEMIMA, a vil. in the par. of Kirkmichael, co. Cro- marty, Scotland. Fairs are held on the first Tuesday in April, first Wednesday in August, and the last Tuesday in October. JENKIN^ a vil. in the par. of Preslbury, hund. of Macclcsfield, co. Chester, 5 miles N.E. of Macclesfield. JERPOINTABBEY, a par. in the bar. of Gowran, co. Kilkenny, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 1 milo W.S.W. of Thornastown. The parish lies along the river Noro, and was anciently the site of a corporate town. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Ossory, val., with Burn- church, 700, in the patron, of the crown. It forms part of the Roman Catholic union of Thomastown. This parish takes its name from a Cistercian abbey which was founded here by Donogh O'Donoghoc, King of Ossory, in 1180. It was suppressed in the time of Henry VIII., and afterwards granted to the Earl of Ormonde. Felix O'Dullany, Bishop of Ossory, was buried hero in 1202. The ruins of the abbey arc still very interesting and extensive, and contain tombs of the founder, and of the families of Grace and Butlor. JEKPOINTCIIURCH, or JERPOINT EAST, a par. in the bar. of Knocktophcr, co. Kilkenny, prov. of Leinster, Ireland. Sec Ciiuucn JEUVOIXT. JERPOINT WEST, a par. in the bars, of Gowran, Ida, and Kuocktophcr, co. Kilkenny, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Inistiogc. It is situated near the river Nore, and consists of three detached portions. JERSEY, the largest and most valuable of tlie Channel Islands, situated between -19 0' and 49 10' N. Jat., and 1 58' and 2" 14' W. long, distant about 15 miles from the N.W. coast of France, and 18 miles from Guernsey ; its greatest length from E. to W. is about 12 miles, and its greatest breadth from X. to S. about 7 miles ; it is about 47 miles in circuit ; its area is 28,717 statute acres. The population of Jersey in 1SC1 was 55, CIS, having decreased since 1851, when it was 57,025, by 1,407 ; the number of inhabited houses in 1SC1 was 8,338, and of uninhabited, 367. What has been said respecting the early history of Guernsey applies also to that of Jersey. Jersey was called Ctiaarea by the Romans. In the reign of Edward 111. the island was attacked by Du Guesclin, Constable of France, but un- successfully. During the Wars of the Roses it was again attacked by tho French under Pierre de Breze, and again without success. Henry VII., while Earl of Richmond, and, at a later period, Charles II., while an exile, found a refuge in Jersey. In 1779 an attempt to land on the island was unsuccessfully made by the Prince of Nassau. In 1781 the French, under Baron do Rul- lecourt, having taken possession of tho town of St. Holier, were attacked by Major Picrson, and forced to surrender. RtiUceourt and Major Picrson fell in tho engagement. Tho form of the island is quadrangular. The coast on the K. side is rugged and precipitous, rising,' to the height of from 100 to 200 feet; that on the S. side is generally low and shelving. It is much broken all round by small bays and coves tho chief of which are, Boulay, a bay on the N. side, where a small pier was erected some years ago by tho States of Jersey ; St. Ca- therine's Bay, a bay in the N.E., where a harbour of refuge has been constructed ; Grouvillo Bay, in the S.E. ; St. Aubin's Bay, and St. Brelade's Bay, in the S. ; and St. Owen's Bay, a wide shallow bay, in the W. Granite rocks arc the principal formation of the highlands in the northern part, and granite, overlaid by schistose rocks, the principal formation of the southern part of the island. The rocks along the northern coast consist for the most part of sicnite, which is quarried, and exported in large quantities to Guernsey, England, and Franco. It is of a reddish white colour, and is susceptible of a high polish. Tho surface of Jersey is undulating, and slopes from ST. to S. The island is intersected in all direc- tions by ravines and valleys. The valleys are watered by many streams, which servo to turn numerous corn- mills. The general direction of the valleys is from N. to S. They are narrow at tho northern end, but expand into wide flats of pasture land fis they approach tho southern coast. Tho climate of Jersey, from its ins alar situation, and from its surface sloping towards the S., is milder than that of most other places under the same latitude, the mean temperature being 52. Snow seldom falls, and continued frosts are of very rare occurrence, myrtles and other delicate shrubs grow in the open air. The fall of rain is largo, and the dews are heavy, island, particularly the western part, is frequently visiti by violent gales. The state of agriculture in Jersey, notwithstanding the minute division of property, arising from the custom of gavclkind, is good. The holdings seldom exceed 15 acres. The rent for good land is about 5 per acre. The soil is exceedingly productive, and the expense of cultivating it trifling. Wheat is tho principal cereal raised. Barley is grown, and some onts. Potatoes are largely cultivated for exportation. Par- snips, for feeding bullocks, hogs, &c., are grown to a large extent. Lucerne is one of tho most important crops. The principal manure used is a species of sea- weed called vraic. Various kinds of fruit grow to per-', fcction in Jersey, including the melon, grape, peach, apricot, and the Charmoutel pear. Much of the land is laid out in orchards, cider being made in large quan- tities. The island is well wooded, the principal trees being tho chestnut, elm, and white oak. Great attention is paid to tho breeding and rearing of cows, which aro of the Alderuey breed. Jersey butter is highly esteemed. Owing to the limited extent of pasturage, few sheep aro to be met with in tho island. The breed of horses has greatly improved of late years; they are small, but strong. Tho trade of Jersey is extensive, and still increasing. The inhabitants enjoy peculiar commercial advantages, tho most important of which are, the liberty of exporting the produce of the island to England, sub- J jcct only to the same duties as arc paid on tho produce! of Great Britain; and exemption from import duties. Tho chief articles of export arc, cattle, cider, potatoes, and oysters ; and of import, woollen goods, hardware, cutlery, glass, soap, and earthenware. Shipbuilding is carried on to a large extent, timber and cordage being admitted free of duty. Jersey, like the other Channel islands, is governed by its own laws, which are founded on the ancient customs of Normandy. Acts of the Eng- lish parliament do not apply to these islands, unless so specified. The States of Jersey consist of the lieutenant- governor, and the bailiff of the royal court, appointed by tho crown ; the 12 jurats of the royal court, elected for "life by the ratepayers; the rectors of the 12 parishes; tho 12 constables, elected every three years by the rate- payers; and the queen's attorney and solicitor-general, who have scats, but cannot vote. To the above-men- tioned members were added, about ten years ago, 1-1 de- puties, of whom three represent the parish of St. Helier'aJ and each of the eleven other parishes chooses one. Tho viscount also has a right to sit in the states, but has no vote. Tho bailiff and the 12 jurats constitute the court of judicature in civil and criminal cases : from their, decisions an appeal lies to the queen in council. Jersey is a deanery in tho _dioceso of Winchester ; tho dean is one of tho 12 rcc'tors : the livings are small. Th religion of the island is that of the Church of Englunc The 12 parishes into which Jersey is divided arc Helier, St. Owen, St. Lawrence, St. Clement, St. John, St. Brelade, Grouville, St. Mary, St. Martin, St. Saviour, St. Peter, and Trinity. Jersey contains three towns, St Holier, St. Aubin, and Gorcy. The almost total exemp- tion from taxation enjoyed by tho inhabitants lias in- duced a great many English to become pernuM dents in tho island. The language is a corrupt Fniicli, but English is generally understood. Tho roads through Jersey arc numerous and good. They were formed by the; direction of Sir George Don, who was governor from 1806 to 1810, previous to which tho island was I by narrow lines, some of which still remain. newspapers aro published in the island, some in Frei and others in English. Jersey possesses a well- body of militia. The principal antiquities in 11