Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist.

Date:
[1855?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    373/402 (page 361)
    privileges of tlie islands. This charter has, at vai'ious times, been amplified and confirmed by succeeding sovereigns. Time and local circumstances have naturally o-iven rise to some differences in the laws and constitutions of the respective bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, but, without entering at large on these differences, it will not be diflfi- cult to give a general idea of the governments of both islands. In early times the government of the islands seems to have been committed to one person, in whom was vested both the civil and military authority, and who is sometimes denominated hallims or bailiff, but more commonly custos or warder. This officer, who was generally a nobleman of high rank, received all the reve- nues of the islands, and appointed his deputies in the civil and military departments, changing them whenever he pleased. From the time of Edward I. the office of bailiff, or chief civil magistrate, appears to have been made perma- nent; and finally, in the reign of Henry VII. in Jersey, and of Charles II. in Guernsey, the Go- vernors were deprived of the power of naming this functionary, the Crown reserving to itself that right. The Governor has precedency over all other public functionaries, by reason that he repre-