The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1826

19th century Jersey
From the Jersey Loyalist: 1826

The front page of the first edition of the Jersey Loyalist on 5 September 1825

Our history of 19th century Jersey from newspaper cuttings has started with the Jersey Loyalist, an English-language newspaper published from 1825 to 1831.

This was a time of great growth and diversification in Jersey, fuelled by an influx of English immigrants which saw the population increase by 17 per cent between 1821 and 1826.

This page is part of a project launched by Jerripedia in 2024 to chronicle the history of Jersey through the 19th century using news cuttings from most of the newspapers published during those 100 years.
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Main index page
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1825
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1827
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1828
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1829
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1830
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Loyalist 1831

The Jersey Loyalist launched in 1825, seemingly as much as a political opponent of the British Press, which had launched three years earlier, as a truly commercial venture. This was denied in the introduction on page one of the first edition, but scarcely an edition was published in the next six years without the competitor's coverage of one event or another being roundly criticised.

The British Press, later to become the British Press and Jersey Times, had the last laugh, outliving the Loyalist by almost 80 years.

The Jersey Loyalist was typical of early island newspapers, in that it contained very little local news. The majority of its news columns was devoted to London news, copied apparently verbatim from national newspapers received in the island some days after publication, and focusing on parliamentary affairs, which would have had little or no meaning to island residents, save for the more affluent and better educated immigrant English families which had swelled the island's population in the first quarter of the century.

Local news was restricted largely to coverage of States sittings and the work of the Royal Court, although tragic accidents, both on land and at sea, were also included in the mix. The Loyalist was not highly political, but did allow its readers to voice their opinions in frequently very lengthy letters to the editor, more often than not involving the British Press and Jersey Times.

Our selection of news items which follows has been made in an attempt to paint a picture of as many aspects of island life as possible in 1826.

January

Unwanted post

Most people who were elected to a new position were delighted to be present in the Royal Court to take the oath of office. But not Edward Esnouf, who was summoned to be sworn into the newly created office of military tything man , following his election in St Lawrence.

The Court was told that Esnouf had already served as civil tything man in the parish, he was a shipwright, and being obliged to serve would take up a lot of his time and be 'very injurious to his family'.

The King's Procurator said that this was not sufficient reason to excuse Esnouf who had been duly elected and must serve in that office. The Court agreed, and ordered Esnouf to take the oath of office, which he did after his offer to pay a fine instead had been refused.

Deaths

The deaths of the wife of Matthew La Cloche, who was Constable of St Helier at the time of the Battle of Jersey, and former deputy-constable and St Helier Harbourmaster John Chevalier, were announced in the edition of 9 January.

Mill fire

Christmas 1825 was far from a happy time for Raulin Gaudin, owner of the New Mill in St Lawrence. On the night of the 25/26th December he woke to find his mill on fire:

"And tho' he used every effort which his awful and desperate situation could suggest, to subdue the flames which had now inrcreased to a tremendous degree of violence, and tho' he had received a severe contusion in his head, and had otherwise seriously injured inh his person, he had, notwithstanding, the indescribable affliction of seeing his property, in a few moments, fall a prey to that devouring and irresistible element."

The Loyalist of 23 January contained an appeal from Gaudin for the community to help him, following the accident which had deprived him:

"Of all the property which he honestly and industriously acquired, by the sweat of his brow and has at the same time rendered him incapable of administering to the future wants of his wife and children, and at the advanced age of 46 years, sees himself bereft of everything, except the hope that the generous sympathy of his countrymen will come to the relief of his present distress and enable him to give effect to his ardent desire of possessing the means of again fulfilling the delightful and sacred duty of the father of a family towards the dearest objects of his fondest affections."

A report by John Langlois, Constable of St Lawrence, which accompanied Gaudin's appeal, estimated his loss at 9,000 livres, ancient currency of France.

The Loyalist added its own plea to islanders to donate to collections 'throughout all the island'.

Long before the days of a Strategic Reserve, the States' finances were in a mess in 1826. A proposal to issue debentures to cover the 80,000 annual deficit was lodged au Greffe to give members time to consider the implications. The following week a more detailed analysis of the island's financial problems was published (below)

Ships launched

The 83-ton cutter Henry, owned by Charles Bertram, Constable of Grouville, was launched on the west coast of St Helier in February 1826, followed two days later by a much larger ship, the 267-ton Larkin. The latter launch did not proceed without complications. Two of the shipyard employees were badly injured: Philip Touzel had a complicated hip fracture and John Rondel was 'severely hurt in the hand'. In the following week's edition it was reported that Touzel's lower body had also been injured and 'a violent inflammation having spread rapidly all over the body of this unfortunate man, it baffled all the efforts of medical assistance to relieve it, and very soon terminated in his dissolution'.

Sailors drowned

Sailors on board vessels moored outside the harbourmouth would often take considerable risks to go ashore. So it was for Begley and Knight, two of the crew of the brig McIntosh, hitched a lift on a boat delivering supplies to the ship in the large roads. They reached shore safely, but on returning in the early hours of the following morning the boat capsized and the two crewmen, and a third called Howard, drowned. There was one unnamed survivor.

February

Hinchinbrook packet wrecked

Hardly a month seemed to go by in this era without the wreck of a locally owned ship, or one on passage to the island. One of the worst stories was that of the Hinchinbrook, one of the early UK Government mail packets, which hit a rock near Alderney in thick fog en route to Guernsey and Jersey. News of the disaster reached Jersey when one of the 17 passengers arrived in an oyster fishery boat.

Rumours circulating in Guernsey about the behavious of the captain and his four crew members spread to Jersey. At first Captain Thomas Quirk was praised for his coolness 'which peculiarly characterises a British seaman' in ordering the boats alongside, allowing the passengers and crew to escape the Hinchinbrook just before she sank. The Mail was saved but all the passengers' possessions were lost.

The tone of the further report in the next edition of the Loyalist was somewhat different:

":We are sorry to hear that the loss of the Hinchinbrook Packet was attended with circumstances tending to reflect severely on the conduct of the crew. It seems that after she had struck, the greater part of the crew and some steerage passengers, to the number of ten men and a boy, got out the larger boat and made off from the packet, thus leaving Capt Quick and his passengers exposed to the imminent danger of perishing. Captain Quirk, the steward and two of the crew, with all the passengers, had the good fortune to save themselves in the small boat and reach Alderney.

We could wish that our statement of the disreputable behaviour of the crew were incorrect, though we have received it from such respectable quarters that we entertain little doubts of its accuracy. We have published it, however, that the persons implicated may have the chance of vindicating themselves.

At this point the Loyalist's editor stopped the press, not to withdraw this highly speculative version of events, but to report that the Royal Court of Guernsey had inquired into the rumours and declared that the conduct of crew of the Hinchinbrook was in no way reprehensible on that trying occasion. This view was reinforced by the Lieut-Governor's receipt of a letter from three passengers praising the actions of Capt Quirk.

Although his actions after his ship hit the rock were universally praised, Capt Quirk would eventually take the blame for the shipwreck and was pensioned off at the age of 67.

March

New churchyard

For centuries St Helier buried its dead on three sides of the Town Church, but by 1825 the area was full to overflowing and a new cemetery was sorely needed.

A parish meeting agreed to buy a field on the road to Havre des Pas from the Lempriere sisters, the purchase being financed by the issue of bonds.

This became Green Street Cemetery

False alarm

Jersey ships crossed the globe in the 19th century and news of their safe arrival at their destination - or otherwise - could take weeks to reach their home port. Initially the news of the Ceres was not good. It was reported that Capt Bradley's ship had been taken by pirates in the West Indies and ten of the crew had been killed.

Fortunately the Loyalist was able to report on 20 March that a letter sent on 6 January to the owners of Ceres, Messrs de Ste Croix, revealed that she had arrived in the Bay of Honduras after an uneventful passage of 40 days and that the crew and all at the settlement were in good health.

Report of the parish meeting which decided on the location for a new cemetery

Harbour accident

It will be seen from the excerpts on this page that the Loyalist frequently reported on unfortunate accidents with serious outcomes. The Harbour appears to have been among the most dangerous places to work and frequent and on 27 March it was reported that Mr Pinel, 'a gentleman farmer of Trinity Parish', was badly injured while unloading potatoes from the Three Sisters, He was on the deck when his horse backed his cart over the quayside, crushing him underneath.

Dr Fixott attended and Mr Pinel was taken home, but died there the following morning ' in the most excruciating agonies'.

Death of child

"Mrs Hamon, of St Aubin, having gone outside to fetch water during her husband's absence, who had gone to cut seaweed, left her youngest child in her room by the fire. On her return she found the child dead, and shocking to relate, almost literally burnt to ashes. We have been informed that this is the second child that the unfortunate woman has lost in a similar manner."

April

Stolen watch

Soldier James McNamara was charged with stealing James Burrel's watch. They were drinking in a public house when Private McNamara offered to set Burrel's watch by the town clock. He did not return and was apprehended some 15 minutes later. His lawyer argued that he could not be charged with stealing the watch which had been given to him.

The Court rejected the argument after hearing legal authorities and after a trial, McNamara was found guilty. He lodged and appeal and was remanded to jail, 'and ordered to be put in irons, as is usual in those cases'. When the appeal was held the following week McNamara was found guilty and sentenced to two months solitary confinement, the last fortnight on bread and water, and banishment for three years.

Imprisonment for debt

A letter from the Privy Council, enclosing a copy of a petition from Mr Peard and 11 other persons held in prison for debt, praying that the law concerning insolvency recently adopted in Guernsey might be extended to Jersey. The Lieut-Bailiff and Crown Officers were requested to reply to the letter.

Insults?

You had to be careful about what you said about others in public at this time. Elias Alexander was prosecuted for having repeatedly insulted Philip Jane in the streest. The Constable of St Helier said that he only brought the matter to Court in consequence of the King's Advocate's opinion. Alexander's advocate gave a satisfactory explanation and the Court rejected the report.

Sadly no indication was given by the Loyalist about what had been said, and why.

Letter

The Loyalist was dominated by pseudonymous letters to the editor criticising the rival British Press. 'Hibernicus' was a regular contributor. The content of his letters was boring in the extreme, but his introduction to one on 5 April 1826 deserves repeating:

"If your nerves will allow you to accept a communication from so tremendous a personage as I am generally considered, I would thank you for the insertion of this short epistle."

Publican's death

On Monday night last, T Cassidy, a publican, residing at the upper end of Rue du Val (Val Plaisant), who had for some time previously laboured under a nervous fever, left his house in a state of absolute nudity, came into town uttering frightful cries, and fell near St Paul's Chapel, from whence he was conveyed home.

On Tuesday evening this unfortunate man, the father of six children, under the influence of a second attack, got up, left his bedroom, fell from the top of the staircase, received some internal injury and died a few hours after.

Baby's murder

Last Tuesday the remains of a new born child were found in the brook which runs by Seale Street. An inquest having been held, some medical gentlemen declared that the child had been born alive, and appeared to have been strangled. Verdict: Wilful murder against some person or persona unknown.

The Police are making active researches to discover the perpetrator of this horrible deed; but it were too much to expect a very early detection, when it is evident how easily such deeds of darkness may be committed and still more easily concealed in a populous town like St Helier.

Lloyd's List

The arrivals list for April indicated just how busy Jersey's merchant fleet had been:

• At Antwerp on the 6th, the Habnab, Capt Bains, from Jersey
• At Hambury on the 2nd, the Laurel, Capt Le Vesconte, from Jersey
• At Copenhagen on the 25th, the Gaspe, Capt Vibert, from Jersey
• At Gibraltar on the 22nd, the Charlotte Capt Le Brun, from Jersey
• At Bathurst, Coast of Africa, the Young Peggy and the Esther from Jersey
• At La GHuayra on 22 February, the Ann, Capt Alexandre, from Jersey

May

Oyster fishery

The detention by French cruisers of 16 English and Jersey oyster cutters anchored at Chausey on the supposition of having been dredging for oysters within the French limits caused the Loyalist to question whether sufficient support was being given to the local oyster boats by the UK Government.

Broad Street

Many of the town streets did not start out as wide as they are today, and Broad Street was no exception, despite its name. On 17 May the States were informed that Mrs Bradley's house at the eastern end was for sale for £500, and pulling down part of it would widen the entrance from Conway Street. It was agreed that it should be purchased.

Ecrehous shooting

The Ecrehous were sufficiently unknown to the Loyalist's readership to have to be described as 'certain rocks, or very small islands, a few leagues off'. It transpired that a dispute between George Romeril and an Irishman called Magrath resulted in a fight which ended with Romeril shooting Magrath 'in the belly, about two inches below the navel'. Romeril was remanded to prison until further information was obtained about the injured man. It was eventually reported that Magrath had recovered and Romeril was acquitted of any offence when it was disclosed that Magrath had started the fight.

June

Militia review

Last Monday afternoon his Excellency Major-General Sir Colin Halkett reviewed all the regiments of Militia, together with the Corps of Artillery of this Island, below the Volunteers' battery in St Aubin's Bay. An immense crowd of spectators were on the sands and on the adjoining heights. This small but gallant band, their country's pride divided in Brigade, after having defiled before his Excellency and performed the several manoeuvres with the greatest precision, for which he expressed his particular approbation to the several Colonels.

Letters

Further proof, as if it were needed, of the Loyalist editor's obsession with his English-language competitor the British Press was contained in the edition of 5 June 1826. Nearly two columns - four times the space devoted to local news - was occupied by three letters criticising various aspects of recent editions of the Press.

One was signed by George Romeril, whose Court case mentioned above was still ongoing, and the other two were signed with pseudonyms. Their content was singularly uninteresting, but the first paragraph of Huma's deserves repeating:

"The numerous errors which constantly meet the eye in perusing the British Press induce me to solicit the insertion of this letter in your paper. It may perhaps have the effect of causing more attention to be paid to the duties of Editor of the British Press newspaper. Strangely, Huma was not complaining about the newspaper's editorial content, but about the wording of two advertisements."

One cannot help wondering whether the weekly Loyalist's demise in another five years, was hastened by such use of its columns, whereas the Press would continue to publish twice a week for a further 80 years.

Banknotes

Only one brief letter, part of an ongoing debate about religion between correspondents to the two newspapers, was given space in the next edition on 12 June because the newspaper devoted a full three columns to a heated debate in the States concerning a proposal to issue banknotes to the amount of £5,000, half payable on 25 June 1827, and the remainder a year later. Supporters of the plan believed that it would help solve the current financial crisis (see above) whereas opponents foresaw injurious effects on the banking business.

Speakers against the plan included the Lieut-Bailiff, Sir Thomas Le Breton, and the King's Advocate, but their interventions were in vain because ten Jurats, seven Rectors and all 12 Constables supported the proposal and only two Jurats and two Rectors were against.

British Press

It was business as usual in the next edition of the Loyalist on 19 June with five short paragraphs of local news, dwarfed by two letters critical of the British Press and a lengthy leading article criticising the rival newspaper's coverage of the States currency debate.

Bailiff dies

On 26 June the States were informed by the Lieut-Governor, Sir Colin Halkett, of the death of Lord Carteret, the absentee Bailiff for the past 50 years. The senior Jurat, Philippe de Carteret, was chosen as Juge-delegue, to hold office until the appointment of Lord Carteret's successor.

Cataracts operation

Mrs Montgomery, a poor woman who had become totally blind in consequence of both her eyes being affected with cataract, has lately been relieved from a situation so distressing by Dr Brohier, who performed an operation on her eyes and restored to her the blessing sight. She can now take care of her family and attend to all her household concerns. We believe this to be the first time that such an operation has been successfully performed in this island.

July

Defamation

The Royal Court heard an action by Miss (or Mrs) Carrel against Mr Herrell, who had circulated a report that she had given birth. She claimed damages of 2,000 francs. Witnesses, including Doctors Fixott and Nicolle, testified that Mr Herrell's claim was false. The plaintiff was said to have been 'labouring under a nervous complaint'.

The Court found in her favour and ordered Mr Herrell to pay 900 francs damages and costs.

Artillery store

A St Helier parish assembly, described at the time as a 'vestry meeting' declined a request from the Lieut-Governor to build a new store for keeping the harness of the militia artillery free of dust and decided to repair the existing store so that no dust would fall on the harness.

Warehouse fire

Last Wednesday morning, about two o'clock, a warehouse belonging to George Asplet, of Grouville, was discovered to be on fire. It contained a great quantity of wines and spirits, and we are sorry that notwithstanding all the exertions of the neighbours, the premises were totally consumed, and little or nothing saved.

Buiilder's fall

Last Wednesday as John Larkin was at work at a house belonging to Charles Romeril, the board on which he was standing gave way, he was precipitated from the third story, and was taken up from the pavement apparently dead. He has, however, received no other injury than a fracture of the collarbone and some severe bruises. The unfortunate man is under Dr Fixott's care, and is doing as well as can be expected.

Child's fall

Yesterday about eight in the evening Mr Gauge's son, about eight years of age, running on the edge of the pier, opposite La Folie, and seeing some of his little comrades below, his attention was drawn to them, when he fell a height of 16 to 18 feet and fractured the bones of both his legs. Dr Fixott attends him. It is remarkable that this unlucky boy fell near the same spot three months ago, and received no injury.

Found at sea

Joshua and Francis Noel, Joshua Le Masurier and Philip Le Riche, appeared in the Royal Court charged with having 'secreted and applied to their own use certain goods which they had found at sea'. They pleaded guilty and the King's Procurator moved that they be sent to prison for 15 days and pay a fine of 75 francs. However, the Court took into consideration the youth of the accused and their ignorance of the law and ordered fines of 30 francs each.

Notes issue

The issue of States banknotes debated in June (see above) was brought to a standstill six weeks later when the States were informed that their Act had been suspended by the Lieut-Governor, despite his not having attended the debate, nor approached the President of the States on the subject. A fresh debate resulted in a large majority in favour of a petition to the King seeking details of any correspondence between the Lieut-Governor and the Government on the subject.

The petition was brought before the States at their next sitting and a long debate ensued on the wisdom of sending it to the King. Most unusually the report started on the front page of the Loyalist and continued across the whole of the second page and into the third. The result of the vote was 22 for and five against sending the petition.

Pearson?

Jurat Lempriere, seigneur of Rosel, asked the States to name a committee to 'correct an error in the orthography of the surname of the gallant Pearson on his monument in St Helier's Church'. It is not clear how the name had been spelt and whether the form Pearson was a further misprint, but it took many years after the Battle of Jersey for the island he had rescued to realise that their hero was Major Peirson, not 'Pierson' as his name appeared on road names and signs, and the public house in the Royal Square named in his honour. We are not aware of it ever being spelt 'Pearson' except in this newspaper report.

Market

The States ordered the opening of the new market at St Aubin and the committee responsible was asked to draw up a set of regulations for the 'keeping of good order' there. The market opened on 28 July.

Shipwrecks

On 20 July the brig Thetis, commanded by Capt Lempriere and owned by Philip Perchard, while approaching Jersey having come from Newcastle, struck the Grand'Grune rocks south-west of Noirmont Point. The crew and sails and rigging were saved.

Accounts have been received of the total loss of the General Brock of Jersey, run down by an unknown brig on 29 May bound for Gaspe. T J Mallet, J Paisaun and P Perchard jumped on board the brig; J Horner remained on board and was drowned; the other 14 crew took to the long boat and saw their ship go down shortly after.

The men were in the boat for ten days, without water and only a small Dutch cheese which lasted five days. Six perished: Philippe Duval, Francois Chevalier, Philippe Syvret, Clement Renouf, Elie Vibert and George Le Brun. On 9 June the survivors were rescued by the Ann of Liverpool, but a further four died soon after: Capt Land, Edouard Luce, C Mahier and Francois de la Mare. The survivors were E Baudains, J Powell, J Dobart and W Hughes, who suffered much from the effects of cold.

Launch

On the 20th a fine vessel of 180 tons, belonging to Messrs De Quetteville, was launched from St Helier's quay at half past six in the evening. An immense crowd of spectators lined the quay, as well as the North and South Piers. The vessel descended majestically into the harbour amidst the acclamations of the surrounding multitude. It was named Swift.

New Bailiff

The appointment of Sir Thomas Le Breton as the new Bailiff was announced, bringing to an end a period of nearly 200 years during which the office had passed from one member of the de Carteret/Carteret family to another (see footnote). The majority of these were born and lived outside the island and had no direct involvement in its affairs, save for appointing Lieut-Bailiffs to represent them.

Sir Thomas had held that office from 1816 to 1826, under Lord Carteret.

Steam packets

The General Post Office announced that the mails would in future be carried by steam packets.

August

Bailiff

A lengthy leading article in the issue of 7 August made clear that the Loyalist was not happy with the appointment of Sir Thomas Le Breton as Bailiff and would have preferred the appointment of another Carteret.

"What services has Sir Thomas rendered to the island? We know of none whatever."

Having got that off his chest, the newspaper's editor seems to have decided that there was no local news worth of reporting in that edition.

Banknote issue

On 19 August, having been told that there had been no response to the petition to the King agreed in July, a further petition was agreed, with three passages suppressed.

September

Swearing-in

The new Bailiff was sworn in on 7 September 1826. The ceremony was apparently boycotted by several Jurats, who were not supporters of Sir Thomas Le Breton's party. Although he made an attempt at reconciliation in his speech, this did little to satisfy his political opponents, of whom the editor of the Loyalist was undoubtedly one. The swearing-in was followed by a grand dinner 'which was numerously attended, principally by his own party, and dependents, and by not a few, who came there out of complaisance, and to keep up appearances'.

Horse racing

The races on St Aubin's Sands were attended by a great number of spectators of all descriptions. A pony belonging to Doctor Lowe, after having run three heats, was declared to be the winner.

An accident happened, which might have been attended with very serious consequences. As Hugh Godfray, the under Sheriff, was riding a highly spirited horse among the spectators, the animal took fright and threw him at some yards distance. We are sorry to hear that that gentleman was severely bruised and that he is, for the present, confined to his house from the effects of his fall.

October

Vraic rock

A dispute over the ownership of a rock off the Noirmont coast came before the Royal Court. The seigneur, Mr Pipon, claimed it as his private property, deriving its value from the seaweed for manure growing on it. Jurat George Philip Benest, representing fellow inhabitants of the fief, asserted their right of cutting seaweed there, and resisted the claim of the lord of the manor as an encroachment. The Court decided in favour of Mr Pipon.

1826 census

Census

The results of a census taken by order of the Lieut-Governor show that the population of the island has grown by 4,833 - 17 per cent - from 28,600 to 33,430 in the five years since the 1821 census. The bulk of this increase is in the town and parish of St Helier, where the population has increased by 40 per cent. This is attributed to the influx of British immigrants who have settled in the island's increasingly prosperous capital.

Fire

The shop of De Gruchy, Perchard and Moore, linen drapers in Halkett Street, was burnt down at about 9 o'clock in the evening of 6 October While the men were at supper at the back of the premises the fire was started by a candle they had left on a counter. The inside of the shop and most of the goods were totally destroyed, but the upper apartments were not badly damaged.

Shipwreck survivor

Thomas Mallet, who was on board the General Brock when it was run down by the Francis and sank on passage to Newfoundland (see above), saved himself and two fellow crewmen by jumping on board the Francis. Nothing was heard from his for five months and there were fears for his safety, until a letter written at Pernambuco, Brazil, in August was received earlier this month by friends in the island. His family's delight was further increased when Thomas arrived back home at the end of this month. He brought news of the survival of his colleague, P Perchard, whose family had given up all hope for his survival and were actually in mourning for him.

November

Church assault

Jurat Philippe d'Auvergne brought a remonstrance to the Royal Court accusing Philip Duheaume of assaulting him in St Ouen's Parish Church during an argument over ownership of a pew. The Court allowed a criminal prosecution to proceed.

Censure

After a long and acrimonious debate the States voted by 16 to 15 in favour of a motion by Jurat Philippe Marett to censure the Constable of St Helier, Philippe Nicolle, for his conduct at the previous meeting. He was alleged to have insulted the Bailiff, Sir Thomas Le Breton, although nowhere in the Loyalist's lengthy report were any details given of the alleged insult.

Extraordinary pear

Mr John Moisson of St Helier has in his possession a pear of very rare quality, which he calls La Belle de Jersey, the produce of his own garden. It measures eight inches in length and 16 in circumference, and weighs 50 ounces (44¼ oz Jersey weight). It is the largest pear we have ever seen or heard of.

Attempted arrest

On 24 November, when the Lord Beresford steamer was setting out from St Helier for Southampton, the Deputy Viscount, Philippe Le Gallais, proceeded in a boat with Mr Thomas Vinecombe to arrest a person on board the steamer who was indebted to the latter. They met with an accident which nearly proved fatal. The two men fell into the water and the steamer proceeded on her way. One of the boats between the two piers immediately saved Mr Vinecombe, but from the quay Mr Le Gallais became invisible, and his hat only was perceived floating on the surface of the water. Fortunately he caught hold of a ladder on the edge of the pier and was dragged about two cables before he was saved.

December

Building collapse

On 6 December a dreadful accident happened at Mont Martin on the St John's road, at one of the new houses now building there by Buesnel and Le Sueur. Three men had just gone up to the top of the house, which was not yet covered in, when it gave way, and drew after it, in its fall, two of those men from more than 45 feet in height. Philip Coutanche had one of his legs broken and an arm so dreadfully fractured that immediate amputation was found necessary.

The operation was performed by Dr Duheaume, in the presence of Drs Fixott and Quesnel, who had instantly repaired to the assistance of those individuals. The second, an Irishman, was carried to the hospital and has escaped with some severe bruises. The third, a brother of Philip Coutanche, remained for some time in a very perilous situation, holding by a beam, yet finally escaped unhurt.