The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-07-04 00:00:00

LOYALTY IN GUERNSEY,

An interesting correspondence has just passed
between the Bailiff of Guernsey and the Lieutenant-
Governor of the island in reference to certain expres-
sions uttered at the funeral of Victor Hugo by a
member of the deputation that went from Guernsey,
who made an oration at the Pantheon. Among other
things, the orator said that the islanders were
"French in heart, by their traditions, and by their
language," and that the Queen had only a nominal
suzerainty over that portion of her hereditary domi-
nions. These statements have called forth an indig-
nant protest on the part of the Royal Court of
Guernsey, at whose request the bailiff addressed a
communication to the Queen's representative, the
Lieut.-Governor, utterly repudiating the sentiments
expressed in the speech, and explaining the circum-
stances under which the deputation falsely passed them-
selves off as representing the people of Guernsey. The
meeting that appointed the deputation was a very
small one, and the orator was a Frenchman or Belgian
who, having been but a short time resident on the
island, could know very little or nothing of its people.
These by keeping aloof from the meeting showed how
little interest they felt in the movement, and, much
as they admired the talents and genius of the poet,
they had not forgotten that his first appearance in
Guernsey was consequent to his expulsion from Jersey
for a gross and public insult to their beloved Queen,
and that not long after his arrival he and others of his
countrymen were guilty of outraging the feelings
of the community by showing marked disrespect
to her Majesty when the National Anthem was
being played at a public concert at which they
were present. "We cannot," writes the Bailiff,
"allow it to be said of this island that it is 'French
in heart, by its traditions, and by its language,'
nor that our beloved Queen has only a 'nominal
suzerainty' over this part of her hereditary
dominions, without making a strong protest against
such unfounded and erroneous statements. We can
venture to assert, without fear of contradiction, that
there is no portion of her Majesty's dominions more
loyally attached to her Royal person than the British
Government than the people of Guernsey. It is true
that we cherish the Norman laws under which the
island has flourished and that we have preserved the
language of our forefathers; but we have not for-
gotten that when, snore than 800 years ago, William
the Conqueror took possession of the Crown of
England the Duchy of Normandy could not be con-
sidered as more than nominally French. From that
period to the present day the people of the island—
one of the most ancient possessions of the Crown,
although not comprised within the United Kingdom
—have continued true and faithful in their allegiance
to the Kings and Queens of England, the descendants
of their ancient dukes, and are proud of having
always been loyal subjects of a long line of English
monarchs." His Excellency Major-General Sarel, in
acknowledging the receipt of the Bailiff's letter, says:
"The expressions made use of caused me considerable
surprise and, I must confess, indignation. As to the
first expression, I am well aware that no such feeling
exists among the people of Guernsey, and that their
well-known loyalty would permit no such sentiment
as that expressed in the second. lam much obliged
to you for the communication you have addressed to
me at the request of the Royal Court, as wen Is grati-
fied at the utter repudiation of the senti!i.ents ex-
pressed in the speech said to have been delivered at
the Pantheon." The correspondence has been pub-
lished en the suggestion of the Lieutenant-Jovernor.