The Osceola times., 1880-11-27
A Old Custom In Jersey,
London Globe.


There exists in Jersey, but there alone
Of all our Channel islands, time hon.
ored and interesting ceremonial. con.
cerning which we venture to saw the
generality of readers are uninformed
outsiders being seldom or never invited
TO witness it. The very earliest records
of ths little island tell of IT. practice: Il
was in iull force and virtually at the be.
ginning of the twelfth century; and ex.
cept that nowadays it has been shorn of
much of the pomp and circumstances
which once made it sort of pageant
and added finish and gloss to it im-
portance. 1t remains as useful and effica.
cious in Queen Victoria's reign as ii was
in that OF King John. The procedure TO
which we allude, and which time has
been unable TO change, is called 10 Off
cial language"une visite royale." Whence
1t derives its honoritic title Is very OBJ.
scure; possibly enough from some scion
OF the Duchy OF Normandy, when Jersey
belonged to that Province, having con-
Quoted the proceedings in person, as well
tor uarade as for arbitration and pecun-
iarv ,moluments. But for many a long
century royalty has been typltied only
by the presence and authority Of the
chief insular magistrate, by the cooper
alton of his brother Jurats or Judges by
his law advisers, and nv some other at
taches Of the Royal Court. Ga a fixed
day once in every SIX years, and eener-
ally before wheat harvesr, these officials
meet the connectablc and other munic.
ipals of selected parish near its church,
and, after certain examinations OF tinan-
ces rearing upon the object of the visit,
and the swearing in o. dozen good mea
and true OF the locality-as a sine gus
non there must be no tie of blood or
marriage between them-and who are
to act in the capacity Of voyeurs Il. G,
discoverers of roadway aud roadside
irregularities), proceed on perambula-
ton to those roads where it is presumed
most faults of omission or commission
may be hit upon.
Led by the voyeurs and proceeded 6y
le vicumte, the sheriff, who. in heraldic
terms. has bis Supporters" the gentle.
meu with the AK and measuring tape,
the royal visitors pass into, say, mar
row shady lane. On either hand are
tall hedges scarcely permitting a view OF
yellow corn fields and fruit laden or
chards; overhead are the thick leafy
bougbs Of trees 20 arChcd and interlaced
that hardly ray OF July sun struggles
| through. To most persons unacqualnted
with the habit of jersey roads 1t seems
that no flaw or imperfection can be de-
tected; but messieurs les voyeurs are
sharper. Moving at funeral pace ahead,
peering here and there, they presently
cali halt; that branch hangs too low; It
is centainly under the regulation OF DIX
pieds de hauteur." A report is made; lie
vlcomte's staff can touch it, and 30 verl-
fies the defective pitch. The bailli and
his co-adjutors consult; the hough Is
doomed to the ak, but pending the Top.
ping the renter or tenant, or owner Oh
| the land, as the case may be, on whlcn
the tree is growing, is fined eighteen
pence Tor his neglect or oversight; the
law doth give il and the Court awards
| It," A little further on some over lux
uriant biambles, enticed by summer heat
and moisture, have shot out badly from
the hedge and project into the pathway.
Again standstill; again a report; again
brief conference; again an order ior the
| pruning knife, and again One'and-slx'
pence fine for the careless master oil the
offending blackberry bush. A Tree had
been allowed to grow from the embank..
ment, and its trunk lessons the legal
width OF the lane. lhe same formulary
is gone through; the AK marks il; It Is
ordered to be felled within given time,
or good many more pence than tne
aforesaid eighteen viii be the amends
mulcted from its proprietor. AT par
ticular spot the road seems TO tue Visi'
ant detectives to be curlailed of lis iair
| ~ In ri
ure; by the homes of st. Heller! yea, u Is
from two to three inches narrower ihan
it ought to be. So the worthy on whose
land the strait exists is booked by inc
Greflier as a gentle incentive to the
future use of the spade. and as a remind
er Of "une visite royale" to his demense'