ure in the Channel Islands; the tower alone remains of church. There are two Dissenting chapels and a Roman -l, rendered necessary by the influx of Irish labourers at the S. A new court-house, government-house, and the resi çe Clucas, are, with these, all that attract the eye in the ere are also a gaol, and foundation schools for boys and

ance of Alderney as a naval station has made itself felt a k, more particularly from 1781, when an expedition was om Cherbourg to seize the island by a coup de main. of night the ships came to an anchor within musket-shot ouse, where they were perceived by moonlight about two The guard was composed of only four men, who, at once object of the invaders, opened a fire upon them, which cut on board the ships. A large English privateer was also at anchor in the Alderney roads, and her captain, hearing m the battery, beat to arms. The French, imagining the e from a large body of militia, gave up the attempt to land, 1, as soon as it was day, for Cherbourg. Thus, by the energy was this important island preserved from falling into the French.

rtance has, however, made itself still more strongly felt since nave persisted in bringing to perfection the extensive and works at Cherbourg. The Duke of Wellington, always so regard to the defences of the country, strongly urged the works at Alderney. Lieut.-General Sir William Napier, ne time governor of the Channel Islands, claims, however, the first to make the suggestion, and he argues that the Alderney being fortified, with a secure and capacious harsession of England, determines whether England or France ind the "British" Channel. A sum of 600,000l. was acoted for the commencement of the works, comprising two and their forts. The building of the latter, by direction -office, is distinct from the harbour works, and the original en so far extended, that although upwards of 1,000,000l. has y expended, the works seem now to be only begun. It is to hat nothing will interfere with their being carried out with it in future. Money invested in fortified harbours is well os rot, but stone fortifications remain almost for ever. Telenmunication with this advanced post of Great Britain, it is to d, has also been recently established.

ious that while the fortifications are already giving a warlike lderney, the island itself has long been associated with only pases. The Alderney cow has a world-wide bucolic repute, which ined. A considerable portion of the island is indeed either re-land or under cultivation, the district known as the Blaye most distinguished in these respects. Even Longy Common, island races were once held, has been divided into allotments tion.

1

of notice are the Sister Rocks, two singular porphyritic masses flank by a huge square pile; two rocky towers, also, known the one as t Monk's Chair, the other as the Lover's Chair, more ancient La Chaise de l'Emauve. On an elevated spot, overlooking the B de la Clanque, is the only cromlech on the island; and not far fro Longy Common may be seen a very curious collection of oblong grani blocks, all of them rounded at the ends. This peculiarity in the d integration of granite is not unknown to mineralogical geologis Southwards of Essex Castle is La Roche Pendante, which resembles square tower of masonry, but has the peculiarity of projecting over t sea at a remarkable inclination. Mariners use it as a landmark, und the familiar epithet of " Madame Robillard's Nose;" perhaps, Mr. Dal suggests, in emulation of the " cyst," or gravestone, discovered on th ground above Longy Common, to which it is supposed that old Holi: shed refers in his "Description of Alderney," when he says: "The is

of Alderney is a very pretty plot, wherein a priest not long sin did find a coffin of stone, in which lay the body of a huge gian whose fore-teeth were as big as a man's fist, as Leland doth report The nose and the teeth might fit the same apocryphal person. We now arrive at the

LAST LEGEND OF THE ISLES.

How, through the sea there came now three times, surrounded by h stately ships, a glorious queen-a monarch on whose realm the sun cou never set- -a young and happy woman, has been recorded in variou pleasant and significant ways. We have the Victoria Tower, the Vi toria Exhibition at Elizabeth's College, and the foundation of the Ne Harbour, in commemoration of her Majesty's visit, August 24, 1853, i Guernsey. We have Victoria College, and Victoria and Albert Pie in Jersey. Queen Victoria, we have before observed, is also the firs sovereign that ever landed in Alderney, her foot honouring the soil, an her smile beaming on its inhabitants, making it more than ever one the strongest rock-bulwarks of her dominions;

This earth shall have a feeling, and these stones

Prove armed soldiers.

The loyalty and the gallantry of the islanders, be they Jerseyites o Guernseyites, Aldernois or Sarkois, have been tested and proved beyon all gainsaying. The guerdon for such unshaken courage and fidelity the most graceful tribute to the queen for her last visit in August of th present year, and the most striking legend with which to conclude ou sketch, would be that the unsatisfactory appellation of the Channe Islands-s —so objectionable, also, as not promoting the bond of union be tween the different state legislatures*-should be for the future merged into that of VICTORIA ÍSLANDS.

Such a designation would be a certain pledge of future happiness, pro sperity, and inviolability.

*As it is, the islanders are placed in the same predicament as the people o the United States; they have no common name. There are New Englanders and Yankees, but no "United Statesmen;" so there are Jerseyites and Guernseyites, but no "Channel Islanders."

CLARA LAKE'S DREAM.

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BY THE AUTHOR OF ASHLEY."

L

st of the pretty and somewhat exclusive village of Katterley, a small, charming residence, half cottage, half villa, called odge. Its rooms are warm in winter, cool in summer; it midst of a lovely garden, in view of magnificent scenery; and roses and honeysuckles entwine themselves on its walls.

ng sun shone full on its entrance gate, on a lady, young and o was leaning over it. She may have been about four-andshe was dressed in white, with a blue waist ribbon, and some her hair. There was a remarkable refinement and delicacy her manners, and in her appearance altogether, whilst her ere large, soft, and somewhat sad in their expression. Did erve that peculiar, sad look, reader-not a passing sadness, d by present care, but a fixed mournful expression, implanted y nature? It is not a common expression, or one often seen, n it, where you do see it, it is but an index that the spirit is, ad within.

g up the road towards the gate, encumbered with a basket, a er apparatus for fishing, strode a gentleman, carelessly switchedge as he passed. No sad expression, was there, about him, contrary. He was of middle height, with pleasant features og blue eyes; was gay in manner and free of speech. Her d at the sight of him, and she opened the gate long before he

it.

sport, Frederick? What have you brought?"

at you myself," was the gentleman's reply, as he passed in at e held wide. “Thank you. How much is the toll?" ent to take it, to take the "toll," she glanced shyly in his face, d; blushed brightly, although she was his wife of some three ling. But, in a retiring, impassioned, truthful nature, such as es a great deal ere love can die out, a convulsion sometimes: t had not yet begun to die.

ned his basket when they got in, and displayed its contents, trout. Two were ordered to be dressed, and served with the the days of these fishing expeditions, it was their custom to dine er before he went, or she alone, and he by the side of the river, return they would have tea, and some of the fish he had caught. lly she accompanied him; not very often: the sport wearied but for him by whose side she sat, never would have been Sport, indeed!" she had used laughingly to say.

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have you been at, all the afternoon, Clara ?"

-reading and working; and wishing it was time for you to come

girl!" laughed he, as he played with her curls.

"Suppose I

should be brought home to you some day, fished up out of the str drowned and dead?”

"Don't joke, please," was her reply, in a low voice.

"It had like to be no joke this afternoon: I all but overbala myself. There was a friendly tree, or I was done for."

"Oh, Frederick!" she uttered, clinging closer to him.

“And there's a nasty bit of current there," he continued, as i enjoyed the sport of teasing her, which perhaps he did, "and the wheel lower down. I was an idiot, never to learn to swim.”

"Did you slip?" she whispered.

"No: I was leaning too forward. Oh, Clary! you are a little cow at best. Why, your heart is beating; a vast deal faster than mine di can tell you! And where are your roses gone? Must I kiss them b again ?"

"You must not go again, Frederick.”

He laughed immoderately. "Not go again! what am I to do, th till shooting comes in ?"

What indeed? Mr. Lake was an idle man, one of those wh unhappy lot it is (the most unhappy lot on earth) to be obliged to "k time; or else to find it hang unbearably heavy on their hands. Of g descent, and possessing a small patrimony, he had retired from the ar when he married Clara Chester. His only sister, Penelope, had marr a Mr. Chester, a clergyman, and it was at their house he met Clara, w was a cousin. She was an heiress in a small way, having about th hundred a year: Katterley Lodge, where they now lived, was also he Lieutenant Lake fell in love with her, and she with him; he after 1 temperament, carelessly and lightly, a species of love which he had f for others, and would feel for more: she with all the lasting depth of impassioned and poetic nature. Lieutenant Lake left the army, and th settled down in her own house: he to idleness, and it carries dang sometimes; she to happiness, which she believed in as real, as a bliss th would endure for ever. One great grief came to her; she lost her baby but she was getting over that now.

Meanwhile the husband of Penelope Chester had died, and she, no left very well off, had taken a residence about seven miles from Katterley at a place called Guild: though how she meant to pay expenses, sh scarcely knew herself. She was older than her brother, and rathe inclined to be dictatorial to him and his young wife. As Mr. and Mrs Lake sat down to tea this evening, the fish looking delicious, he hap pened to mention his sister's name.

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Oh, I forgot to tell you, Frederick," Mrs. Lake exclaimed, "Penelop has been here this afternoon."

"What's she come over for ?"

"She is at the Jupps': she said she should remain to tea there. I wanted her to come back and take it with us."

"Does she return home to-night?"

in."

By the nine o'clock train. And I do believe here she is, coming

Mrs. Lake bent forward to distinguish more of the gravel path. It was Mrs. Chester. She was a little restless-looking woman with shrewd

every one

arp nose, and she wore a widow's cap. She told -y-eight: Mr. Lake knew her to be four-and-thirty. ed, how are you? What delicious fish! I have come back for the Jupps' have a late dinner party. They wanted me : fancy in this dusty travelling costume."

are you getting on?" asked her brother.

all get on. I have got a lady coming to live with me, and me out wonderfully."

ter nodded. "You know I must do something, Fred, and I when I took so large a house-though its low rent at first —that if I could get a lady or two to live with me it would thing. So I persuaded some friends in London to look out a young widow lady is coming down next week to stop six he likes it. She gave the Jupps as her references, and that's e over about this afternoon."