siastical structure in the Channel Islands; the tower alone remains of the old parish church. There are two Dissenting chapels and a Roman Catholic chapel, rendered necessary by the influx of Irish labourers at the harbour works. A new court-house, government-house, and the resi dence of Judge Clucas, are, with these, all that attract the eye in the town, but there are also a gaol, and foundation schools for boys and girls.

The importance of Alderney as a naval station has made itself felt a long time back, more particularly from 1781, when an expedition was despatched from Cherbourg to seize the island by a coup de main. Under cover of night the ships came to an anchor within musket-shot of a guard-house, where they were perceived by moonlight about two o'clock A.M. The guard was composed of only four men, who, at once detecting the object of the invaders, opened a fire upon them, which cut down several on board the ships. A large English privateer was also luckily lying at anchor in the Alderney roads, and her captain, hearing the guns from the battery, beat to arms. The French, imagining the sound to arise from a large body of militia, gave up the attempt to land, and made sail, as soon as it was day, for Cherbourg. Thus, by the energy of four men, was this important island preserved from falling into the hands of the French.

This importance has, however, made itself still more strongly felt since the French have persisted in bringing to perfection the extensive and threatening works at Cherbourg. The Duke of Wellington, always so solicitous in regard to the defences of the country, strongly urged the creation of works at Alderney. Lieut.-General Sir William Napier, who was some time governor of the Channel Islands, claims, however, having been the first to make the suggestion, and he argues that the question of Alderney being fortified, with a secure and capacious harbour, in possession of England, determines whether England or France shall command the "British" Channel. A sum of 600,000l. was accordingly voted for the commencement of the works, comprising two breakwaters and their forts. The building of the latter, by direction of the War-office, is distinct from the harbour works, and the original plan has been so far extended, that although upwards of 1,000,000l. has been already expended, the works seem now to be only begun. It is to be hoped that nothing will interfere with their being carried out with greater spirit in future. Money invested in fortified harbours is well spent; ships rot, but stone fortifications remain almost for ever. Telegraphic communication with this advanced post of Great Britain, it is to be observed, has also been recently established.

It is curious that while the fortifications are already giving a warlike aspect to Alderney, the island itself has long been associated with only pastoral images. The Alderney cow has a world-wide bucolic repute, which is still retained. A considerable portion of the island is indeed either good pasture-land or under cultivation, the district known as the Blaye being the most distinguished in these respects. Even Longy Common, where the island races were once held, has been divided into allotments for cultivation.

Alderney, it only remains to be observed, small as it is, has its natural and artificial curiosities as well as the other islands. The most worthy

of notice are the Sister Rocks, two singular porphyritic masses flanked by a huge square pile; two rocky towers, also, known the one as the Monk's Chair, the other as the Lover's Chair, more anciently La Chaise de l'Emauve. On an elevated spot, overlooking the Bay de la Clanque, is the only cromlech on the island; and not far from Longy Common may be seen a very curious collection of oblong granite blocks, all of them rounded at the ends. This peculiarity in the disintegration of granite is not unknown to mineralogical geologists. Southwards of Essex Castle is La Roche Pendante, which resembles a square tower of masonry, but has the peculiarity of projecting over the sea at a remarkable inclination. Mariners use it as a landmark, under the familiar epithet of "Madame Robillard's Nose;" perhaps, Mr. Dally suggests, in emulation of the "cyst," or gravestone, discovered on the ground above Longy Common, to which it is supposed that old Holinshed refers in his "Description of Alderney," when he says: "The isle of Alderney is a very pretty plot, wherein a priest not long since did find a coffin of stone, in which lay the body of a huge giant, 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 her stately ships, a glorious queen-a monarch on whose realm the sun could never set- -a young and happy woman, has been recorded in various pleasant and significant ways. We have the Victoria Tower, the Victoria Exhibition at Elizabeth's College, and the foundation of the New Harbour, in commemoration of her Majesty's visit, August 24, 1853, in Guernsey. We have Victoria College, and Victoria and Albert Pier in Jersey. Queen Victoria, we have before observed, is also the first sovereign that ever landed in Alderney, her foot honouring the soil, and her smile beaming on its inhabitants, making it more than ever one of 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 or Guernseyites, Aldernois or Sarkois, have been tested and proved beyond all gainsaying. The guerdon for such unshakeh courage and fidelity, the most graceful tribute to the queen for her last visit in August of the present year, and the most striking legend with which to conclude our sketch, would be that the unsatisfactory appellation of the Channel Islands-so objectionable, also, as not promoting the bond of union between 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, prosperity, and inviolability.

*As it is, the islanders are placed in the same predicament as the people of 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."

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

The evening sun shone full on its entrance gate, on a lady, young and beautiful, who was leaning over it. She may have been about four-andtwenty, and she was dressed in white, with a blue waist ribbon, and some blue bows in her hair. There was a remarkable refinement and delicacy in her face, her manners, and in her appearance altogether, whilst her dark eyes were large, soft, and somewhat sad in their expression. Did you ever observe that peculiar, sad look, reader-not a passing sadness, or one caused by present care, but a fixed mournful expression, implanted in the eyes by nature? It is not a common expression, or one often seen, but rely upon it, where you do see it, it is but an index that the spirit is, or will be, sad within.

Sauntering up the road towards the gate, encumbered with a basket, a rod, and other apparatus for fishing, strode a gentleman, carelessly switching at the hedge as he passed. No sad expression, was there, about him, rather the contrary. He was of middle height, with pleasant features and laughing blue eyes; was gay in manner and free of speech. Her eyes sparkled at the sight of him, and she opened the gate long before he had gained it.

"What sport, Frederick? What have you brought?"

"Brought you myself," was the gentleman's reply, as he passed in at the gate she held wide. "Thank you. How much is the toll?"

As he bent to take it, to take the "toll," she glanced shyly in his face, and blushed; blushed brightly, although she was his wife of some three years' standing. But, in a retiring, impassioned, truthful nature, such as hers, it takes a great deal ere love can die out, a convulsion sometimes: with her, it had not yet begun to die.

He opened his basket when they got in, and displayed its contents, some fine trout. Two were ordered to be dressed, and served with the tea. On the days of these fishing expeditions, it was their custom to dine early, either before he went, or she alone, and he by the side of the river, and on his return they would have tea, and some of the fish he had caught. Occasionally she accompanied him; not very often: the sport wearied her; and but for him by whose side she sat, never would have been endurable. 66 Sport, indeed!" she had used laughingly to say. "What have you been at, all the afternoon, Clara ?" "Oh-reading and working; and wishing it was time for you to come

home."

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

"Suppose I

should be brought home to you some day, fished up out of the stream, 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 overbalanced 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 if he enjoyed the sport of teasing her, which perhaps he did, "and the mill 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 coward at best. Why, your heart is beating; a vast deal faster than mine did, I can tell you! And where are your roses gone? Must I kiss them back

again ?"

"You must not go again, Frederick."

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

What indeed? Mr. Lake was an idle man, one of those whose unhappy lot it is (the most unhappy lot on earth) to be obliged to "kill" time; or else to find it hang unbearably heavy on their hands. Of good descent, and possessing a small patrimony, he had retired from the army when he married Clara Chester. His only sister, Penelope, had married a Mr. Chester, a clergyman, and it was at their house he met Clara, who was a cousin. She was an heiress in a small way, having about three hundred a year: Katterley Lodge, where they now lived, was also hers. Lieutenant Lake fell in love with her, and she with him; he after his temperament, carelessly and lightly, a species of love which he had felt for others, and would feel for more: she with all the lasting depth of an impassioned and poetic nature. Lieutenant Lake left the army, and they settled down in her own house: he to idleness, and it carries danger sometimes; she to happiness, which she believed in as real, as a bliss that 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, not 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, she scarcely knew herself. She was older than her brother, and rather 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 happened to mention his sister's name.

66

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Frederick," Mrs. Lake exclaimed, “Penelope 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?"

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

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."

she ?"

Ellis. She went out to India quite a child, seventeen or e Jupps say, was very pretty, and was snapped up by some K.C.B., and dreadfully old. He is dead, and she is home

lac of rupees, I suppose."

lack of rupees," retorted Mrs. Chester, rubbing her sharp he old colonel's property, every shilling of it, was settled on Ee's children. She has a pension, or something of that, and

hould she be coming here ?"

1 you. She has not been well, it appears, and the doctors mended country air: that is what she says in her letter to me. pps tell me that this county is her native place, so that may has chosen it. She was a Miss-Miss-I forget the name, nily used to live a few miles from this, and they knew her as They have lost sight of her, though, for some years, they

et she referred you to them! Take care, Penelope." can't teach me," retorted Mrs. Chester, with a keen glance. not precisely refer me to them, she referred me to a person in ut she mentioned that the Jupps of Katterley knew her, and ght inquire of them if I pleased. Mind!" added she, more I did not tell the Jupps, or any one else, that she was coming a boarder, I spoke as if she were coming as a visitor.

'She

that you you know her,' I observed, carelessly, and they immegan to tell all they did know; I knew they would; one trying the rest never were such talkers as the Jupp girls."

pt yourself," cried Mr. Lake.

lf! why I'm remarkably silent. Nobody can say that I

ick Lake smiled, and glanced imperceptibly at his wife. you like to take home some trout, Penelope?"

I should. Have you any to give?"