CHAPTER I
CONSTITUTION OF GUERNSEY.
Guernsey is the second in size of the four Channel Isles, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, which one used to repeat with such gusto in one's schoolboy days. The Channel Isles are the last remnant of our French possessions. Or rather, as the Islanders might claim—and as it is reported some do—England belongs by right of conquest to the Channel Isles. However that may be, for all practical purposes, the government of Guernsey is autonomous—and very jealously does the Guernseyman guard this autonomy.
It has its own Parliament, "The States" (Les États), consisting to-day of 49 Members. At the time of which we write there were 32 Members, as follows:—
The Bailiff, who, as at the present time, acted as President.
The Procureur du Roi, corresponding to our Attorney-General.
12 Jurats or Magistrates, appointed for life by the "States of Election."
8 Rectors.
10 Connétables or Parishioners.