Library Book Collection

A Link with the Past: Ah! Mon beau laurier!

Guernsey Post Europa stamps showing a hurdy-gurdy or chifournie

Guernsey's favourite dance, the rather flirtatious 'Ah! mon beau laurier!.' The illustration is of a modern hurdy-gurdy, or 'chifournie,' used in the old days to accompany the dancing: with thanks to Guernsey Post Office, who also produced a superb video of the chifournie being played in Le Hurel barn in Guernsey. The chifournie has been replaced in Guernsey by the fiddle or accordion in modern times.

23 December: La Longue Veille

The best mulled wine ever; the history of the Longue Veille; a memoir of a pleasant Longue Veille from 1824; A mon beau laurier, a dance for the Longue Veille.

June 1891: donated to the museum

Motley collections from the Guernsey and Jersey Magazine, June 1891, p. 362. 'The Guille-Alles Museum. The following objects have been added to the collection during the last three months:'

May 1661: Cromwell is erased from memory

An order of the Royal Court, May, 1661.

Fountain Street celebrates the peace of 1763

Old Fountain Street by E W DuPuy, Priaulx Library Collection

Fountain Street is decorated for a celebration in unusual style; by George Métivier, writing in the Elizabeth College Magazine of 1842. The illustration is of a painting depicting a view looking towards Fountain Street and the Town Church in 1799, the notoriously narrow part being at the end.

La Longue Veille: from the Monthly Selection of December 1824

Written by 'The Trifler.'

Review of the High Street, Part II; December 1824

Receipt from Henry Giffard, Guernsey, Priaulx Library Collection

Part II, From the Sarnian Monthly Selection, Printed and Published for the Proprietors by Dumaresq and Mauger, Church-Street, Guernsey, 1825, p. 217.

14 August 1818: A Letter from Gaspe

This letter from a Methodist preacher in Canada is taken from the Magasin Méthodiste of 1818. This French-language publication, intended primarily for Channel Island consumption, was produced at the instigation and probably the expense of the indefatigable Methodist pioneer, Jean de Queteville. The Priaulx Library may be unique in holding a complete run of the magazine, which contains original articles in French and translations of contributions from the English monthly, Methodist Magazine.

Easter 1780: Children shall not profane the Sabbath!

One of many complaints about children; an Order of the Royal Court from the Easter Session of 1780. Chief Pleas, Session after Easter, held 3 April, 1780, William Le Marchant, Esq., Bailiff, presiding, in the presence of etc. Children shall not profane the Sabbath. The Law Officers having brought it to our attention that for some time past Children, instead of attending Church on a Sunday, are spending their time playing together and amusing themselves in the streets and other public places, thus profaning the day, offending their Faith and prejudicing their morals,—THE COURT, having heard…

The Family of Major-General John Gaspard Le Marchant

Elegiac verse from the Mercure, 1812, Priaulx Library Collection

'I am determined to rise to the head of my profession and nothing but death will stop me.' J. Gaspard Le Marchant was born into one of the most influential and possibly the wealthiest family in Guernsey. His was one of the most illustrious careers in the history of the the British Army, in which he single-mindedly founded the Royal Military College and revolutionised the training of officers. Highly esteemed by Wellington, he died a glorious if unnecessary death in 1812 at the Battle of Salamanca, following which a monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral at public expense.

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