Trade & Commerce

Guernsey in the olden times, by Curio-Antique

From The Star 29 and 31 January 1878. With this fascinating document should be compared the Library's manuscript Notebook of Pierre Henry. Henry, whose ancient house in Berthelot Street is now a tourist attraction, was a wealthy merchant shipowner and ancestor of the Tupper family, through whom the notebook came to the Library.

17 August 1822: A presentation to Daniel De Lisle Brock: donations

Subscribers to the fund giving thanks to the Bailiff for his efforts in stopping restrictive clauses of a proposed Corn Bill, from L'Independance and The Star, and for sorting out problems with the Rum Bill, from the lucrative privileges of which the Bailiwick had been excluded. The Artisans and the Country parishes collected separately for different pieces of plate, presented in 1823.

October 1822

Extracts from the French language local newspaper L'Indépendance, and the English-language Star.

October 1892

From the local newspapers.

September 1658: A petition to Richard Cromwell

Epitomie of tyranny, pamphlet, 1659, Priaulx Library collection

Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. The States sought to send an address of condolence and loyalty to his son, 'his highness' Richard Cromwell, but were prevented from doing so by the Lieutenant-Governor, Captain Charles Waterhouse, who found their petition 'too submissive.' The leader of the republican party, Pierre De Beauvoir des Granges (1599-1678) and William De Beauvoir du Hoummet, potentially a less committed republican, wrote a defiant letter to Waterhouse, pointing out the Guernsey public's many grievances against him, and proceeded to sneak out of Guernsey and present their petition to Cromwell anyway, taking the opportunity to plead for the unpopular Des Granges to remain as Bailiff. Their actions prompted the publication of a pamphlet, An epitomie of tyranny in the island of Guernsey, which can be found in the Library. It was published anonymously at the beginning of 1659, and accuses the De Beauvoirs of all kinds of misdemeanors.

Diving Experiment III; the Orchard brothers make progress

From the Star of July 21, 1834. A year after they made their first trial of their proprietary suit, one of the Orchards walks under water, and the brothers receive some encouragement.

Trade: 1827

Imports and Exports from Guernsey in 1827. From The Star, January 1, 1828. The Harbour records were destroyed in a German raid in 1940.

September 1858

From the Star newspaper.

Diving Experiment II: more about the Orchard brothers, 1833

From the Star of June 28, 1833. Another description of their trial of their innovative diving suit.

Peter Bougourd and Henry Cumber, 1837

From The Star of April 10, 1837. Proceedings in the Royal Court, Thurday, April 6th, 1837.

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