# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_101736-2.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

---

[ 31 ]

able for the ill uſe that other Men have made
of his Property? Is he reſponſible for the Fai-
lure and Inefficacy of the excellent Plans which
the Wiſdom of his Majeſty, and the Vigilance
of his Councils have formed for redreſſing this
great Evil? Is the Situation of the Iſland to
be imputed to him? Was it ever a floating
Iſland, and did he fix it where it is? Did he
lay down the flat Shores of Lancaſhire and
Cumberland? Did he extend the Solway
Firth? Did he give the adventurous Spirit to
the Smuggler? Did he teach him to embark
in Storm and Winter, and to outſail the Cut-
ters? Did he infuſe that mutinous Spirit into
the Weſt of Scotland? Is his Iſland to bear
the Weight of all the Sins of Smuggling in
England, Scotland, Ireland, America, Jerſey
and Guernſey? Is it to bear the Blame of all
the Negligence, Timidity, and Colluſion of
all the petty Officers of the Cuſtoms in all the
Ports of the Kingdom? Has the Iſle of Man,
or have the high Taxes which the Neceſſities
of Government have laid on Trade, been the
Cauſe of this great Evil?

Conſider the real Situation and Circumſtan-
ces of this noble Proprietor, with Temper,
and without Prejudice.

What would you have him do? He offers
to