# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_105946.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 20:32  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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Case

On the 8^th: January 1789 a warrant iſsued under the Seal of the High
Court of Admiralty of England for arreſting 93 Casks of Rum and Geneva
bought to the Port of Douglas in the Isle of Man as being Goods Derelict
Flot on Jetson or Lagon and as such Droits and Perquiſites of His Majes
ty in his Office of Admiralty and citing all Perſons having any Inte
rest therein to appear before the Judge of his said Court the 6^th Day after
the Arrest if a Court Day otherwise on the next Court Day following to shew
Cause why the said Goods should not be condemned to His Majesty as
Droits of Admiralty.

By the Certificate indorsed on the Warrant it appears the same was ex
ecuted the 27^th: February on the said 93 Casks of Rum and Geneva the
same being in the Custom House of Douglas.

The Warrant has since been returned and the Certificate as usual stands
continued

Gosling having had transmitted to him from the Agent to the Solici
tor of the Admiralty the following Papers Viz^t.

Letter from M^r. Steele of the Treasury dated 9^th: Sept^r. 1789 to the
Receiver General of the Isle of Man informing him that the Lords of the
Treasury having taken into their consideration the Memorial of
His Grace the Duke of Athol praying that a number of Casks of Rum
that were taken poſseſsion of by the Officers of the Customs in the Isle
of Man in Sept^r. 1787 part of them whilst floating and others when
cast on shore might be delivered to him as his Property under the re
servation of the Wrecks of the sea when the Island was sold to the pub
lic he was commanded by their Lordships to acquaint the said Receiver
General they were of Opinion that such of the Casks of Rum as were
found floating on the sea belonged to the Crown but that such as were
not taken up at sea but were driven on Shore came under the reserva
tion of Wreck and belonged to the Duke of Athol he was therefore directed
by their Lordships to desire him to give immediate Orders that the Casks
of Rum which were taken up after they were driven on Shore might
be delivered to his Grace

Letter from M^r. Wilson to M^r. Knight dated 17^th. October acquain
ting him of his having received M^r. Steels Letter and of the several Steps
which had been pursued in consequence thereof and forwarding him the Ex
amination taken on Oath in order to ascertain what part of the Casks were
found in the Sea and what part ashore. ~

AP 143-9

MS 09707/8/6