# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_143621.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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28

sufficient, it is hoped, have been adduced;
others will be added.

A large proportion of the insular revenue
arises from custom-duties levied on spirits and
other articles of consumption imported for the
use of the Island. These duties being regulated,
for fiscal purposes, on a scale lower than those
of England, some risk takes place that, in part,
these articles may be smuggled back to Great
Britain. But the larger the quantity of these
goods imported into the Island, the greater the
amount of his Grace's gross fourth. Now as
the appointment of revenue-officers is with his
Grace, the gratitude at least of these persons, if
not their interest, may lead them to favor swol-
len importations, and not to look scrupulously
into the mode and place of consumption.—
That this evil *has* taken place, is not directly
asserted. Any insinuation of concurrence in it
on his Grace's part, is most distinctly disavowed.
But it appears at least inconsistent with sound
principles of Government, to place men's inter-
ests in opposition to their duties. In the year
1821, a branch of the preventive service was
stationed, and for some time remained, in the
Island.—Whilst there, the duties on importation
very sensibly shrunk in amount: in the year
following the departure of this independent
establishment, it is understood that the demand
for licenses became more considerable.