# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_101917.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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preventing the illicit Trade carried on between the Iſland and other Parts of his Majeſty's Dominions; and that they were ready to
receive a Propoſal from him for that Purpoſe, ſpecifying what Parts of his Grace's Property, and Rights of the Iſland, he was diſ-
poſed to ſell, and the Value he put upon them.

His Grace, who received this Letter in *Scotland*, by his Anſwer of the 29th of *Auguſt*, expreſſed his Ideas with regard to the Sale
of the Iſland to be the ſame with thoſe of the late Duke, who always declared, that no Temptation of Gain could induce him to
give up to antient and honourable a Birthright, which had been in the Family near Four Centuries; but that if it was eſteemed, upon
full Conſideration, an important Point for his Majeſty's Service and for the Good of the Publick, he was willing to enter into a
Treaty for the Diſpoſal of it—That as he had been but a few Months in Poſſeſſion of the Iſle, and never in the leaſt turned his
Thoughts towards a Sale of it, it was impoſſible for him to fix upon what he ſhould think an adequate Price for a Poſſeſſion ſo
very conſiderable both for Eſteem and Profit; and as he had never heard of any Notion of purchaſing a Part only, he did not under-
ſtand what it was, and could therefore have no Propoſal to make; but would always be ready to receive with Reſpect any Propoſal
~~from~~ their Lordſhips, ~~as~~ ~~ſoon~~ ~~as~~ ~~from~~ their Excellencies.

[obscured] Lords of the Treaſury, ~~and~~ ~~another~~ replied, that when the Purchaſe of the Iſland was on former Occaſions under Conſideration,
the late Duke had given a true and preciſe State of the Nature of the Poſſeſſion, and of the Revenue ariſing from it; they therefore
deſired him, if he intended treating with them, to tranſmit them in like Manner,
An exact Rental of the Revenue, ſpecifying the ſeveral Kinds of which it conſiſted, and the annual Amount of each.
And with reſpect to *any Cuſtoms or Impoſt Duties* which his Grace might receive, the ſeveral Species of Goods on which levied,
the Rates at which paid, and the annual Amount of the *Duties* ariſing from each Species.
And their Lordſhips were pleaſed to add, that they muſt know the Nature as well as Value of every Branch of the Revenue of
Grace's Poſſeſſion in the Iſland it would be neceſſary or expedient to purchaſe, in order to obtain the Benefit for which ſuch Purchaſe
was intended; and this was what they meant by the Propoſal, in their former Letter, of purchaſing only a Part of his Grace's Pro-
perty in the Iſland—That they were the more deſirous of obtaining this Information in the fulleſt Manner, that the Parliament might
thereby be enabled to judge what Terms it might be proper to allow.

The Duke did not ſtay to return an Anſwer to this Second Letter, but came immediately to Town, to be ready at hand to enter
into any Treaty for the Purchaſe of the Iſland.

The Deſign of preventing Smuggling has been taken up at different Times—The Method was obvious, and occurred to every
Perſon in the ſame Light—An Extenſion of the Revenue Laws of *England* to the *Iſle of Man*, and drawing the Merits of every
Seizure made there to an *Engliſh* Juriſdiction—But the excluſive Privileges granted by the Charter to the *Iſle of Man*, aſſured and eſta-
bliſhed by the Sanction of the Legiſlature, ſtood in the Way, and natural Juſtice ſuggeſted that ſuch valuable Privileges ought to be
redeemed and compenſated—The Legiſlature in 1726 heard the Rights of the Patent, and no ſooner heard than they aſſented to them
—Prejudicial as they might be to the Mother Country, they ſaw they could be removed by Purchaſe only; and the Committee hav-
ing propoſed, the Houſe immediately inſerted the proper Clauſes for buying the Patentees Right for the expreſs Purpoſe of " better
" enabling his Majeſty to prevent Frauds and Abuſes in the exporting or importing Goods to and from the *Iſle of Man*."—The Re-
ſolution of the Committee intended an abſolute Purchaſe of the whole Intereſt of the Lord; and the Act made to purſue and corre-
ſpond with that Reſolution, in deſcribing the Thing to be purchaſed, mentions expreſsly " all Regalities, Powers, Superiorities, Ju-
" riſdictions, Rights, Privileges, *Duties, Cuſtoms, Revenues, Profits*, or other Advantages whatſoever, *in, over, or about* the ſaid
" Iſland of Man, or its Dependencies."

As it ſeemed difficult to eſtimate a Satisfaction for a partial Abolition of the Juriſdictions, Duties, and Rights, the Act ſeems to
have intended a Purchaſe of the whole Principality; and ſo it has always been underſtood.

The *Corona Aurea* which Lord *Coke* gives him, the Patronage of a Biſhoprick, the high and honourable Services to be performed
perſonally to his Royal Maſter at his Coronation, and the other Badges and *Inſignia* of Sovereignty, are all honorary, but burdenſome;
the Revenue taken away, the Diadem only brings little Comfort to the Poſſeſſor.——The Lord's interior Revenue in the Iſland is incon-
ſiderable, conſiſting of ſome few hereditary Eſtates only, and Fines upon Alienations.

If, by the Revolutions of Time, and the Extenſion of Commerce, the Privileges of the Grant are now found leſs compatible with the
Intereſt of the Mother Country, and the Proximity of the Iſle ſhould be made its Objection;—it is his Grace's Misfortune, who does not
conceive himſelf to have exerciſed any Rights beyond the Extent of his Grant; nor hath one new Duty been impoſed, or a ſingle Inno-
vation introduced, for the laſt Thirty Years, ſince the Acceſſion of his Grace's Family.

The Treaſury, by their Propoſal to purchaſe a Part, muſt have had in view the Subject-matter of the Bill which has now been brought
into the Houſe; for there is no other Part which they could poſſibly have thought of purchaſing. But as the Bill now ſtands, it is in
the Nature of an Act of Reſumption, depriving his Grace of the ſeveral Branches of his Revenue particularly pointed out by their
Lordſhips Letter, and with them all the Privileges and Rights of the Charter which have any Connection with or Relation to them,
without any Compenſation.

Their