# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_142131.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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State of the Nature and Revenue of this Principality, that he might be
able to Judge what Proposal to make; and he assured the Duke that no proposal
should come from him, which he would not adjust if it was left to him
to settle as an Arbitrator, however the affair after being some months in
agitation was again dropt. It was resumed by the Duke of Newcastle
when he was first Lord of the Treasury, and the Duke of Athole treated with
the same confidence, being averse to Sell, but always ready to submit to the
Kings pleasure in any matter which he thought for the Publick good, and
having a full reliance in the Duke of Newcastle's Honour & Justice, that as his
Brother had said, so his Grace would propose no Terms which he would not
Award as an Arbitrator: After the Duke of Newcastle was fully informed,
the matter was likewise in the same manner laid aside.

The reason why neither Sir Robert Walpole, M^r Pelham, nor the Duke
of Newcastle, carried it further, was thought to be, that upon thorough exami=
nation the object did not appear to them of such consequence as it did at first,
for supposing it was in possession of the Government the Proximity must still
be the same; between thirty & forty thousand Inhabitants must still have a right
to their Constitution, Laws, Administration of Justice, and Interior Trade and
Commerce; and it would be in the case of Guernsey, Jersey, Sark, and Alderney,
where Imports and Exports are governd by their own Laws, as much as if they
were under Feudatory Lords, and from those Islands they found that Smuggling
was carried to a much greater Exces than from the Isle of Man (and I am
credibly informed that is still the case) I have heard that they have often
thought in Ireland of raising a large Sum to offer towards the consideration
and upon fuller deliberation dropped it.

As