Letters to/from Governor Smith

Introduction

The following letters are from an archive of such letters held at Manx Museum in the range MS 01798C to MS 01828C which mostly are the correspondence to & from Governor Smith and Lt. Govr Dawson to George Aust Secretary of State in London who was appointed as the agent, or contact, for Manx Affairs at Westminster together with some supporting documents - Govr Smith did not date several of his letters.

At this period Smith and Dawson had been in post since the death of Governor Woods at the end of April 1777, though Dawson had spent 1775 as Lieutenant Governor during Wood's year of absence due to illness - Wood died with a few months of returning to the Island - Dawson had first appeared on the Island in late 1765 appointed as Engineer from the Corps of Engineers to construct a Barracks in Castle Rushen for some of the troops sent with the Revenue Officers headed by Charles Lutwidge. Lutwidge was appointed Receiver General of the Island by Westminster, to which he also added the role of Water Bailiff - his death in early 1784 caused some problems as did persuading the Westminster Treasury to authorise a new copper coinage to supply a shortage of change on the Island.

The current reference to call out the papers at the Manx Museum are MS 01798 etc but for convenience here the shorter, older form as pencilled on the letters is used

1798/1C - A list of Civil Officers 1777
1798/2C - Copy of H.M's Atty Genl's Opinion on Atholl's Bill of 1780
1798/3C - Copy of Opinion + Report on Atholl's Bill 1781
1799C - Memorial of Keys to Govr Smith April 1781
1801/1C - Smith to Aust 14:12:1783
1801/2C - Smith to Aust 9:2:1784
1802C Smith to Aust -:-:1784 re Chapel furniture (the Chapel being that within Castle Rushen)
1803C Dawson to Peat 23:3:1784 re pension for James Peat
1804C Aust to Dawson 15:6:1784 re Atholl's Bills of 1780 & 1781, copper coinage for Island
1805C Smith to Aust 8:8:1784 re copper coinage
1806C Dawson to Smith 21:12:1784 account of Duties received 1778-1784
1807C [Dawson to Smith 21:12:1784] Present & proposed Revenue Officers in IoM ?1784 as includes Lutwidge who died that year
1808C John Quayle to Smith 22:1:1785 records of previous copper coinage
1809C/1 Smith to Aust -:-:1785 re discrepancies between Dawson's account of Revenues and that presented to Treasury
1809C/2 Smith to Aust 12:1:1785 re problems arising from non-appointment of Water Bailiff
1809C/3-5 supporting documents re surplus of revenues [presume sent with 1809C/2]
1810C Morrison to ?Aust 18:4:1785 re coinage
1811C Quayle to Aust 6:2:1786 re proposed resignation if given Water Bailiff's post
1812C Dawson to Aust 17:2:1786 re inaction of Mr Watts (new Receiver Genl) preventing payment of salaries
1813C Aust to Smith 24:2:1786 re non-approval of Key's proposed Money Bill
1814aC Forbes to Joseph Christian 17:4:1786 re fisheries
1814bC Joseph Christian to Aust 20:4:1786 covering note including above
1814cC Joseph Christian to Aust
1815C Dawson to Aust 27:4:1786
1816C Atholl to Peter John Heywood 28:4:1786 appointment as Seneschal copy by Quayle with note dated 22:5:1786
1817C Senhouse Wilson & Betham to Thomas Quayle 9:6:1786 re selling rather than destroying seized Brandy
1818C Quayle to Aust 20:5:1786 re his present salary etc
1819C Quayle to Aust 30:6:1786 keeping appointment as Clerk of the Rolls
1820C Thomas Quayle to Aust -:-:1786 re seized brandy
1821aC Senhouse Wilson + Betham to Aust 15:7:1786 re seized brandy
1821bC Senhouse Wilson + Betham to Treasury - copy of petition
1822C Dawson to Aust 25:8:1786 - the 'counterfeit' coins are being struck at Birmingham (from original dies for 1758 coinage)
1823C Dan Callow to Aust [date missing]
1824C Aust? to Smith and Dawson 10:2:1787
1825C Heywood 12:2:1787 affidavit that he was not author of the verse
1826C
1827C
1828C

MS 1802C - Smith to Aust

Sunday [date not given 1784] Harefield

Dear Sir

Allow me to beg you will use such dispatch as the nature of the business will allow off in procuring the Chapel Furniture & Picture and you will then have the goodness to have the picture rolled on a stick, and packed with the frame, not putt together, in that one long case may well contain the whole. The Chapel Furniture I dare say may likewise be all cased up together by themselves & so sent by the waggon to Liverpool directed for the Isle of Man to the Care of Mr Wm Leece at Liverpool with a letter of advice that he may forward them properly. I am ashamed of giving you such constant trouble. I spoke with Lord North before I left St James who had been pleased to take his [Ms?] commands upon the [busines ?], and on which I gave him official information so that he knows his own order will do, yett my good Sir nothing will do if you do not obligingly forwarded it.

May I beg Mr Fraser will (thro' you) accept my very sincere thanks for his kind note that was [even?] too perfect upon so obsolete a trifle; I found the — under the same notion & Ld N- would [be one] have sent an order for sollicitation but my own; which was as much to a strickt as doing it with out consulting me would have been hasty. Again Lett me thank Mr Fraser for decidedly fixing that point unquestionably.

There is a whim occurrd to me that if not displeasing to you I would wish to fix in the Island, that you shoud be our agent for the great nation; And if [to] this idea [in name?] we could afix a stipend tho diminitively proportionable to their Ideas & [] I think I should render them a great kindness, will you allow me to try the Idea. I sett for travel to morrow morn and if this weather could last I may say I will be there on Friday

Your very sincere E Smith

P S pray will [] Membr franks pass at the London post office from the Isle Man. I hear not because they ^ye Memr^ are supposed not to be mad ennough ever to be there

MS 1804C - Aust to Smith

St James June 15th 1784

Sir

Having had the good Fortune tho' with some Difficulty, to procure a Sight of the two Reports of the Attorney and Sollicitor General to the Lords of the Treasury, in 1780 & 1781, on the Subject of the Duke of Athol's intended Bill, I have the Pleasure to send you Copies of them, which I took the Opportunity ordering to be made out and trust they will be received as Proofs of my Zeal and Assiduity in the Service of the Island under your Government, and of my sincere Attachment to its Interests.

Your last Proposal for a Copper Coinage, which had been approved by the Secretary of State, is now to be referred by the Treasury, a second Time, to the Offices of the Mint; and as their former Report upon this Point was unfavourable, I intend applying to them on this Occasion, and try what Arguments will do to remove every Objection for an Object so necessary for the Island, and which cannot possibly be injurious to this Country.

I am &c G Aust

MS 1805C Smith to Aust

Harefield Augst 8th 1784

My dear Sir

My Silence may surprize you but indeed I am too unsuccesfull in business, (tho animated only for this publick good) ever to return to it, having no roguery to affect, no job to drive, no selfish plans to offer, the simple dictates of an upright conscientory discharge of dutys in my station are quite below a minutes thought of any minister. I thank you for your troubles about the coinage and if Lord Effingham would be pleased to allow me a Copy of his opinion given in to the Treasury upon my application for a Manx Coinage I shall feel self obliged and given ground to stand upon against future false asertions against facts and Mr Luts [Lutwidge] impunity that is a curse to the Isle of Man.

I am sensible of the manlyness and good disposition of Mr Nepean to every thing in discharging his Station and credit of his office as well as of a natural benevolence towards the universal good of mankind, but such are the times, such the policy of the day, that no Man in office can afford to do any thing meerly because tis right and necessary, if the act can attract nothing but the secret thanks of a little Island when all are benefitted, tis not worth a single vote in Parliament. Ministry never serve serve those who can not serve themselves. The Island can not do them immediate personal injury, and therefore not worth attending to meerly for secret publick good. In regard to Taubman & Salt guard againstt him mistating facts, either from instinct, passion or ignorance, inquire from Mr Nepean the answer made my proposal upon this very head by the Court of Excise thro him & sent to me, then look to the acts of Parlt upon the Subject, and being founded in Truth and in the black Letter do us all the good you can, but I am afraid you must constrict your self with the indulgence of your non Liberallity of heart, and Philanthropy if you succeed afterwards with Mr Francis Baring.

Pray state to Pearse the Secretary at war's Ultimatum upon the Cloathing, desire him to tell you what is to be done, and how we are to do it.

You talk of waiting on me if convenient can I flatter my self that you mean here in the country for any time most convenient to your self for it will at all times be most pleasing to

Dear Sir your very humble Servt Edwd Smith

Pray lett me request a few franks from Mr Fraser

MS 1808C - John Quayle to Governor Edward Smith

Castletown Isle Mann 22 Jany 1785

Dear Sir

Having been lately applyed to by a Friend, to give the best account I could of the Emoluments of the Copper Coinage of this Isle, for your Excellency's Satisfaction; I cannot for bear doing myself the Honor of delivering to your Excellency the best Information in my power -

Upon strict Examination of the Records nothing more than the Acts of Tynwald appears - I well remember the Coinage in 1733, and was taught to believe, that the profits on that coinage remained with the then Governor Horton - ancestor of Sir Watts Horton (Lancashire) Baronet.

Upon the passing of the Act for the Coinage of 1757 I perfectly recollect, that it was the received opinion of the Council (whereof I was a member) that the profits on the Coinage was a perquisite appertaining to the Governor of this Isle - and according to the best of my memory, the Honble Basil Cochrane then Governor (now a Comissioner of the Customs at Edenburg) sowed a Letter from James Duke of Atholl, then Lord proprietor, which accorded with the opinion of the Council of this isle.

I am the more confirmed in these Sentiments, as I had been in August 1757 requested by Governor Cochrane, to take Birmingham in my road to London, & to expedite that Coinage - That I made it my Business to assist Mr Flory, the Contractor, therein & staid some days in Birmingham, intirely to serve Governor Cochrane & declined his offer to answer my Expence there.

When the Copper money arrived, it was delivered to the late Daniel Mylrea Esqr upon Govr Cochrane's private Account as I understood - for had that money belonged to the Lord proprietor of the Isle, it was my particular office, oath and duty, as Comptroller, to see the same counted into the Treasury, & to charge the Receiver Genl with the amount thereof, at the next audit Court. But no such Transaction ever happened, and I well remember being of the number of the Govrs Friends, who received Sums of that Coinage in exchange for Gold, to accomodate the Governor.

I beg pardon for thus abruptly intruding these particulars upon your Excellency; and can only plead in excuse, that if it was your Excellency's desire to know them, I might, as well as any other have the honor of transmitting them, thro' my own pen - at the same time, permit me to assure your Excellency, that I am, with the greatest Respect and Esteem &c John Quayle

MS 1809/C - Govr Smith to G Aust

Thursday [13 Jan 1785] Harefield

Dear Sir

Enclosed I send you the private to Mr Ross you recommended the other official and formal pray write out and send, sign'd by you for me. If there is anypart of my private you object to, stop it; but the official Abstract there enclosed is so much in point of all my assertions and suspicions too of long practised dishonesty to the Treasury of Island that I cd[could] but resist saying what I have upon the point, seal them and send it. My Lt Govr will explain fully the abstract; how my dear Sir If Mr Ross does not compare this fair insular copy of their books for the years stated with those given in and passed by their Auditor for the same years, and finding the false differences does not take the proper steps to recover the part and prosecute the Roguery in future. Why then adieu for ever to my anxiety and watchfullness for the Island and the Publick good, honesty is quite a joke and zeal importuant in any Man and I stand acquitted of any further application to their administration and when the next comes should we live so long I shall receive a similar neglect I suppose to profer'd Services.

Are the Dutch to be at war or not will the French seriously engage or not.

What is the import of young Beckford's flying, and for what.

You see that there is more than ennough in hand for our Civil Establishment for 1783 now due us, and for the acct to be given in for 1784 which will produce still more. Our arrear may be paid off, to the consolation of some starving souls at £3 & £5 a year. Pray tell who is to give in and get pass'd the accts of 1784 and do tell me how the Recr Genl Survr Genl & Water Bailiff can come to £480 a year, and I wish you would observe the pensioners to Mr Ross, that surely should be employed here or in Ireland without burthening us longer. There is a Mr Hamilton in the Revenue of our Manx Island who never no never goes there he has 100 gs for heaven sake - need we have such offices that [] require principals, or could not one of these pensioners be named his deputy at the rate he stands pensiond. Do give a little hint privately of this because in truth tis quite a shame for a man of fortune & pleasure to keep a poor £100 on so small an Island incomings, only for having been a [ eeder] to some Noble cub.

In fact a reform is necessary in our Island who neither require Mr Luwts [Lutwidges] successor nor Mr Harris: our scale of dutys & port incomes is over layed & the so [] bill by Mr Buske yet I feel that tis so evident Mr Luwtge was sent to regulate those customs in the buying in of the Island, I can not but persuade myself the present Treasury for the sake of the Publick will have a better share of the Incomings of the Isle of Man

Adieu believe me Ever your obliged E Smith

press hard Sr Wadsworths exchange & failing may procure me a handsome or sensible Letter for my justification & proof of failure after tryal

Guard agst Haywood who would steal the Isle away and privately convey his character & [] to any body for any thing, [] [] would rob the Crown of every thing.

MS 1809/2C - Smith to Aust

Harefield Jan 12 1785

Dear Sir

When I consider my situation I feel it my duty to trouble Government when I consider the inability from Experiance of stating such little matters as the Isle of Man affords I blush to appear the Important. Pray read the enclosed. See the loss of our next years fishing almost certain if our Water Bailiffs Court continues shutt up any longer. Pray read Mr Ross that statement and pray him to have it dispatched. You see the Water Bailiff goes circuits &c &c so that if a Man is not named to it, by the Treasury if they will turn it from me, or by myself who perfectly understands the language you see the Fish he will catch.

I shall be in Town late the 14th and must stay the 18 too, because my Genls Gout is wanted at a fine dinner if that day so that if before the 19th Mr Ross may choose to speak with me I am ready any hour to attend him. Believe me truly Yours E Smith

MS 1809/3C - Relationship between Revenue Officers and Harbour Commissioners

By an act of Parliament the 11th Geo 3 ch 52 certain Commissioners are appointed to collect the harbour dues in the Isle of Man and to report to the Lords commissioners of the Treasury the repairs necessary to be made in the harbours of that Isle and when a greater sum than the annual procedure of the Harbour duties has been required their Lordships have usually directed the Receiver General to issue these sums from the money in his hands arising from the duties of the customs, to be replaced from the Harbour funds which are separate from the other Branches of Revenue.

Mr Senhouse Wilson, deputy Receiver Genl has in his Possession and for which he has returned no accounts a Surplus of £4000. The Harbour of Duglas might be compleatly repaired and a Lighthouse and a head of Freestone added to the Pier and new births made for 56 ships at the expence of £2000 borrowed from the said Surplus which would be replaced from harbour funds in a few years from the increase which would probably take place in the Harbour dues by the greater consequent resort of Shipping.

The Water Bailiff and three deputy water Bailiffs are by the above cited act made commissioners of the harbours of the Isle of Man which office is at present vacant. The other Commissioners are the Receiver Genl or his Deputy the collector comptroller & searcher of the Port of Duglas together with four Merchants elected by the said Revenue officers. The Harbour Revenue amounts to about £500 per annum which if there was no increase would pay the sum required for Duglas Harbour in four years. If a Water Bailiff were appointed with orders the said Harbour much mischief might be prevented to the Shipping of the Island and the neighbouring Ports.

MM 1809/4 C

If Mr Pitt should think fitt to purchase these reserved rents and at the price of £50,000 this sum might be borrowed 4.5 per cent which might be paid from Revenues of the Isle of Man

Interest of £50,000 at 4.5 percent	£2250
Revenue as above	1648.5.9
	601.14.3

This Sum might be made payable from the Surplus Revenue of the customs which surplus over & above the expenditure on the civil Establishmt to £2500

 

 

MM 1809/5C - Smith to Aust

My Dear Aust

I may forward the enclosed, Lett me caution you to use more than common prudence in the use of the Letter I gave you yesterday, for in the land of the Philistines, I think it wise not to show all our strength. Why I have been so coldly unkindly treated by my department, and why I am not more generously & graciouysly now regarded for having done for them all they could have wished I know not, but tis good to be chastised for nothing happens in vain if [] observes []. In short my good Friend, common honesty is as not the quickest commodity for proper advantage in your legions, but if a man lives long enough it must prevail

Ever yours E Smith

Thursday afternoon

MS 1810C - James Morrison to Aust

Mint Office 18th April 1785

Sir

I am sorry I happened to be from home when you did me the favor of calling at the Mint on Friday, - Respecting your enquiry, I am to inform you the few regulations of receiving the Copper will soon be settled when the Warrant for the Cariage may be issued - I suppose Govr Smith (when he offered to supply the Copper at a price as by his proposal made to Treasury) was aquainted with the circumstances attending the delivery of Copper for a Coinage - I mean that it must be of proper sised Fillets, annealed - and that the Scissel (or part from which the Blanks are cut) is taken back by the Contractor - an Engine called a Cutter is delivered from the Mint to ascertain the thickness of the Fillets, and for which a Bond is incured into for its return - but this is only matter of concern, and when the Warrant directing the Coinage is received, the executive part of the business will soon be settled - When I see my Lord Effingham I will make Govr Smith's desire known to him, and as I shall have occasion to call at the Treasury towards the end of the Week, I will enquire about the Warrant and give any information wantewd for its furtherance.

I am &c James Morrison

MS 1811C Letter of John Quayle for Genl Smith

Isle Mann 6th Febry 1786

Sir

A report having prevailed that our Friend Genl Smith is now upon an Excursion, out of Town, and finding myself at a loss for his Address, I beg Leave to trouble you with the enclosed Letter to his Excellency

MS 1812C - Letter of Lt Governor Dawson to George Aust

Isle of Man 17th Feby 1786

Dear Sir

I had the pleasure of yours of the 28th Jany and shoud have answered before this but that I wanted to see the event of a little business which I must now beg leave to trouble you with. Since Mr Lutwidge's death we understand that a Mr George Watts has been appointed our Recr Genl he has not however appeared nor upon the strictist enquiry can we find any person who knows such a Man or has ever seen him nor has he ever wrote a line to his Deputy or any one in the Island by this Mr Wilson the acting Recr Genl feels he has no power to pay the Salaries of the Governor & the Rest of the Civil Officers which became due the 5th of last Month., upon his informing me that he had sufficient money in his hands to make the Annual payment I desired him to apply to the Treasury for authority so to do & I wrote at the same time to Ld Sydney acquainting him with the state of the case begging he woud be pleased to procure an Order for our payment these letters were wrote the 12th of Jany to which as yet we have had no answer What I wish of you is by applying to Mr Napean or otherwise at the Treasury in behalf of the Govrs of the Isle to obtain an Order to Mr Wilson the Acting Recr Genl to make us our payment of which the whole establishm[ent] are in great need & the retaining or keeping back of which is no advantage to Govt you see my Dear Sir I am not shy of giving you trouble but there it is upon the Act of the Genl & myself upon any other you may depend I never shall.

In regard to the loss on the under sized Cloathing I have only to say that I look upon the 12 compleat suits, hats waistcoats breeches and all to be a dead loss to us as they are all now nearly consumed by the moths & I think as such ought to be allowed by the clothier but at the same time I do not think the deffic[t] an object sufficient to prevent the closing the accounts I would rather take what the clothier will allow than contest the matter any longer, so if he will do no more you have my authority to close down with him upon his own terms.

The interst of the money of mine in the funds which you receive amounts annually to £54 paid at the Bank i presume on the same days. I shoud be glad to know what these days are because I want to consider that £54 as an increase to my annual income & to draw for it regularly foreseeing I shall stand in need of its assistance,

I am with real esteem Dear Sir your friend & servant R Dawson

MS 1815C - Letter of Lt Governor Dawson to George Aust

Isle of Man 27 Apl 1786

My Dear Sir

I had yesterday the favor of yours of the 22d Inst & am happy to find I shall have proper authority for Issuing the copper coin soon as the Island suffers great inconvenience from the witholding it as present I hope there will be no Order for calling in the old coinage for there is no necessity for such a measure since it is not the practice & indeed there has been of late such an inundation of counterfeits that it woud be impossible for me or any one I coud appoint to distinguish the false from the true coin I shoud therefore be obliged to receive in a Sum equal to what I have to issue which would make the business a real loss of the whole coin now sent which in my opinion woud be what was never intended all I want in that the Secretary of State shoud say that in compliance to the request of the island the King has sent a sum of copper coin which are to pass as legal currency in this Island and to be received in change according to the currency of the Island, this will be suffc for to authorise me to make such a proclamation & to disburse the coin which I think I can do without much difficulty.

I am sorry to inform you that Mr Bowyer has again taken flight very much in debt it is supposed he is gone abroad & that his wife & children are soon to follow. I presume as he has an annuity of £150 pr ann it is intended he shall live abroad upon that sum & cheat all his creditors. I have not heard that his father in law is dead but should think if you know any friend in Dublin where the old man resides it woud be right for you to keep a look out that you might enquire about his effects when that event takes place.

I have look'd over your accts and cannot exactly understand why I am made debtor for the whole of Capt Frissel's expences to London, it appears to me that it was charged to the cloathing account half only shoud be my share to pay, you will be so kind as to explain this matter.

I believe I shall draw on you in a few days for £19 10s 10d to pay for a Pipe of Port which is now upon its way [to] me.

I observe you have got to White Hall I hope will pr[ove] it more convenient than where you were but if you are up as many stairs as Mr Napean I do not know how I shall be ever able to get at you. My illness has so reduced me that the Drs say I must not venture to stay here this next winter so when my friend the Genl returns I must try to persuade him to contrive to get me leave of absence. I am with real esteem Dear Sir your friend & servt Rd Dawson

PS There was a small sum about 2Gs or thereabout which Genl Smith desired you to give me credit for & which I pd here for him for what I do not find there I have credit I have not time now to look for the paper or can tell you the exact amt

MS 1822C - Letter of Lt Governor Dawson to George Aust

dated 25 Aug 1786

Dear Sir

I hold myself infinitely obliged to You and to Mr Napean for his obliging letter of the 19th Inst I have taken the liberty to write him a few lines in answer wherein I have represented what is really true that it gives me much pain to be obliged to give the Genl any trouble at this time & that did not my state of health so urgently press I would most willingly relinquish my request but that consider'd and the terms for which the King expressly divided the Govt & the number of years I had resided. I coud not help hoping that my desire of leave of absence could be thought not unreasonable between you & I, it woud be an act of cruelty to deny me and as far as I know unprecedented in the military line I wish the Genl every happiness in the state he has enter'd into. I have already wrote to congratulate him upon the occasion & therefore untill I know what has been the result of his conference with Mr Napean I shall not trouble him again if he should find the inconvenience so great as not to be got over, his interest may perhaps be able to procure that the Govr may for a short time devolve upon the Civil Offoicers as formerly accustom'd such a favor I say might be granted on his acct purely to serve him, but as to me I have no interest with any body I have simply nothing to rely upon but the justice & equity of my case & if these fail have no resource for having already given up all hopes of promotion in my own Corps on acct of this Government I must now either stick by it or starve.

In respect to the copper coin I have only to say that that both the King & his Governors of this Island have been most ungratefully & basely used by both the Keys & traders of this Island, who after repeated representations of their distress for want of a coinage & petitions for a certain sum, after having obtained it do now, not only assist in the dispersing of it but clandestently oppose it, & I have from good authority that the same person at Birmingham who coined the Duke of Athols Pence is now employd to coin more of the same sort to be introduced into the Island indeed great quantities have already been introduced of late which is the reason that tho' it is felony to coin or pass counterfeit pence or half pence knowing them to be such we are not able to convict any person there are the people that we have been so anxious to serve & to whom Govt has so recently granted such unmerited favors, I myself look upon this transaction not only as ungrateful but dishonest because when the House of Keys in behalf of the People asked for a certain sum they were virtually bound to take it & repay the expence, I can now & in no means that can be used to get off the Kings coin unless it were possible legally to cry down every other species far from what I have sd you can plainly see the impractability as the amt of the old good & bad woud exceed by double the present coinage indeed there never coud be an end of it as long as they coud find a man to coin the Athol money for them

I am with true esteem your friend R Dawson

Smith had just married a widow hence Dawson's comments; the above letter gives an indication of his own declining health - he would be about 57 in 1786 - the arrangement authorised by King George III was for either Smith or Dawson to reside on Island - Smith was given the more senior role of Governor and paid £400 p ann with Dawson paid £200. Following the Revestment the long established residence of the Governor fell to the Duke of Atholl who increased the old nominal rent to some £24 but still well below what would be a commercial rent - following the death of Governor Wood John Quayle persuaded the 4th Duke to increase it to a more commercial rent which along with the need for some extensive repairs disuaded Dawson from occupying it. As the troops were withdrawn from the Island in early 1778 the appartments in the Derby House within Castle Rushen, previously apparently used to house the military officers became available and Dawson moved into them, though he describes them as the "condemnd holes of Castle Rushen".

Letters from Lieutenant Governor Dawson to Governor Smith 1787

The following three letters of Lt-Govr Richard Dawson to Govr Edward Smith from 1787 are found in MM MS 2191 (the other 3 letters in this small collection are non-Manx related private letters to Govr Smith). Dawson's health apparently survived a further Manx winter but he resigned 30th December 1789 shortly after writing his will - he returned to England where his death and burial are noted at Canterbury in 1800.

The Bill referred to was the Money Act proposed by the Keys to raise money to pay for various items but blocked from getting the Royal Assent by delaying actions by the Duke of Atholl.

Dawson to Smith

London 5th Aug 1787

My Dear Sir

I had the favor of yours of the 30th Ulto and feel myself much obliged by the satisfaction you express on my having received so much benefit from my Tour into France true it is that my health is by far better than it was when I left England but a re-established constitution is not what I have to boast of, far from that being the case I have felt the effects of the late rainy weather allready, and am by no means certain that I can bear the damp climate of the isle of Man for any length of time one winter is by no means sufficient to re-establish a worn out relaxed constitution & I am not without my fears that the condemnd holes of Castle Rushen will be the object of my execution as well of yours, how them who first built them understood them, I can not say but I trust your improvements will have made them as much more comfortable than they were when I left them as I made them superior to the state I found them in 1777 nothing is wanted but money to make any house a comfortable habitation if you have had that, all is well and I shall as least be well lodged - the ingredients of happyness in the Isle of Man [as?] I am at a loss for, I must have much mispent ten years if the wishing to make the people here happy woud have made them so they woud long since have enjoyed felicity; but I am afraid you will find from your own experience that all your abilities & good intentions will be thrown away their minds are not yet sufficiently expanded to prize according to their value the benefits which we have each of us in our turn offered to them.

If my health has been restored I am thankful to the almighty for his goodness it is upon him I have ever depended & to his will I am ever resigned he is sufficient for me I am contented to think myself under his sole Govt but at the same time I never contest or find fault with other peoples religious opinions.

I have seen the Atty Genl of our Isld who left me ^the Island^, as he confessed to me without acquainting me with his departure because he woud not give me the pain of refusing him if you have sufferd for so many months from his absence you might surely have required his return, he probably woud not have disobeyd your Order, if you did not chuse to do so disagreeable a thing to a man you esteemed, you cannot I shoud think blame me for being equally delicate.

You will have heard the Atty & Solictor Genls opinions upon your Bill so I need say nothing upon the subject, only that I am of opinion that the Island will never get a Bill passed here as long as they continue obstinate in making the legislation body the execution one also.

I have almost filled my paper without having said a word of the time of my return to the island however I do not think I shall be des[ ] to m[ake] you wait much longer than the time you wish [] [], but I will write you with more certainty from Cumberland, where I wish to stay as long as I can from an affection to a Brother and Brotherly affection my good Sir I trust will not be imputed to me as a crime. I shall leave London before I can receive an answer to this therefore need not trouble you to reply & I will have the pleasure of acquainting you with my arrival in Cumberland so that the Packet may be on this side at a proper time. I am with best Respects to Mrs Smith & your familly
Dear Sir your friend & Servt
Rd Dawson

Dawson to Smith

Pap Castle 28 Aug 1787

My Dear Sir

I had the favor of yours on my arrival at this place and should be happy to give you the certainty you seem to wish for in respect to how long my constitution will be able to support the damps of the Isle of Man before it requires another recess but alas that is totally out of my power neither can I frame the least probable calculation. I can only say that for every reason I shall endeavour to prerserve my health and the more especially as my pocket will not support frequent evacuations so that you may depend upon my not calling upon you but at the last extremity indeed I shoud have but little hopes of success if I did since alternate, has been constructed, constant residence I still hold my opinion that if you coud not prevail upon the keys to frame such a Bill as coud be approved it woud be in vain for me to attempt it I therefore if I do not see cause to alter my mind shall never more make the Tryal but leave the evils to cure themselves when there is neither jail Court House or House for the Keys to assemble in when Robbers & Housebreakers are sufferd to go at large for want of a Prison to confine them in, when People can no longer sleep secure in their beds, necessity will open the Keys eyes & they will ber glad to give up a little of their property to secure the remainder. Peace, Order and good Government are paid for & that cheerfully by every nastion in Europe except the little Island, & why they shoud be exempt they perhapps may be able to tell for my part I cannot imagine.

Tho the coming to the Island on the 15th Sepr rather disorderd my plans, as it seemed your wish to be at liberty at that time I waved any inconvenience that I might suffer thereby and have so ordered my affairs as to be able to be ready to sail from Whitehaven on that day wind & weather permitting but sooner I cannot & now indeed I shoud have been glad you woud have mentioned your desire of my coming by the tenth sooner for as my inclination has always led me to comply with your desires when ever it has been in my power I am now truely sorry, & it gives me pain that I am not able to do so in this Istance

I beg my best Respects to your Lady & familly and am with much esteem your friend & servt

Rd Dawson

Dawson to Smith

Papcastle 1st Sept 1787

My Dear Sir

Finding that the regular day of sailing as well as the Vessel lately commenced a trader between Whitehaven & Douglas as of the Packet is Tuesday and that if I did not take the Opportunity of sailing on the 11th I must wait 'till the 18th by which means I shoud be beyond the time I promised to relieve you I have resolved to submit to every inconvenience rather than disappoint you in the smallest degree and in consequence have wrote to Capt Askew of the Earl of Surry that I will put myself Carriage & Horses on board the Vessel on the 11th on condition that he shall take no other Horses on Bd and that he will not sail till there is a prospect of a short passage, so that if he accepts of my proposal of which I shoud think there is little doubt I shall in all probability have the happyness of paying my respects at Castle Rushen the 12th or 13th we have had three or four very fine warm days with the wind at East & I have not been so thankful for them as I might wishing at least to have spared me to carry me over the water an Operation of all others which I most detest.

I am with my best Respects to your Lady Dear Sir your friend & servt

Rd Dawson