T 1/454/198 - Barracks at Castletown

Office of Ordnance
20th Feb 1766
My Lord
In Obedience to His Majesty's Commands signified to Your Lordships by the Earl of Halifax in his Letter of the 4th June 1765 We directed Engineer Dawson to proceed to the Isle of Man & to cause Barracks to be fitted up for the Reception of His Majesty's Troops ordered into the Island & he having made his Report from thence & transmitted Plans of the Place. We beg leave to lay before Your Lordship the annexed Copy of the said Report & Plans & at the same time submit to Your Lordship's Consideration whether His Majesty's Commands should not be taken as soon as possible upon the following Paragraph of the said Report there being neither Ordnance, Ammunition or Stores in the Island at present.

"This Island has been in a manner protected from any Invasion either of the Franch or Spaniards by the beneficial Trade the Inhabitants always carried on with those Nations even when at War but since by the Purchase of the Island that Trade has been entirely stopt; that Protection is now no more, and they are become liable to the Insults of Privateers."

We further beg leave to observe that if Ordnances & Stores should be sent thither, proper officers will be necessary to take Charge of them.
We are &c
Townhend, Charles Frederick, W, Tho Earle, Chas Cocker
[To] Marquis of Granby

Notes

A following letter noted that the provision for mounted troops was not required.