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© F.Coakley , 2021
To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury
That Commerce hath for several Ages past been carried on in the Isle of Man to the great Emolument of the Inhabitants under the protection of the Lord and Sanction of the Laws.
That the abuse made of the Trade of the Island by various people being deemed prejudicial to the Revenue of the Crown of Great Britain it was thought Expedient to purchase the Rights of the Noble Proprtr in the Isle of Man and to Vest the same by Act of Parliament in the Crown and by another Act to regulate the Trade of the Island; Almost the whole Commerce of the Island has thereby been prohibited or so restricted that a great many of the Inhabitants cannot procure to themselves sufficient for their support. Many Houses in all the Trading Towns are devested and become of little or no Value, and the people's Distresses so great that many have already left the Island and others are preparing to follow their Example unless timely relieved from their present Situation by the Indulgence of the British Legislature.
That your Memorialist being nominated and Authoried by the Keys of the Island the representatives of the People to lay their Distress as before the Legislatives of Great Britain begs leave to refer your Lordships to a state of their Case accompanying this Memorial by which the Ancient & present State of the Island is fully set forth.
Your Memorialist therefore prays your Lordships Treat for the Support and Relief
of the Island the following Articles of Trade and Commerce or such parts thereof
as your Lordships shall think fit may be granted the Inhabitants thereof
And your Memorialist shall ever pray &c
1st That a freedom of fishing on the Coast of Great Britain & elsewhere
be allowed. And that the British Bounty be extended to Vessels employed in the
Herring Fishery.
2d That the Herring Custom which beingrated at about 8s 7d Sterling payable
by each Boat on killing Ten Maze of Fish, insisted on by the late Lord of the
Isle which has prevailed agst the Inclinations of the People who by their Charter
from the Crown had a right to fish in the Seas and are not liable by any of
the insular Laws to the payment thereof may be withdrawn; whereby Encouragement
may be given to the poor Fishermen who think it is distressful for them only
to be liable to any Custom or payment of any Sum of Money for killing Herrings
which all other his Majesty's Subjects are exempt from in all other parts of
the British Dominions.
3d That the Manx Duty on White Salt or foreign Salt, on Timber, Staves, Cordage
& all Implements necessary for Fishing imported into the Isle of Man from
Britain & Ireland be taken off.
4th That the Manx Duty on the Importation of all Materials & Utensils in
the Linen Manufacture and in Bleaching be taken off
5th That brown and unbleached Linnen Cloth and Linnen Yarn be allowed to be
Imported from Britain and Ireland free of Duty in the Isle of Man, and the same
when bleached to be Imported into Britain as the Manufacture of the Isle of
man.
6th That all Utensils Machines and Instruments of Husbandry, all Sea Shells,
Soapers Waste or whatsoever else may serve for Manure of Lands, young Trees
of all kinds, Grass Seeds of all Kinds, Horses and Cattle to be Imported from
Britain and Ireland into the Isle of Man free of Manx Duty.
7th That the Inhabitants of the Isle of Man be allowed to Import from Britain
& Ireland 100 live Sheep per annum free of Manx Duty to improve the breed
of Sheep in the Island.
8th That all Species of provisions be Imported free of Manx Duty except Grain
to be free only when it rises to a certain price.
9 That 2500 Quarters of Wheat allowed to be Exported to the Isle of Man by the
Act of last Sessions from Southhampton; from whence the Carriage by Sea is very
inconvenient may therefore be allowed to be exported from Liverpool and Whitehaven,
and that 2500 Quarters of Barley when the Export from Britain is not prohibited
may be allowed to be Exported to the Isle of Man
10 That the Bounty when the same is allowed on foreign Export of Grain may also
be granted to the Isle of Man for the abovementioned Quantities.
11 That a reasonable quantity of High Duty Goods viz Teas, Spiceries, Spirits
and Tobacco be allowed to be Exported from Britain and Imported into the Isle
of Man on Certificate on the same Terms as the Commodities are Exported to Ireland
And the Extent of such Importation into the Isle of Man may [lost in fold] the
necessary Consumption of the Inhabitants.
12 That the Bounties granted on certain goods exported to foreign parts be allowed
on the same kind of Goods to the Isle of Man viz Silks, Refined Sugars, Cordage,
Glass & sufficient for the use and Consumption of the Inhabitants
13 That the Inhabitants of the Isle of Man may be allowed to Import Wine from
thence in qualifyed Vessels into Great Britain and Ireland paying the Dutys
at the port of Importation in Vessels not under fifty Tons.
14 That Wines may be allowed to be carried Coastways in the Isle of Man on giving
the Bonds in Vessels not under fifty Tonns
15 That Ships belonging or fabricated in the Isle of Man may be Registered there
as British Vessels.
16 That a Trade to Africa & America be allowed to the Inhabitants of that
Isle with the produce and Manufacture thereof and that they may be allowed to
Import into the Isle the produce & Manufacture of Great Britain and Ireland
free of the Manx Duty in Order for them having proper Assortments for Cargoes
and may become vendable? there and for the like purpose that they may be allowed
to Import into the Isle such Commodities from America as are not enumerated
or prohibited.
Recd 6 Febry 1767
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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