unpublished document 35 - James Wilks' mission to Dublin,1745

From the Diocesan Registry.

Document No. 35.

REV. JAMES WILKS’ MISSION TO DUBLIN TO RECOVER £250 ‘ACADEMICK’ MONEY.

The principal sum appropriated to the uses of the Fund for ‘ the maintenance of a Teacher of Philosophy or Acad : Master’ was £650. £400 of this was laid out in Ireland at 6 per cent. The balance of £250 was in the hands of a Philip Walker of the city of Dublin, with-out any security.

Bishop Wilson and the Trustees of the Castletown Academy were much concerned about this lack of security.

On the 28th Oct., 1742, Bishop Wilson wrote to the Rev. William Ross, the ‘ academic professor’ : ‘ Having had the gout a long time in my right hand, I write this moment in some pain . . . . This money is in danger, which has often broke my rest. Therefore I beg you will let nothing on your part be wanting to stop people’s mouths and to endeavour to prevent all reflections on us after we are in our graves.’ On 30th July, 1743, he wrote again to ‘ ye Reverend Wm. Ross, academic professor’ : ‘ You know yt I am now in my 80th year. You are not many years younger. . . . In what confusion will things be if any of us shd dye?’

And on 4th September, 1744, he finally writes: I will do all in my power to settle this affair before I leave the world, being now in my 81 year, that no reproach may be upon my memory.’

In the following year the Rev. James Wilks, one of the most useful clergymen, secured the money (£250) for the Trust, after an adventurous voyage from Derbyhaven and seven weeks’ varied experiences among the legal fraternity of Dublin.

Mr. Wilks’ record of his expenses during the space of over seven weeks’ residence in Dublin in addition to the charges of his passages from Derbyhaven and back, is so remarkable that it has been decided to print it. One wonders what the bill would be if a similarly-placed official had the same duties to perform in 1932.

From Diocesan Registry.

1745.

AN ACCT. OF THE EXPENSES THAT ATTENDED MY GOING TO DUBLIN CONCERNING THE ACAD: MONEY;

pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated 20th

Novr. 1744.

James Wilks.

Decr. 10—
To Horse Hire to Bp’s Court for my Instructions &c	£0 1 2
Decr. 11—
Do. to Derbyhaven in order to go for Dublin	02 0
Expences there & at Castletown	1 6
Deer. 26—
Horse Hire to Derbyhaven & Expences there &c	0 2 6
Sea Store &c	0 2 6
My Passage	0 5 10
N.B : This is Manks	£0 15 6

Decr. 21 —Boat for putting me ashore from Pole-beg	0 1 1
Supper, Lodging &c at Rings End	0 1 7~

Boy for carrying my Portmanteau to Dublin	0 0 4~
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s at Clantarf	0 0 6~
Ale for ye Sailors	0 0 6
Chaise to Clantarf for Advice &c waiting 1 hour	0 0 9
Coach wth Mr. Kean to Mr. Walker’s	0 1 1
Mr. Kean’s Servt. being sent home with me	0 0 6
The Ferry boat 4 times	0 0 2
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s for Advice &c & waiting 3 hours	0 1 3
Paper Ink & Pens &c	0 0 4
Chaise to Rathfarnam after Mr. Walker	0 0 4
Returned Chaise from Mr. Kean’s, having gone there in the morning wth Mr. Walker	0 0 4
Bottle of Wine wth Mr. Meares Pub Not:	0 1 8
Coach wth Mr. Kean to Mr. Walker’s	0 1 1
Expence extraordinary at ye black Lyon Fleet Street	0 2 0
Do. at Lestrange’s wth Mr. Moor Pub:Not:	0 1 8
Porter wth a Letter to Mr. Walker	0 0 2
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s &c & waiting 4 hours	0 1 7~
Expence at ye black Bull wth Mr. Batters ye Gentlem : who has ye £250	0 3 0
Coach wth Mr. Kean to Mr. Walker’s	0 1 1
Coffee at Lucas’s	0 0 3
Wine at ye black Bull after receiving ye money from Mr. Walker, wth Mr. Moor, Pub : Not : & others [vizt 4-bottles]	0 6 8
[The letters in brackets are crossed out]

Do. making Acquaintance wth Mr. Dalton Pub:Not: in order to get ye money
speedily laid out on good security	0 3 4
Do. at ye Globe Coffee house treating &c wth ye Revd. Mr. Carr	01 8
Punch for Mr. Coultis Attor: & others at ye black Bull	0 2 0
Ale at ye Quay	00 8
Wine wth Ben: Johnson	0 1 8
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s wth Mr. Meare’s
Proposals &c	0 1 0
Expences at ye Dog & Duck	0 0 10
Expence wth Mr. Bush, treating abt. ye £250	0 1 8
Porter wth a Letter to Mr. Bush	0 0 2
Ale &c at ye Quay	0 0 10
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s wth Mr. Bush’s
Proposals and waiting 2 hours	0 1 0
Do. wth Revd. Mr. Carr’s Proposals	0 1 0
Expences at ye Black Bull, receiving Mr. Batters Proposals	0 1 8
Chaise to Clantarf wth Do. & waiting—hours	0 0 10
Porters wth Letters to Messrs. Dalton,Johnson, Meares &c	0 0 5
Expences at ye black Bull wth Mr. Batters	0 1 6
Chaise to Kilcock to see ye Concerns to be mortgaged	0 7 7
Expences on the Quay, bespeaking my Passage home	0 1 0
Coach wth Mr. Kean to Mr. Moor’s ?: Nt: to see the Deeds perfected	0 1 0
Expence at ye black Bull after Supper wth Messrs. Batter, Ward &c after the Deeds were perfected	0 3 4
Porter with my Portmanteau &c to Harris on ye Quay	0 0 10
Breakfast at Rings End	0 0 4
Chaise to Mr. Kean’s for Letters &c & waiting 4 hours	0 1 7~
A Room 7 weeks at 4s.	1 8 0
Fire & Candle &c for 7 Do.	7 4
Dyet for 7 weeks at 7s.	2 9 0
Barber, Shoeboy &c	0 6 3~
The Servt. where I lodged	0 1 1
My Passage home	0 8 1~
A Boat for putting me ashore being a storm	0 1 1
Other incidental Expenses, occasioned chiefly by Mr. Walker’s unnessessary & tedious delays in paying the money, as also, since the money was settled till I cd get a passage home	2 17 6
	£11 16 8

Bishops Court March 4th 1745-6. I have considered the above acct. of Mr. Wilks.

It is Expences in Recovering & Securing 250l. of the Academic Moneys, & upon discoursing with him upon the several particulars, I do find the account & demand to be very just & Reasonable, .& of wch I shall give the Honble. Trustees an Acct.

Tho. Sodor & Man.


	Index Unpublished Docs

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2000