[From Atholl Papers - AP 117(2nd) 11]

Bishop Murray to Duke - 2 September 1818

Bishops Court Septr 2d

My Dear Duke

On my returning home yesterday from paying the last mark of respect to poor Scott, I had the pleasure of finding Lady Sarah safely delivered of a son, they are both going on well.

The Attorney General arrived here a Tynwald Court is about to be summoned for the consideration of the various subjects I mentioned to your grace in London. I hope Stewarts assistant may arrive in time to give him a place in Council preparatary to any discussion of the Questions in agitation, I think they will be confined to the following heads
"To make the Deemsters independent of Fees"
"To encrease the powers of the High Bailiffs"
"To lay a [trifling] tax, or fee, upon Legal Papers"
"To place Strangers, as they are called, upon the same footing as the native Inhabitants giving them the same privileges".

I am not at present aware of any other Propositions that are likely to be brought forward. I think your grace expressed your opinion to be in favor of the above regulations. Should any other measures of a doubtful nature be proposed, we shall, stop proceedings 'till either Stewart or myself have communicated with your grace.

A Mr McCrone an intimate friend of poor Scott arrived in the Island the day befoire his death intending to reside here. I propose giving him the entire management of my tithes, & strongly recommend your Grace to do the same. He appears to me to be a very valuable Person & from the high opinion entertained of him by Scott, who had known him for many years, I am inclined to think he may become very useful to your grace in the Island. Stewart will probably give you some account of him he has for a long time been employed by Government in collecting the [arrears] of Taxes in Glasgow & the neighbouring counties, a stuation of some difficulty & trust, which he has executed faithfully & with great success. Scott's death has rather deterred him from settling here, but Stewart & him have been here to day & I hope we have persuaded him to remain - I think he may eventually be of great use to your grace, as well as to me, & assist in some degree to fill the vacuum caused by poor Scott's Death whose loss we shall all feel very severely. -

With our kind regards to your grave & the Duchess.
believe me ever your affectionate nephew &c &c G. Sodor-Mann

[underlinings in original]

Notes

William Scott age 53 buried Braddan 1st Sept 1818

Manks Advertiser, Thursday, September 3, 1818;

Died suddenly on Friday the 28th ult. in the 53d year of his age, William Scott, Esq. Receiver-General. Twenty-nine years of his useful life were devoted to the service of the public ; having been twenty-four years Collector of the Customs, and nearly twenty years Receiver-General of this Isle.

In the year 1808, he married Charlotte, eldest daughter of the late Lord Henry Murray, and niece to his Grace the Duke of Atholl. He has left to deplore his loss, an amiable lady and five infant children—three sons and two daughters [a posthumous son was born 22 Jan 1819]. His funeral, which took place on Tuesday morning, was attended by a vast concourse of persons of all ranks, including the principal inhabitants of the island. The Hon. the Lieutenant Governor, the Lord Bishop, and all the branches of the Legislature, the Civil Officers and several of the Clergy were present. His remains were deposited in the family vault, at Kk. Braddan.

Mr. Scott was a gentleman of universal and merited esteem ; extremely popular, and deservedly beloved by all who had the honour of his acquaintance. He was not less estimable for his domestic than his public virtues. The current of his useful life was marked by honour and by justice, tempered with the purest and most unaffected philanthropy. His principles were truly christian ; while his amiable and conciliating manners, unadulterated by the assumed graces of a temporizing policy, flowed spontaneously from the sensibilities of a disposition naturally benevolent. - Versant in all the departments of classic and polite literature, he was distinguished not less for ability in his respective honourable appointments, than for every embellishment which adorns and dignifies the higher circles of civilized society. But his merit ended not here. He could "condescend to men of low estate." He possessed those intrinsic qualities, without which great talents serve no other end than that of a vain eclat, while their operations prove rather detrimental than advantageous to society. He had a profound knowledge of mankind in its various conditions; a wide and accurate discrimination of character; an appropriate adaptation of address so attractive, that, wether he administered aid to the distressed or patronage to the deserving, he invariably won the affections of the objects of his munificence ; while he continued tbe able support and promoter of every liberal improvement. Utterly destitute of a meddling party spirit, his friendship was the friendship of merit, and his attachments those us an honourable man. Seldom in the same degree have the courtly polish of the complete gentleman and assuasive meekness of the sincere christian been so happily blended with the solid qualifications of a man of public business endowed with superior talent extraordinary ability, and unimpeachable rectitude of conduct. ; As a member of the Council his extensive information, sound learning and sagacity, rendered him an invaluable acquisition to our insular legislature, and it would he difficult to find one who in occupying his post would not confess;

Sequar—sed huud passibus aequis.

It is happy for christian society to have men of such qualities at the head of the community; and the retrospect of veneration which the present occasion inspires has an ameliorating influence on the morals of the people. Happy is the Nation, whose rulers are distinguished for the purity of their morals ; whose honour, genuine as the source whence it proceeds, reflects back to its celestial origin the lustre of its derivation.

The Manx Advertiser was a strong supporter of the Ducal Interests and that of the established church