[From Home Office File HO 98/68]

Clarke to Hobhouse 9th December 1817

John St Bedford Row [Liverpool]
Dec 9 1817

Sir

I find the following memorandum in the Life of Bisop Wilson "1708 September 21 Consecrated the chapel of Douglas, having contributed £10 and begged 60 l more towards the building of it."

In the life of Bishop Hildesley the following: viz "Bishop Barrow has so effectively employed his interest with King Charles as to obtain for the poorer clergy and the school masters in the Island a grant of £100 per annum, which to this day is continued to be paid out of the civil list, although by deductions for fees of office, it now amounts to little more than 80 l a year"

The same Bishop bought of the Earl of Derby all the Impropriations in the Isle of Man for the same pious purpose & his purchase was afterwards set aside as invalid by the Athol family, and Lord Derby was obliged to refund a larger sum of money, which has been recently invested in a very considerable parcel of lands in the Island, the rents of which go to the maintenance of the [clergy]

The present Duke is, therefore, the owner of the impropiations in the Island, which embrace a large proportion of the tythes. The Duke owns the Bishopric, and presents to most of the livings, and the Crown I am sorry to say, has no control [over] the Church property in the Island The Duke has done nothing for the Clergy of the Island, nor made any advances towards it, and I fear never will, and I may now mention for my Lord Sidmouth's information, that his Grace is anxiously waiting for the opportunity, if it ever should present itself of selling to the Crown the remainder of all his rights in the Island, civil and ecclesiastical - This at present occupies all his thoughts.

There was whilst I was in the Island a subscription set on foot for Mr Brown, the curate of the Chapel at Douglas. This gentleman is the school master at Douglas, and receives a small stipend in consequence of it - I wish I could give you further information - I am a Trustee in one of the last institutions in the Island viz the Academic School founded by Bishop Barrow - The Duke, who is jealous of the Crown beyond all measure, would dispute this - I have however a copy of the original deed of foundation, which makes the point clear, and the last Atty General but one frequently acted as Trustee.

I am &c

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