[from Mills' Statutes, 1821]

INSULA MONAE

At Castle Rushen, the 8th of January, 1711.

Whereas upon the humble Address of the 24 Keyes of the 31st of October last, praying his Lordship to lend such a Sum of Money as shall be needful for defraying the Charges of such Persons as shall be sent from this Island to attend the English Parliament for obtaining a free Trade for this Island with Great Britaine, his Lordship having taken into Consideration the said Address, and the Benefit which may arise from the Contents thereof, has of his great Care and tender Regard to the Welfare of his People of this Isle, been gratiously pleased, upon the Credit of the said Address, to lend the Sum of one hundred Pounds for carrying on the Cause in the Parliament of Great Britaine, the like Sum to be paid unto his Lordship's Treasury within this Isle, by virtue of an Act of Tynwald to be made and proclaimed within six Months next after the Date of the said Address; it is therefore hereby ordered and enacted, That the said Sum of one hundred Pounds shall be raised, levyed, and collected of and from the several Tennants and Inhabitants of the said Island out of their several and respective Holdings, as well Abbey and Baron Lands as Lord's Land, Mills, Cottages, and Intacks, by an equall and proportionable Assess according to their several and respective Estates and Holdings; which said Assess is to be made by four sufficient and able Persons upon Oath, in every Parish, such as the Governor shall approve of and appoint; and the same to be levyed and collected by them according to the usual Way and Course of Assessments within this Island; which said Sum is to be paid into his Lordshipp's Treasury on or before the ninth of June next, by Captain Nicholas Christian, Senior, of Ramsey, and John Harrison of Balla Glonney in Kirk Malew, two of the 24 Keyes, who are hereby authorized and impowered to receive the said Sum from the several and respective Assessors and Collectors of each Parish from Time to Time as they shall be called to pay the same; and if any Person or Persons shall refuse to pay the Sum or Sums of Money that shall be assessed upon him or them as aforesaid, such Person or Persons so refuseing shall be proceeded against according to the due Course of Law: And for the Encouragement of such Persons as shall be appointed to assess and collect the said Sum of one hundred Pounds, the further Sum of five Pounds is hereby enacted to be assessed, levyed, and collected in Manner as aforesaid, and paid to the said Assessors and Collectors for their Trouble and Pains in this Matter, viz. that the said Assessors and Collectors shall have Twelvepence for every Pound they shall collect and pay in as afforesaid.

I do approve of and. confirm the before Act, and require that it be published at the Tynwald Court in usuall Manner.

DERBY.

At a Tynwald Court holden at St. John's Chappel, the 24th of June, 1711.

The before-mentioned Act was published in the usuall Forme of Law.

INSULA MONAE

At a Court holden in Castle Rushen the third Day of August, Anno Domini 1711, before the Governor, Councel, Deemsters, and Twenty-four Keyes, the Representative Body of this Island.

An Act for preventing Frauds in her Majesty's Customes by the Exportation of forreigne Goods from this Island.

Whereas Complaint hath been made to this Court by Her Majesty's Officers of the Customs (residing within this Island) that great Quantities of Tobaccoe and other forreign Goods and Merchandize, which have been imported into this Island from Great Brittaine, and. there intituled, to Drawback by Debenture, all, or the greatest Part of the Duties payable there for the same, have been afterwards exported from hence, and, privately carried back into some Port of Great Brittaine or Ireland, whereby Her Majesty has been greatly defrauded in her Customes and other Duties, and the fair Traders greatly prejudiced; and also, that great Quantities of Wine, Brandy, and other forreign Goods and Merchandize have been shipped of and exported from this Island, and privately landed in Great Britain and Ireland without paying Her Majesty's Customes and other Duties; and the Government of this Island, being willing as much as in them lyes to hinder and prevent the Frauds aforementioned, and being in hopes that her Majestie and the Parliament of Great Brittaine will, in consideration of this Law, and the Poverty of this Island, make it lawfull [196] that the Bestials, or any other Goods of the Growth, Product, and Manufacture of this Island, may be imported and landed in Greatt Britain free of all Customes whatsoever; be it therefore enacted, by the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby, Lord of the said Island, the Governor, Councel, Deemsters, and twenty-four Keyes, That from and after the twenty-ninth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eleven, no Wine, Brandy, or any other forreign Goods and Merchandize whatsoever, shall be shipped or exported from this Island, for any Part of Great Brittaine or Ireland until the Person or Persons exporting the same shall enter into one or more Bonds, with two or more good and sufficient Suretys, Inhabitants on this Island, to be approved of by Her Majesty's chief Officer of the Customes residing here, unto the Waterbayliff of this Island, in Penalty of double the Value of the Customes and other Duties due and payable for the said Goods upon their Importation into Great Brittaine or Ireland respectively, with Condition that the Person or Persons so exporting any of foresaid Goods shall land the same in some Port of Great Brittaine or Ireland, and shall within six Months after the Date of such Bond bring a Certificate in Writing, under the Hands, and Seals of the respective principal Officer of the Customes of the Port or Place where such Goods shall be landed, that the same hath been duly entered, and the Duties thereof paid, the Danger of the Seas excepted; and for want of such Certificate the said Waterbayliff shall, and is hereby obliged to cause the same to be put in suit, and prosecuted to the utmost Effect; and in case the said Waterbayliffe shall not make such effectuall Prosecution for the recovering the Penalty of such Bond, or shall by any Act or Deed of his own vacate or discharge the same, that then and in either of the said Cases the said Waterbayliff (being lawfully convicted thereof) shall forfeit so much as the Penalty of such Bond shall amount unto, and shall also loose his Office, and be for ever thereafter incapable of bearing any publick Employment in the said Island: And it is hereby further enacted, That if any Person or Persons whatsoever shall be aiding or assisting in the Shipping or Exportation of any such Wine, Brandy, or other Goods or Merchandize as aforesaid, before the before-mentioned Security be given, he or they so offending being thereof lawfully convicted as afforesaid, shall forfeit so much as double the Value of the said Customes and other Duties due and [197] payable for such Goods upon their being imported, into Great Brittain or Ireland respectively shall amount unto; and if any the Goods or Merchandize aforesaid shall be put on board any Vessells, Boats, or Barks, before such Security be given as aforesaid, such Goods, together with the Vessells, Boats, or Barks, shall be forfeited and lost: And it is hereby further enacted, That any Officer or Officers of the Customes, lawfully authorised by four or more of the Commissioners of the Customs in Great Britain, shall have full Power and Authority, as well as the Lord's Officers, to seize and prosecute any Goods or Vessels hereby forfeited, and also to prosecute any Person or, Persons whatsoever offending in any the Cases aforesaid; and such Officer or Officers shall have full Power and Authority to repair on board any Ship or Vessell whatsoever, and there to examine and take Account of all the Goods and Merchandize as shall be put on board either for Great Britain or Ireland, or any forreign Parts; and if any of Her Majesty's Officers of the Customes shall be hindered, assaulted, or abused, by any Person or Persons whatsoever, in the Execution of their Duties, either on Land or on Shipboard, all and every such Person or Persons so hindering, assaulting or abusing any such Officer of the Customes, shall forfeit a Sum not exceeding fifty Pounds: Provided always, that it shall and may be lawful for any Person or Persons whatsoever to export from this Island any of the aforementioned forreign Goods and Merchandize into any forreign Port or Nation, the Person or Persons exporting the same making Oath before the Waterbayliff, and in the Presence of Her Majesty's Officer or Officers of the Customes, that no Part of the said Goods shall be landed in Great Brittain or Ireland, and giving Bond in the Value of the said Goods to the Waterbayliff aforesaid, with Condition to land the same in some forreign Port or Nation; and if it shall not be made to appear that the said Goods, or some Part thereof, shall have been landed in Great Britain or Ireland within the Time of three Years, then the said Bond shall be vacated and delivered up. And whereas the hindering the Exportation of Wool of the Growth of this Island into forreign Parts will be of great Advantage to the Woolen Manufacture of Great Brittaine, be it enacted by the Authority afforesaid, That no Wool of the Growth of this Island shall be put on board any Ship or Vessell with an Intention to be shipped or exported to any forreign Parts, except to Great Britaine, upon the Penalty [198] of forfeiting the said Wool: And be it further enacted by the Authority afforesaid, That all the Penalties and Forfeitures before in this Act mentioned shall be distributed and disposed of as followeth, viz. one third Part to Her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, one third Part to the Lord of this Isle, and the other third Part to such Person or Persons as shall seize and sue for the same in any the Courts of Record within this Island.

And in regard it will be necessary for the better Satisfaction of the Officers of the Customs in Great Brittaine, that the Bestialls and Goods of the Growth, Product and Manufacture of this Isle, to be exported thither and are to be free of Customes there, that the same are really so, be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That before Shipping the said Bestialls or Goods for Great Brittaine the Exporter or Exporters thereof shall make Proof upon Oath before the Waterbayliff of this Isle, (Her Majesty's Officer residing here being present,) who is to certify that the same are really and bona fide of the Growth, Product, or Manufacture of this Island; which Certificate is to contain the Tale, Measure, or Weight of such Bestialls or Goods, with the Name or Names, Place or Places of Abode of such Exporters or Persons that shall make such Proof upon Oath as afforesaid, and to be attested by Her Majestie's Officer residing here: Provided always, that if any Question or Controversie shall at any Time arise or happen touching the due Execution of this Act, or any Part thereof, the same shall be determined by the Laws of this Island. And the better to prevent Complaints of this Kind, all Persons, as well Officers as Traders, are to observe Custom-house Hours for the future, viz. from Eight to Twelve, and from Two to Four, in the Winter; and from Six to Twelve, and from Two to Six, in the Summer. And to prevent any Suspicion, Complaints, or Dispute, that shall or may hereafter happen or arise concerning the Exportation of Irish Cattle among those of the Growth and Product of the Island, be it enacted by the Authority afforesaid, That from and after the twenty-nine Day of September afore mentioned, all Irish Cattle imported into this Island shall be branded in the Horne with a particular Mark to be made for that Purpose, one of which Marks is to be lodged in the Hands of the Deputy Searcher of each Port within this Isle, who is imediately upon the Landing of the said Cattle to brand them all with the Mark before mentioned, (for which he is to receive a Penny [199] pr Head from the Importer,) and then to certify under his Hand unto the Waterbayliff, and unto Her Majestie's Officer residing here that the said Cattle are marked and branded by him as aforesaid, before the Importer shall be admitted to an Entry for the same; and if it shall happen that any Importer or other Person or Persons whatsoever shall either neglect or refuse to have his Cattle marked as aforesaid, or shall go about to export any Irish Cattle clandestinely, or any such shall be found in the Island to have been imported from and after the Day aforesaid, upon sufficient proof made thereof, such Cattle shall be forfeited and seized in and to the Uses in and by this Act provided, and the Officer of the Port fined in any Sum not exceeding five Pounds, in case it shall be made appear that the same happened through his Neglect or Wilfullness.

Halnaker, October 6th, 1711.

I allow of and give my consent to this Act, and will that the same be published at the next Tynwald Court according to the usual Forme of Law.

DERBY.

[200] At a Tynwald Court holden at St. John's Chappel

the 5th of November, 1711.

The before-mentioned Act was this Day published according to the usual Form of Law by us the Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and Twenty-four Keyes, whose Names are subscribed.

An Act for preventing Men and Women Servants from going out of this Island, for the better Supply of Servants here for the future.

Whereas of late Years the Servants of this Island, both Men and Women, as soon as they attain to the Age of sixteen or seventeen Years, and fit to serve in the Country, do, under the Notion of Necessity or other Pretence, obtain Lycence, and serve their whole Lives in other Countrys never returning but for their Portions, or when disabled by Age or Sickness, and oftentimes for their Crimes, (being exposed so young,) to the Scandal of the rest of the Natives, whereby this Island is no better than a Nursery for other Places, and the usefull Servants going off, and but a few left, besides such depraved, useless, or inactive People, [201] who are rather a Burthen than any real Service to the Island upon which will inevitably ensue the utter Decay, not only of Husbandry and Tillage, but also of all. Kind of Trade, being thus drained of its useful Strength and Substance, which being too apparent this last Year, many of the best and most substantial Farmers being under a Necessity of obtaining Servants by a Jury, and thereby several Tennants and Householders of lesser Rents obliged to serve them; for preventing which Inconveniencies for the future, be it enacted by the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, the Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and twenty-four Keyes of this Island, That no unmarried young Man or Woman not well known to the Governor shall have Lycence to depart this Island untill they produce unto his Honour a Certificate under the Hand of the Parson or Vicar, and Captain of the Parish where they were born or reside, that they were never at any Service within this Island by the Year or Week for Wages, or any Consideration whatsoever; and that all other unmarried young Men and Women that have been at Service by the Year, Week, or more Time for Money, Cloaths, or other Consideration whatsoever, shall have no Lycence to depart this Isle, till they produce to the Governor a Certificate under the Hand of the Parson or Vicar, and Captain of the Parish where they were born or reside, that they are twenty-five Years of Age, and have served seven Years thereof, or hath served lawful Apprenticeship; and if the Parson, Vicar, or Captain shall wilfully refuse to give his or their Certificate upon the Tender of Twopence, or shall be found to return a false Certificate, such Parson, Vicar, or Captain shall be fined in xxs. to the Lord: And the better to enable the Parson or Vicar, and Captain of the Parishes, to give true Certificates of the Service of the Persons applying to them as afforesaid, such Person or Persons shall be obliged to bring a Certificate from the Masters or Mistresses they have served, to the Parson or Vicar, and Captain, how long they have served, if they require them to do the same; and if any such Master or Mistress shall give a false Certificate, they shall be likewise fined in xxs.; provided always, that this Act shall not be construed to restrain Strangers or Sojourners, Persons in the Service of any Man removing from this Island, to reside in any other Countrey, nor Persons under an absolute Necessity to go off for their Health, or recovering their Right, or some such other just Cause, [202] which the Governor shall think sufficient and approve of; any Thing hereinbefore contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

I do approve of and confirm this Act, and will that the same be published on Tynwald Hill in Forme of Law.

DERBY.

At a Tynwald Court holden at St. Johns Chappel the 24th of June 1713,

The before-mentioned Act was this Day published according to the usuall Forme of Law by us the Deputy Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and 24 Keyes, whose Names are subscribed.

An Act for repairing the Highways within this Island

For amending of Highways within this Isle, which now are or hereafter shall be ruinous, in decay, and dangerous for Travellers, Passengers, and Carriages, be it enacted by the Authority of the Right Honourable James Earle of Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, the Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and twenty-four Keyes, That the Setting Quest of every Parish shall yearly, upon every Tuesday next after Michaelmas Day, meet and elect, and appoint one or more sufficient Person or Persons, such as the Governor and Officers at the several Sheading Courts shall approve of, to be Overseer of the Highways within the severall Parishes of this Isle for one whole Year; and the said Setting Quests, under the Penalty of xs. Fine, are to give Notice to the said Persons to appeal at the next Sheading in Court held for that Parish after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel in every Year, to take their Oathes for the Execution of the said Offices, upon Pain any of them making Default to forfeit ten Shillings to the Lord of this Isle; and such Overseers so approved of and sworn shall be exempt and freed from serving in Jurys, Muster, Watch, and Ward within this lsland, during the Time they shall continue in the said Offices. And for the Manner of repairing the Highways, be it enacted by the Authority afforesaid, That all and every Person and Persons whose Lands adjoin to the Highway, as well Intacks as Barron's and Lord's Quarterlands, that are now out of Repair, shall, within one Month after the Publication of this Law, expend the Sum of three Shillings and Fourpence apiece in repairing of the same, after such Manner as the said Overseer of the Parish or District where the same lies shall order and direct, and thereupon to be freed from any further Charge that Year; and if the said 3s. 4d. do not sufficiently repair the said Ways, that then the said Way shall be further repaired by the Labour of the rest of the Inhabitants of the said Parish, that is to say, every Person or Persons holding a Quarter- [204] land, as well Barron's as Lord's Tennants, shall send one sufficient Horse, with a Cart or Creels, convenient for the Amendment of the said Highways, and an able Man with the same, with an English Spade, or other necessary Tools, as the Overseer of the Highways for the Time being shall direct and appoint; and if any Person or Persons shall have more or less than one Quarter of Land, he or they shall do their Service to the said Highways proportionably to what is above-mentioned, upon Pain for every Time that any of the above-mentioned Person or Persons shall make Default to forfeit 2s. 6d. to be employed for Repair of the Highways; and that every Intack and Cottageholder, not being an hired Servant by the Year, shall by himself, or sufficient Labourer, come to the Amendment of the said Highways with such necessary Tools as they use in their own Work, upon Pain of every Intack or Cottageholder making Default to forfeit for every Day 12d. to be employed as abovesaid; for the Performance of the abovesaid Repairs, the said Overseers are to charge the Tennants and Inhabitants of their respective Parishes in a due and regular Course, without Favour or Affection. Be it enacted by the Autherity aforesaid, That where any Water or Spring lies in the HIghway, without any sufficient Drain to carry it off, it shall and may be lawful for the said Overseer not only to cause Trenches to be opened in the Highway but also cause to be cutt or open one or more Draine or Draines into the Lands adjoining, to carry off the said Water, in such Places as shall be most convenient; which Trenches or Draines are afterwards to be kept open, and cleansed by the Owners of the Lands at their own proper Costs and Charges. And that the Reparations of the said Highways may hereafter in due Manner be well and sufficiently made, be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if there shall be Stones, Gravell, Sand, &c. wanting which cannot conveniently be had in any Wast or Common within Half a Mile of the Place where such Repairs are to be made, it shall and may be lawful for the Overseer of the Highways to enter into any Person's Land where the same may he found, and to digg, raise, and carry away such a Quantity of Stones, Gravell, or Sand, as shall be sufficient to repair the Highway, the same not being in any House, Yard, Garden, or Meddow, but where it be of least Damage to the Owner of the said Lands, the said Overseer causing the Pitts made on this Occasion to be filled up again, with Rubbish and Earth; always pro- [205] vided, that if the Damage be considerable, that Satisfaction is to be made to the Owner of the Land by a regular Assess at the publick Charge of the Parish, as the Governor and Officers shall think fit to order; and the said Overseer of the Highways shall always have a Way for carriage of the said Stones, Gravell, or Sand, through any Lands that lies betwixt the Place the same is got and the Highway in such Place as shall be of least Damage to the Owner of the Lands, he causing what Gapp he shall make to be sufficiently made up again; all which to be done at the publick Labour of the Parish in Manner as aforesaid. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Part of the Highway shall be found not to be of a sufficient or lawfull Breadth, it shall and may be lawfull for the Overseer of the Highways to enlarge the same out of the Barrons or Quarterlands adjoining thereunto, where there is noe Intacks or Incroachments on the opposite Side of the Way, out of which Intacks the said Highways is to be first enlarged; and that all Persons who have, or are obliged to keep Gates on the Highway, shall, within three Months next after Publication of this Act, make the same seven Feet wide in the clear, otherwise in Default to forfeit 10s. to the Lord for every Time he shall neglect to do the same. And forasmuch as there will be a Necessity for Pickaxes and Crows in each Parish within this Isle for the repairing the Highways, be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That there shall be four Pickaxes and one Crow made where needfull, provided and kept in Repair in every Parish within this Isle by an equall Assess upon the Inhabitants thereof, as well Barron's as Lord's Tenants; which said Pickaxes and Crows are to be lodged in the Hands of the Overseer of the Highways of the said Parish, to be employed in the repairing of the Highways only; and as often as the said Overseers are changed, the said Pickaxes and Crows to be delivered to the new Overseers, otherwise in Default the old Overseer shall be liable to make good the same, and provide another, or as many as shall be wanting, at his own Cost and Charges; and if the new Overseer of the Highways shall conceal the want of such Pickaxes and Crows as are not delivered unto him byu the old Overseer, he shall be fined in 6s. 8d. for the same, and in case of the Death or Insolvency of the Overseer in whose Hands, the same miscarry, shall also be lyable to make good the same at his own proper Cost and Charges, if the Fault appear to be in him. [206] And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Overseers of the Highways, together With the Captain and four of the Great Enquest of the several Parishes within this Island, shall twice in every Year, viz within a Week after Candlemas Day, and within a Week after Midsummer Day, view all the Highways within the several Parishes and Precincts, as well on the Mountains as the Low Lands; and where they find any Part of the Highwayes to be out of Repair, the Overseers of the several Parishes are to give Notice to such Persons as are before by this Act obliged to repair the said Highways, of the Days and Place which the Overseer shall appoint for the same, by making Publication thereof two Sundays next before the Days appointed, at the several Parish Churches, and to affix a Paper on the several Churches Doors, containing the Days appointed, and the Names of such Persons as are to come to repair of the said Ways, to the End that no Person may plead Ignorance thereof. And forasmuch as several Persons, without any farther Care taking, turn their Horses, Cattle, and Goods into the Highway, more especially in the Winter Time, to the great Prejudice and Damage of such Farmers as have Lands adjoining to the Highways, be it therefore enacted by the Authority afforesaid, That if any Person or Persons shall suffer his or their Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Goates, or such like Goods, to go, remaine, and be in the Highways, except Travellers for refreshing their Horses for two Hours, that it shall and may be lawful for such Tennants or Farmers, at any Time in the Year, as well Winter as Summer, to lead, drive, or carry away the said Goods so being in the Highways to the Pinfold in that Parish where such Goods shall be so found as aforesaid; and the Owner or Owners of the said Goods to pay the like Trespass Money and Fees for the said Goods in such Manner as by a late Act, made the 25th of June 1705 against trespassing in Winter and Summer, is provided, any Thing before to the contrary hereof notwithstanding; and if any Dispute arise what shall be accounted Highways, the same shall be determined by the Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and twenty-four Keyes. And it is further enacted by the Authority. aforesaid, That the Governor, or any of the Lord's Councell, or either of the Deemsters, or any of the 24 Keyes, shall have Power and Authority upon his or their own View and proper Knowledge, at any Court of Chancery, or at any the Sheading Courts, to make a Presentment of any Highway within this [207] Isle out of repair and in decay, or of any other Default or Offence, comitted and done, either by the Neglect of the Overseers, or the Persons failing to come to the Repair of the Highways, contrary to the Provision, Intent, and true Meaning of this Statute; upon which Presentments such reasonable Fines shall be imposed as the Governor and Officers at any Court of Chancery, or Sheading Court, shall think fit to sett; and if any Difference happen in any Thing relating to this Act, the same shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery, or Sheading Court. And it is further enacted, That all Causeways upon Highways shall not be less than 3 Foot wide, and that all Pavements in Streets and Market Towns shall be even and regularly paved by the severall Inhabitants thereof to the Middle of the Street, as farr as their Penny Rent extends, within one Month next after the Publication of this Act, and afterward for the future to be always kept in good Repair, upon Pain of xs. Fine for every Default or Neglect, one Half to the Lord of this Isle, and the other to the Constable or Captain of the several Garrisons or Forts of the said Isle, if they, or any of them, make Presentments of any the Defaults or Neglects afforesaid, if any be, at the then next Chancery or Sheading Courts, who are hereby impowered from Time to Time to make Presentments; and if the said Constables or Captains neglect to make such. Presentments to forfeit vs., one Half to the Lord's Use, and the other Half to any Person that shall informe against the said Constables or Captains for their Neglect.

Castle Rushen, 28th January, Anno 1712.

I do approve of and confirm this Act, and will that the same be published on the Tynwald Hill in Forme of Law.

DERBY.

At a Tynwald Court holden at St. Johns Chappel the 24th of June 1713,

The before-mentioned Act was this Day published according to the usuall Forme of Law by us the Deputy Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and 24 Keyes, whose Names are subscribed.

At a Court

Holden at Castle Rushen the 25th Day of September 1713, before the Governor, Councell, Deemsters, and 24 Keyes of the Island.

Whereas in compliance with and Proposals laid before the Honourable the Commissioners of Her Majestie's Customes to prevent the Complaints made by them touching the Exportation of forreign Goods from this Island, there was a Law made here, published and proclaimed the 5th of November 1711, and imediately put into Execution, restraining the Trade of this Island, by obliging all Persons exporting forreign Goods from hence to enter into Bond with two or more sufficient Sureties, Inhabitants of this Island, [209] that the said Goods so exported by them should be landed in the Port or Place the same were entered for, and to return Certificate within six Months that her Majesty's Duties were fully paid, otherwise the Bond to be forfeited and sued, with many other Restrictions, as in and by the said Act may more fully appear; in consideration of which Laws so past and put in Execution within this, Island, it was hoped and expected that the Parliament of Great Brittain would make it lawfull for the Inhabitants of this Island to import into Great Brittain the Bestialls and other Goods of the Growth, Product, or Manufacture of this Island, free of all Customes and Duties whatsoever, according to our true Intent and Meaning in passing the said Act, and according to the Proposals laid before the said Commissioners, considered and agreed upon by them, who were attended by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of this Island, William Sedden, Attorney General, and Ewan Christian, one of the 24 Keyes, upon Expence upwards of eight Months on this Occasion; which said Proposalls were by them the said Commissioners laid before the Honourable the Lords of the Treasury to be forwarded into Parliament, as the likelyest Means to prevent the Complaints aforesaid; And forasmuch as the said Act hath ever since the said 5th of November been in force and punctually observed, without any Freedom granted to the Inhabitants of this Island in respect to their Trade with Great Brittain as aforesaid, but that the Comodities of this Island stand still burthened with the same high Duties there as heretofore, by Means whereof our small Trade here is greatly sunk, the Inhabitants discouraged in the Importation of their Goods into Great Brittain, and the Merchants Stranger having forsaken us, as deterred and rendered incapable of trading amongst us, by reason of the Restrictions and Hardships they are lyable to by the said Act, being such as is not practiced or required in any Part of Her Majesty's Dominions, and considerable Quantitys of their Goods perished and decayed here for want of Freedom to export them, the Effects whereof being already too apparent by the Decay of Trade amongst us, and the general Stop there is at present to the Sail and Vent of those few Comodities this Island affords, by the Continuance of which will soon ensue the Misery and Decay of this Land, and the Inhabitants thereof, under which we can no longer support ourselves: Therefore we the Governors Councel, Deemsters, and 24 Keyes of this Island, do [210] humbly pray and desire the Right Honourable James Earl of Derby, Lord of the said Island, that the said Act may be suspended; and be it enacted by the Right Honourable James Earle of Derby, Lord of Man and the Isles, the Governor, Councel, Deemsters, and twenty-four Keyes, of the same, That the said Act shall from the Day. of the Publication hereof be suspended, and of no force for one Twelvemonths next imediately following the said Day of Publication hereof, and so from Year to Year afterwards, or untill the Freedom of Trade for the Inhabitants of this Island with Great Britain be granted as the same was agreed upon with the Honourable the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customes in London in Manner as is before mentioned; and the same (to prevent the Ruin of this Island) is hereby suspended and made void to all Intents and Purposes during the Term afforesaid; and that all Persons trading to this Island shall be free from the Restrictions and Hardships therein mentioned during the said Term, the said Act or any Thing therein contained to the contrary hereof notwithstanding,

I do approve of and confirm this Act, and will that. the same be published on the Tynwald Hill in Forme of Law.

DERBY.

[211] At a Tynwald Court holden at St. John's Chappell

the 27th of May, 1714.

The beforegoing Act being approved of and confirmed by our Honourable Lord in Manner as aforesaid, was this Day publickly proclaimed upon the Tynwald Hill according to antient Forme and Custome; as witness our Hands the Day and Year above written.