[From Manx Annals,1901/2]

MANX ANNALS.
NINETY YEARS AGO.

CHAPTER VII.

More Advertisements

"The inhabitants of Douglas are informed that a regular supply of unadulterated milk will be sent into Douglas every morning, New milk from 12th May 3d Manx, and , for the winter half year 3d British; skim-milk 1½ d the Manx whole-year." No quantity cited for the sums mentioned, but I suppose it was a quart — The difference between 3d Manx and 3d British was a halfpenny.

John Clarke, plasterer, says : — "Any person wishing to know his prices may have a copy by calling on him at his house at Bigwell-street"

An advertisement of an estate at Baldwin', says; "The view of the vale of Baldwin, the meandering of the White river, the town and bay of Douglas, and the distant hills of Cumberland and Wales is singularly beautiful," At that time it was most unfashionable to mention any Manx word, so the Advertiser altered the River Glass to White river. In another part d the paper, where it has occasion to mention the River Dhoo, it speaks of the "Dark" River.

Two small houses were to be let in the "New Street" below St. George's Church.

A teacher thus advertised for :" Wanted a sober and discreet woman as a school mistress in the parish of Kirk Christ, Rushen, qualified to teach reading, sewing, and knitting. In addition to what she may receive from her scholars per quarter, she shall have a house of four rooms to live in and teach in ; apply to the Vicar and Wardens

Pupils were asked for in this manner: — "The Rev J- M'G- — having always been accustomed to have his time thoroughly occupied, and feeling very uncomfortable without somewhat to engage his mind, his resolved to endeavour to be useful to society as well as to employ himself. He will, therefore, undertake the daily care of ten, young gentlemen, whose education, he will attend to , &c, &c." His terms were : — Board, tuition and writing, fifty guineas, and five guineas entrance; day scholars two guineas a quarter and two guineas entrance. He was evidently bent on filling his pockets but somehow his scheme was not a success as he shortly went to the White House Michael where he stayed for a short time, and removed from there to Castle Rushen where he soujourned for a lengthened period as a prisoner for debt.

"Margaret Vinch has just received from England a quantity of Lough leeches, which may be. had on applying to her, at the house of Mr John Quirk, butcher Douglas,"

'Advantageous situation for brick-making adjoining the town of Ramsey, where there is good clay for the purpose, and command of water during the driest season. Apply to Capt. Christian who will either agree to give so much a thousand for making and burning, he finding sale; or to receive a proportion of the bricks when burned, for the clay and use of the premises.

'John Gallagher, rat catcher, from Manchester, informs that any gentleman, farmers, and others whose premises are infected with rats can have then effectively destroyed. Apply to Thomas Knail's, Queen-street, Douglas.

The Isle of Man Insurance Company opened on Monday, March 18th [1811] at Castletown. The capital of the company is unlimited, being fact what each and all of the members are or may be worth. But for their own mutual satisfaction they have secured and deposited a sum of £10,000 to be ready at call, The members are George Quayle & Co., bankers; John J. Crellin; Wm. Scott; Robert Stewart, Thomas Stowell, Norris Moore, William Callow & Co., Edward [sic ? ] Graves & Co., John Q. Gelling, Lewis Geneste & Son. Common Insurance 3s per £100; hazardous 3s 8d; doubly hazardous 5s; mills declined."

Of these : — George Quayle, the banker was a member of the House of Keys, born 1753, died 1838, son of John Quayle, Clerk of the Rolls, by his wife Margaret daughter of Sir George Moore, of Ballamoar. John F Crellin was Deemster, born 1764, died 1816 ; from him come the Crellins of Orrisdale. William Scott was Receiver-General, lived on the Quay, Douglas, and was connected with the Duke of Athol, I believe, through marriage — Thomas Stowell was Clerk of the Rolls, and died 1821. Edward Gawne & Co.. were noted then as brewers ; I think their bank opened shortly afterwards. Norris Moore was High-Bailiff of Douglas. Lewis Geneste belonged to a well-to do family of merchants. The first of that family was, I believe, Lewis Geneste, merchant, of Douglas, who died in 1769, aged 65, His son — another Lewis — died 1819, aged 77. The latter had, with a number of other children, Lewis, who became a clergyman, and who died 1858. In the first half of the century, the Geneste family seemed to have given up trade and entered professions. The name, I think, died out in the Island about 1860.

In April appeared a notice that " the Hon. Mrs. Whalley would let the garden lately occupied by George Redfern, Proposals received by Major Ormsby, Fort Anne."

Fort Anne was at that time a private residence built by 'Buck' Whalley. According to a tradition, Whalley was to enjoy his fortune on condition that he dwelt on English soil. He, however, chose to live in Douglas, and, to keep within the letter of the agreement, imported a boat load or two of English soil, and , built his house on it, christening the place Fort Anne Major Ormsby was — though I am not sure — a son-in-law of Mrs. Whalley. In later years it was inhabited by Deemster Christian or one of his family, and later still by Sir William Hillary, who had bought it. It was eventually sold and turned into an hotel,

A quarrel must have been the origin of this "Owing to a report that William and Margaret B— were said to have spread a report that William Kelly, of the Union Mills, was drowned on his passage to the Isle of Man, and that the cards, tickets, or, notes , drawn, payable to him would not be taken or accepted, and in consequence of which W. B— was discharged, W. and M. B— offer five guineas to find out who put the report on them. ' In the following week Mr Kelly said that " William B— made a mistake in his statement, as he was discharged from my employ two months at least before I left home. Consequently he was not discharged in December, 1810, for any report he could circulate in the month of May 1811:'

" Dr. Bible has taken a lease of the houses next to Mr Clucas's , druggist, Muckle's Gate, at present in the possession of the Rev S. Haining," The doctor came to the Island in the spring of that year. He seems to have been of a charitable disposition, judging from the following from a paper of March 6th: — The debtors confined in Castle Rushen acknowledge the very humane and Samaritan-like offer of Dr. Bible to attend them in the hours of sickness, particularly as hereto no medical assistance has been afforded. Two persons request that he will accept their warmest thanks for his personal attention, and for medicine which he sent gratis."

In June the British Brewery, Laxey, was advertised to be sold on 17th July. This was objected to by two others who advised the public not to buy as they had an interest in the concern. The week following brought forth this polite denial of the interest in question : —

"The British Brewery. The proprietor (having been advised that some expatriated English and Irish of the tribe of Jonathan Wild have been, and are endeavoring to asperse his character by the propagation and sedulous circulation of notoriously false and villainous rumours more particularly with a view to injure or defeat the sale of the said concern) begs to remind the public that in spite of the machinations of his abject and contemptible enemies, the premises will be submitted agreeable to the advertisement. The attack upon his character by such assassin shaped miscreants, the proprietor deems proper to treat with silent scorn."

Well that is silent scorn with a vengeance. If the proprietor's beer was anything like as strong as his language, I have no doubt he did a roaring trade ; probably he was at that precise time about to retire on a fortune.

Next week — "Annals of Eighty Years Ago".