[Appendix A(19) 1792 Report of Commissioners of Inquiry]

N° 19.

ISLE of MAN PETITION.

To the honourable the Commons of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled.

The humble Petition of Thomas Moore and Hugh Cosnahan, two of the 24. Keys of the Isle of Man, on Behalf of themselves and the rest of the said Keys, as Representatives of the People of the said Isle,

Sheweth,

THAT your Petitioners observe by the Votes, of, this honourable House, that a Bill is depending for a Third Reading, intituled a Bill for the more effectually preventing the Mischiefs arising to the Revenue and Commerce of Great Britain and Ireland, from the illicit and clandestine Trade to and from the Isle of Man:

Your Petitioners beg Leave humbly to represent that the Isle of Man, for Time immemorial, hath been governed by its own Laws: and Customs.

That the Right of enacting and abrogating Laws hath .been always vested in and, jointly exercised by the Lord, the Governor, Principal Officers, and Deemsters, .(who constitute the Lord's Council) and by the Commons, represented, by their Keys; when this Concurrence is obtained, Laws are compleated, and from thenceforth binding, without any further Sanction whatsoever.

That the Inhabitants of the said Isle being expressly prohibited by the Laws of Great Britain to import Foreign Merchandise from the said Isle into Great Britain and Ireland, and also virtually prohibited by high Duties from exporting the Produce of their own Island into Great Britain, have, for Time immemorial, traded with Foreign Countries in importing Goods and Merchandizes to said Isle on Payment of certain Duties to the Lord, which were imposed thereon by the Law of the Isle, and, according to the Constitution thereof, could not be altered without the Consent of the People.

That whenever any Complaint hath been made against the Trade of the Island, or the Practices of Individuals, as prejudicial to the Revenue of Great Britain, the Keys have been always desirous to contribute every Thing in their Power for the Remedy of` such Mischiefs: And particularly in the Year 1711, upon the like Complaint being made against the Trade of the Isle, a Treaty was entered into between the Commissioners of the Customs in England, authorized, as it was understood, by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and certain Deputies from the then Lord and the Keys of the Island. It was agreed that a Law should be passed in the said Isle to regulate their Trade to Great Britain ; and in Consideration thereof that the Cattle and all other Goods of the Growth, Produce, and Manufacture of the Isle of Man should be imported to Great Britain Duty free. In Confidence whereof, a Law, reciting the said Agreement, accordingly passed in the said Isle. But the Terms not being in any Manner complied with, the Law of the Island was, in the Year 1714, suspended until the Liberty of Trade should be granted them as aforesaid.

That since it is thought expedient for the Public Utility, that in the View of regulating Trade, any Part of the Laws and Customs of the said Island should be altered, (in which Case your Petitioners resign themselves with all Duty and Submission to the Pleasure-of the-British Parliament) your Petitioners humbly supplicate the Justice and Compassion of this honorable house, to interpose in Behalf of the Inhabitants near 30,000 in Number: That some reasonable Indulgence may be given to them for the ancient Privileges they must in such Case be deprived of. And your Petitioners the rather presume to hope for such Indulgence, as they observe by the Votes the House hath come to a Resolution, that a very considerable Sum should be paid to the noble Proprietors as a Compensation for the Rights; which the House thought expedient to be taken from them, and vest in the Crown.

That your Petitioners beg Leave to represent to the House, in Order to obviate Any Objection that may be made on Account of the Delay of this Application, that upon the first Notice they received of the Bill being presented, they applied to the Governor of the said Island, according to the settled Forms and Constitution thereof, to be convened to consider of the Situation of their Affairs. The Governor has pleased, by written Answer on the 28th January last, to refuse your Petitioners Request; and that your Petitioners were not convened until the 19th March last, since which they have used all possible Dispatch in making this their; humble Application Your Petitioners therefore humbly; pray this honourable House will give them Liberty to be, heard: by their. Council for their Interest against the said Bill, and that your Petitioners may have such Relief in the Premises as to the Wisdom and Justice of this honourable House shall seem meet.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

The before-written Paper Writing is a true Copy of the Petition presented to the honourable House of Commons of Great Britain, in the Behalf of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Man, which hath been in my Possession ever since the day it was presented, in the Year 1765.

THO. MOORE.

Received from Mr. Deemster Moore,

Sept. 28, 1791 (C.-P.),

Douglas, 28th Sept 1791.;