[From Atholl Papers - AP 122(2nd)-18]

P J Heywood to Duke 3 December 1780

Douglas 3d December 1780

My Lord Duke

Since I had the honour of writing to your Grace on the 26th Novr last I have had some conversation with Mr Betham the Collr of this port who is very happy in embracing every opportunity of promoting your Graces Interest in this Island, and he informs me that some considerable Alterations are very soon to be made in the Revenue Department here. Some Officers have been found guilty of Frauds and are expected to be dismissed - Two boatmen have been under suspension above a year. Some new Officers are to be created and some changes are proposed in the other ports, and this whole arrangement and nomination is to be settled and fixed by Mr Lutwidge and Mr Taubman has recommended sevl persons to him. The Officers expected to be dismissed are a Mr Webb Searcher at Castletown, his Sallary £50 a year & Fees above 50£ more - and a Mr Clague a Riding Officer at £40 and Deputy Collr of Derby Haven which Office he executes for the Fees which generally amount to £100 a year, and when the Herring Fishery is good, to a great deal more, a Mr Cullen the Searcher of Douglas is in a very bad State of Health and as Mr Betham informs me is not likely to live till spring.

From the very active part Mr Lutwidge has hitherto taken in opposition to your Graces measures, and from the promises he has made of his future assistance, declaring publickly here as well as privately to Mr Betham, that your graces Efforts will be fruitless, there is not the smallest doubt but he will use his utmost Endeavor to continue to fill up these places as he has been accustomed to do, for without the Exercise of this power his Influence here will be nothing. But I trust your Grace will at this critical time take proper measures to establish the patronage of the Revenue as well as the Civil Establishment of this Isle in your Grace in such a manner with the Ministers in whose Department they respectively lie, as will effectually prevent its being ever diverted out of that Channel. For I beg leave once more to repeat to your Grace, in which opinion I am joined by Mr Betham that nothing would so effectually crush the opposition that has been formed to obstruct your Graces measures here - the first Appointment made thro' your recommendation would create an immediate Alteration in the Sentiments of the Inhabitants and rid us of abundance of trouble.

An Oppertunity may, and will I hope in due time offer itself when the Administration of the public Affairs of this isld will be properly and impartially examined into, whenever that happens Lutwidges Conduct will from the Information I have received afford abundant room for censure - Small as the Kings Revenues are here, seldom amounting to £3500 a year, you will see from the list I gave your Grace what a great proportion of that Sum is applied to the collection of it. Mr Lutwidge's Sallary in that List is set down at £400 i.e. £300 as Recr Genl, 80£ as Water Bailiff and £20 as Admiral. But to my very great surprize I find he had had for above 13 years past £230 a year more vizt £100 a year as Surveyor of the Riding Officers, a place created in 1767, and your Grace will probably smile, when I am to say that there are but 3 riding Officers in the whole Island, and the Surveyor of them lives in England; for the Stationary Books, paper ink and wax supposed by Mr Betham at abt £100 a year tho the whole made use of annually does not exceed £10 a year, and £30 a year as Manager of the Harbour in all £630 a year neat Sallary and allowing for his pay and charges and attending the Treasury in Londone once a year the whole may be worth yearly as Mr Betham thinks nearly £1000.

I beg leave to inclose a Letter which my Brother received from the arch Deacon and my answer, the Demesne was let to him by Quayle & Callow for £13 but I hope to get a great deal more than he has now offered.

I am &c Peter Jno Heywood

P.S. I forgot to tell your Grace that Mr Betham informed me that Col Smith comes here next February, having order wine to be laid in and other things for his Reception, and purposes staying here the whole Summer - Mr Dawson goes away upon his arrival - Whether the Alteration may be for the better or otherwise 'tis hard to say. I shall not flatter my self with any thing agreeable from the charge, as I find when he was here, he depended solely on Mr Quayles Advice and Information in every thing. I hope however your Grace will have an Oppertunity of seeing him before he leaves london. The Sallary of the Govr is only £400 - The Lt Govr who has a seperate Commission having £200 and I heartily wish it was in your Graces power to prevail with Mr Smith to resign on getting something better, and the place disposed of on your Graces Recommendation that would prove a Radical cure for every mischief here.