[From Atholl Papers - AP 122(4th) 10]

[Letter from Peter John Heywood to Duke of Atholl 30 Sept 1786]

Isle of Mann Septr 30 1786

My Lord Duke

Since I had the Honor of writing my last Letter to your Grace I have had some conversation with Mr Betham the Collector of Douglas from whom I learned some futher particulars relative to the newly appointed Receiver General which I thought might be necessary to apprize your Grace of. He told the Collector he knew no more the amount of the Salary annexed to the Office than he did of his appointment to it till he arrived in the Island, he was accompanied here by a Mr Knight a young Sollicitor in London, who is a sort of Deputy to Mr Dyson the Sollictor to the Admiralty. That Watts never had an Idea of visiting the Isle of Mann until he received a Letter from Mr Frazer acquainting him that he was Ordered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to come to the Island to inspect the late Mr. Lutwidge's Accounts since the year 1783 and to report from what Fund the Bounties appropriated for the encouragement of the Herring Fishery of this Isle could be best applied and that he wished to see him in the Island to talk with him on business. That being ignorant of any sort of Business but his own he applied to Knight with whom he was acquainted to accompany him to the Island which he consented to do on his being paid the usual charge of a Guinea a Day & his Expences. Mr Betham tells me that the Commission is by Warrant from the Treasury signed by Mr Pitt, The Marquis of Graham and another of the Lords Commissioners of that board, but does not recollect or believe that the Royal Sign Manual was affixed to it. Indeed that was imposible because Mr Lutwidge's Commission was under the King's hand only - Revenue appointments are always with some few Exceptions as in the case of patent places only by warrant from the Treasury. But it is scarcely credible to suppose that the Ministry sho^d be perfectly ignorant that the Office of Receiver General is wholly of a Civil Nature for the reason I had the honor of mentioning in my last Letter to your Grace. Mr Watts returned to Whitehaven last Pacquet. Mr Betham says Senhouse Wilson is to have £100 a year of the Sallary for doing the business here. Mr Knight a £150 of it for transacting the business in London & the other £50 for himself and that Mr Knight has been appointed by Lord Lonsdale Deputy Vice Admiral of the Coasts of the County of Cumberland

How the accounts of the Receiver General are to be Audited & Settled from the Mode in wch the Business is to be transacted Mr Betham says he cannot comprehend as he conceives Mr Watts must sign & swear to them as Mr Lutwidge always did.

He says that his [Watts?] Signature to the copy of the Commission is scarcely Legible & what is more extraordinary than anything I have informed your Grace he had directions not to take Whitehaven in his way to the Island but to come by Liverpool.

Since the Weather has become Moderate the Herring Fishery has been very Successful, near 400 Boats sail in & out of this Harbour every Moderate day but your Grace can scarcely believe the inconvenience the Fishermen have met with for these two Seasons for the want of a Water Bailiff to whose Direction the Fishery the Staple of this little Teritory wholy appertains. In case of damage, either at Sea or in the Harbour, whether wilfull or Accidental, No Civil Magistrate here either Governor or Deemster can interfere, and the Sufferer is without Remedy and I think the advantages procured by Lord Buckingham for the Encouragement of it will be of little avail till the regulation of the Fisheries itself is put upon a proper Footing.

I have not yet been served with the Lt Govr's Decree respecting the Coins but I am in hourly Expectation of it.

I have the honor &c

Peter John Heywood
by Richard Clague

P.S. I hsave forgot to mention to your Grace that Mr Watts told Mr Betham before he left the Isle that Mr. Frazer had no Conversation whatsover with him on Business.