[From Atholl Papers - AP 122(4th) 18 - Letter from Peter John Heywood to Duke of Atholl 23 Feb 1787]

[Letter from Peter John Heywood to Duke of Atholl 23 Feb 1787

Isle of Mann Feby 23d 1787

My Lord Duke

Not two hours after the last Pacquet Sailed from hence which carried the last Letter I had the Honour of writing to your Grace, I received the inclosed Letter from the Collector; the information which it communicates was rumour'd here some months ago, but as I believed it to be fabricated by Old Taubman and the rest of the Keys to serve their own purposes, and your Grace's Friends here being very unwilling to believe such a Report well founded, I did not think it necessary to trouble your Grace with any mention of it.

But having now from such an Authority become the common Topic of Conversation, it will be in its consequences though not true injurious to your Grace's Rights by recociling the Bulk of the Inhabitants to the proceedings of the Keys so very hostile to them; I therefore submit to your Grace the Necessity of having this Report, if not true, Contradicted in an Effectual manner. The Collector has since told me that when Watts the Drover who was appointed Receiver General by Lord Lonsdale came to the Island to be sworn into Office, he showed him a Letter wch Frazer had wrote him previous to his Leaving London acquainting him that he had the Honour of being appointed "Inspector General of the Revenues of the Isle of Mann by Mr Pitt" and that it would be necessary for Watts to attend him in the Island to audit his Accounts. Biut so far was this account of his from breing true, that when Frazer soon after came here Mr Beyham told me he was sent to look into the late Mr Lutwidge's accounts and that when he applied to him and Wilson Lutwidge's Deputy for that purpose they said they had no objections to show him Accts which were of a public Nature But thatr they would be better satisfied in so doing, if he wod show them some authority for his demanding to see them; that upon this requisition, Mr F. with some Embarassment produced a few lines wrote on the back of a Letter, as it seemed to be with a Note from Mr Rose of the Treasury to the following purport, or as Mr. B. recollected in the following Words.

"Mr Rose's Compliments to Mr Frazer has no objection to his making the inquiries he mentioned respecting the Revenues of the Isle of Mann" And yet without any other Authority or Document whatsoever he came here. Settled no account that I know of either with Mr Betham, Wilson or Watts. Spent his time in displaying to the Keys the Magnitude of his Political Connections and in receiving their Adulations. And on getting to Whitehaven on his Road to London sent for the Engineer of the Harbours there - Employed him near a whole Day, directing what he would have done and what undone; he proceeded to the Treasury to fulfil an Embassy, if I may call it, & if I could so call it your Grace from the purport of your last obliging favour to me, would have stood on such an occasion the distinguishing feature in it.

My Duty to your Grace obliges me to, at so critical a time at least, so much so in respect to the Isle, to mention my Sentiments with a Freedom Wish to avoid. But I do it my Lord Duke to give your Grace a better opportunity of knowing than I can do, whether my Fears are real or Imaginary.

I have the honour &c

Genl Smith has promised his Clark D.Callow the place of Water Bailiff of the Island & Frazer writes that he returns here Comsr of the Port of Douglas.