[From Atholl Papers - AP_123(2nd) -56]

[James McCrone to Duke - 10 September 1823]

Castle Mona 10 Sept 1823

My Lord Duke

I have been trying to sell the Barley at Ballaughton but I have not been able to do so and we must just have it cut down & preserved.

Before the next season, I hope the farm will be let, and also the Mill, which is now standing still, the tenant having sold up and he is gone off the Island. The Buildings are getting up rapidly, and consequently the Treasury is coming down, but the Banker is in very great spirits owing to the successful fishing & as he is dealing out money in handfuls I hope to catch some of it in November.

The weather is become very fine and the fishing seems to continue and so abundant that the best Peel Herrings are selling at 10/- the cranne - The sun is so strong & hot that in a very few days the Harvest will become general and the crop s are excellent.

The new miners are come over and the first trial they made was in Foxdale where in new ground, at the dept of two or three feet they dug up a lump of lead as big as a Haggis; - the Coalition - the good fishing - the fine weather and the hope of commutation of the tithes and lastly silver ore for the digging up like potatoes! Who would live out of Mona ?

The Bishop of Chester and the celebrated Dr Gardner came here on Monday are making the tour of the Island - dine today at Bishopscourt and take their departure tomorrow.

I have seen the Clerk of the Rolls and he is preparing to see your Grace at Dunkeld about the 20th & he proposes to return with your Grace in October - I have great hopes that he will make a good report as to the Tithes and other matters to present to the Tynwald Court in October. - I enclose an answer to my last letter about the Packet and I have desired them to write to your Grace as soon as they can write more decidedly but you see that you are not to be disappointed on the 14th Oct, and I hope you will not postpone your return beyond that time lest it shall become stormy.

Mr Holmes is become a little figity about the £3000 dp? due in London the 19th Curnt? - He thinks he ought to send it up to preserve recourse but I told him I would write for a New Bill to be granted for a short date, and that when your Grace is returned you would bring dischrges of the Ballaughton Bond and then he would get a Bond in place of the Bill, so I send a Bill which your Grace will please accept and return to me in course and I shall settle it accordingly.

I have the honor &c

Let Mungo sign his name and witness after it at the corner