[From Atholl Papers - AP 33(B)(2nd) 4]

[Letter of D. Mylrea & J. Quayle to Duke of Atholl 21 Dec 1767]

May it please your Grace

Castletown Decr 21st 1767

Your Grace's favor of the 15th Ult we had the honor to receive last packet and as we mentioned to the Govr the expediency of having the rent of the houses demesnes &c ascertained; but as his Excellencys appointmts and every other matter relative to this Government are soon to be settled, the Govr thought it would be no inconvenience to your Grace to postpone it a little longer.

Your Grace's Revenue Accounts for the years 1765 & 1766 will be ready to send & wait your Grace's directions - we humbly propose forwarding them to Mr Kenedy who now resides in Liverpool & might send them to your Grace, when in London, by the coach; but we desire to know your Grace's pleasure - as soon as the Alienation fines for the year 1767 are settled and collected, we shall also transmit the accounts for that year.

Mr Christian's licence was only for small angles, in order to make a straight wall; but we know the dimensions, & can furnish your Grace with them, if required - and when any parcel of comons are to be licenced, we shall take care to have it measured.

The applications for flax mills, were from John Stowel, John & Thos Christian, our John Quayle, Wm Craine, Standish Christian & one Harrison - There are others who have also erected flax mills; but as they adjoin other mills, & are wrought by the same water with a licenced mill, they insist that no new licence is requisit - tho Mr Wilbraham's opinion was, in a similar case, that no licence from the Lord or Govr of this Isle can be construed to extend to any other kind of machinery than that which is specified in the licence.

In pursuance of Your Grace's instructions we acquainted these gentlemen who did apply that they were to pay one shilling each yearly rent for these new erected flax mills. The applications for tythes were from Messrs James Oates & Willm Crebbin for their estates in Kk Santan, & John Joseph Bacon for the remainder of that parish - and Mr Hugh Cosnahan for his own estate & some adjoining farms & our our Mr Quayle for a farm of his & the remainder of the same Tenement, both in Kk Malew - the terms proposed are thirty five years purchase, as heretofore.

Your Grace will find by the accounts 1766, that we have made the most of Your Grace's estate & revenues in this Isle, all being sett at the full rack-rent, and the Boons charged at the highest rate; no care or labor being wanted on our part.

As your Grace vouchsafes the pleasure to mention the manufactures of this Isle, we beg leave to acquaint your Grace, that the Linnen Manufacture has improved surprizingly - twelve thousand yards was the highest computation of the exports till three years ago; ever since they have annually encreased and we are cedibly informed that there have been one hundred thousand yards of linnen cloth exported this year from this Isle. The generality of the people very happily turn their thoughts to this and agriculture, which are the proper objects for your Grace's and the landed interest of this Isle. But if this regiment, which is ordered to embark the 27th of next month for Gibralter, is not succeeded by another, this manufacture & the circulating cash will be greatly reduced.

There cannot be any certain Judgement found, as to the effects of the last Act of Parliament - as the Inhabitants are stocked with the high duty goods for some time; and the fees of office, even upon what is duty free, make it equal to the duty & fees formerly.

Your Grace receives herein a Bill drawn this day by Bernard Shaw paymaster of this regiment on John Winter Esq for £100 at forty days date - another bill from Thos Castley on Thos Oliver for £57-12-8, a bank post bill no R.4871 for £10 at seven fay's sight and a bill dated 2d Novr 1767 drawn by John Hinks on Messrs Boldero Carter Barnston & Snaith for £5 5 0 Brit; all which amount to £172 17 0 Brit and are indorsed to your Grace - which are the best opportunities of remitting we can procure. We are &c Dan Mylrea, John Quayle

Notes

The query over whether a mill licence would cover any additional use of the licenced water supply had arisen by 1761 when Capt Moore wished to alter the use of an old tuck mill to become a paper mill stating that as he was paying already for the mill he saw no reason to take out another licence. John Quayle, Comptroller and Clerk of the Rolls, wrote to Harrison the Lord's lawyer in London "I am collecting all the materials I can concerning the affair of Capt Moore's paper mill. His scheme will entirely destroy the Lords Mill Rents - And there is a Snuff Mill & an Iron Forge now erecting, and both projectors have an eye upon the Paper Mill of which matter Govr Cochrane hath no doubt fully informed you. As soon as the hurry of the Courts are over I can sit down to compleat it"