[From Atholl Papers - AP 116-2]

Bishop Richmond to Duke of Atholl

My Lord

Your Grace's favor dated July 17th reached me on the 27th of the same month; & made me very happy by the assurance you was therein so kind to give me, that my account of, & apology for some particulars, which had given you some disgust, were entirely satisfactory to your Grace: it will always be my sincere intention, & desire, to conduct myself in every respect in such a manner, as may be agreeable to the Heir, and Representative of my noble, & ever honor'd patrons, and benefactor.

Your Grace will I hope do me the justice to believe, that I shall always esteem it, far from a trouble, a very great honor to obey your commands; and shall have much pleasure in communicating anything, which I either aprehend may be of any service to your Grace to be acquainted with; or which might in any degree contribute to entertaining you; But intelligence of the former kind is transmitted by your Agent Mr Quayle I take for granted; and subjects of an entertainment are not the produce of this Country. One event has lately happened, which as it if of real servive to the Island, will I am persuaded afford your Grace satisfaction : Ever since the changw in the goverment wch took place in the year 1765; the people here have been utterly at a loss to know, how, & by whose Laws might be enacted, continued, altered, or repealed, as the occasions, and necessities of the country shoud require. That some temporary Laws shoud be kept in force for a longer time, & that some new ones shoud be made, was become necessary; But the doubt was, whether they were to be debated,framed, & enacted by the Legislature here, & so offered for the Royal Assent; or whether the British Parliament was to make laws for us; the mere expence of which, (not to mention other hard circumstances) the finances of this country could not by any means bear: To this disagreable doubt, & uncomfortable situation, Major Dawson. (who was Lieut Governor during the absence of Governor Wood, who has been two years in Scotland, from whence he has just return'd) has put the desired end; Having directed the 24 Keys (our house of Commons) to consider of, & propose such Laws as might be necessary, he with the advice of his Council, approved such as were offered; and transmitted them to London; from whence they were returned with the Kings assent: & so having obtain'd the force of Laws, were solemnly published, & proclam'd upon the Tynwald Hill, (according to ancient custom) on old Midsummer Day. The more national, & better part of the Islanders are extremely pleas'd with what has been done, & think themselves (& surely with reason) greatly obliged to Major Dawson for his good service; But the generality of the common people, (in imitation I suppose of their English neighbours) are greatly displeas'd; exclame, & remonstrate against the Laws enacted; tho usefull to the public, & not burdensome to individuals: But a little time, it is to be hoped, will make them more reasonable; & sensible of the advantage their counytry has obtained in having a mode of Legislation ascertained & secured to them; which has not been the case for these dozen years past.

If I remember aright your Grace us'd to like the pickled Puffins, wch are taken, & prepared here; I therefore beg yr acceptance of a small Keg of them, done in the same manner, wch were formerly sent to Dunkeld; & sent (I hope this week) to the care of Mr Lowe at Edinburgh ; who I doubt not will forward them immediately; tho if your Grace orders a servant to write to him so to do, it might not be amiss, that you may have them as soon as possible

I have the honor &c

R Sodor & Man