Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor
HTML Transcription
© F.Coakley , 2022
|
Ref
|
Date
|
Brief Description
|
|---|---|---|
| AP_X20(2nd)_1 |
31.3.1798
|
Duke to Lt.Gov. Shaw. To the fund for which the Keys have contributed
£175 the Duke will himself give £2,500, In addition to this he
pays taxes,from which they are free, and yet they openly express their regret
that they had no public fund to plunder, in other words they give very little
themselves but had there been a public fund of which they are the guardians
they would have done so. "It is the first time I have ever seen any
set of men publish a libel against themselves." The paragraph they
have published is an intentional and malicous one meant as a stab in the
dark at an individual who cannot well answer it. . In fact it but shows
their discontent with the Government they affect to support. How can I be
expected to go out of my way to confer favours on any who fill this Augean
stable. He has asked that attention may given to the defence of the Island. (Letter uncompleted - sheet missing N.M.) |
| AP_X20(2nd)_2 |
12.4.1798
|
Shaw to Duke Hearing that there were two strangers in the Island "we have had of late a good deal of night hunting...but found neither them nor the arms chests which were reported to have been seen near Port Erin." Instead,however,"a tolerable plenty of kegs of wine and rolls of Tobacco were found which had been smugled in without paying any duty." It is his intention to do all that he can to stop this traffic,but until the import of a reasonable quantity of gin and brandy be allowed at a duty low enough to enable the honest trader to undersell the smuggler an effectual stop will never be put to it. Major Cunningham gives a praiseworthy example of his devotion to duty. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_3 |
10.5.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Permission to augment the Fencibles by three companies is received. The writer protests his wish to do all that he possibly can to help the Duke in anything, military or civil,which he proposes. But regrets that the little power he is given restrict his ability to do much. He does not know where Manxmen fit and willing to command the new companies are to be found,except by taking them from the existing companies,and he therefor suggests (Mungo ?) Murray and Scott of the Customs and some other non-natives. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_4 |
8.4.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Lamenting the difficulty he finds in protecting the Island from possible raids as the troops available are insuffiecent and it would we unwise to disperse them in the way he is asked to do, particulerly as there are some amongst the residents who would be willing to help any Irishmen who might try a landing. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_5 |
4.5.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Urging the need for haste in completing arrangements for defence, The suggestion of prisoner-of-war camps in the Island has caused terror amongset the people who murmer against it and the severe duty which the guarding of them will entail, It is even insinuated that that the only reason forbringing them in to obtain & good rent from the Calf for the Duke, "For my part I...shall use every nerve and faculty I am master of to give effect to whatever measures may be laid down...and in return desire to have the countenance,confidence and support I am conscious thet I deserve...and which belongs to the station I have the honour to be placed in... I am stedfastly the friend of your Grace...for the sake of the King's Government (on a private score you know,my Lord,I owe you nothing) and will faithfully support thet Government in the person of your Grace as in my own. ...but you should take care that Government does not suffer by lack of power in me during your absence.... for I find it hard to have no part in government but the responsibility and the certainty of being blamed for whatever goes wrong." Persons dismissed from office in Ireland for their treasonable beliefs are arriving in the Island and infecting some of the locals,and he is taking action,which will make him unpopular,to uphold the King's Government "My Lord, stand but by me,and I will stand by you....in the King's service” |
| AP_X20(2nd)_6 |
11.5.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. with comments on various gentlemen offering themselves for commissions in the Fencibles. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_7 |
25.5.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Men for the new Fencible companies are coming in,and he hopes arms and equipment for them will soon arrive. Many people of all ranks have arrived from Ireland, including a Mr.Keogh and his family,all of them "notorious incendiaries" He has been told that he must produce proofs of his loyalty or else leave the Island. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_8.1 |
31.5.1798
|
Shaw to Mr. Dundas (Sec.of State) . Asking for instructions re. the raising of Volunteers. On the invasion scare last year about a thousand men offered their services,and though some of them have since enlisted in the fencibles he is confident that many of them will again come forward,though some sort of allowances would probably be needed to replace the wages they would loose. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_8.2 |
31.5.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.Major Taubman has offered to serve in any capacity,or to raise,equip at his own expense (except arms) and command a Company of from 60 to 100 volunteers for the defences of Douglas, The organisation and training of the new Fencible companies goes on apace,and they promise very wall, |
| AP_X20(2nd)_9 |
18.6.1798
|
Shaw to Duke with a list (missing N.M.) of recommendations for commissions in the new Fencible companies. The rebellion having started in Ireland - gunfire has been heard in the I.O.M. - a number of refugees have arrived in small boats,and have been rounded up and placed in Castle Rushen until they can be sent back to Ireland where the truth of their story that they are refugees and not rebels can ascertained. In the meanwhile there is no fund from which to pay the expenses in connection with them. Watch and Ward has been ordered,and arrangements made to move flocks and herds to safe places if necessary but what is really wanted is more troops. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_10 |
6.7.1798
|
Shaw to Duke General |
| AP_X20(2nd)_11 |
7.7.1798
|
Shaw to Duke suggesting Dr.Scott Jr. as assistant Surgeon in the Fencibles. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_12.1 |
11.7.1798
|
Dundas to Shaw Accepting the offers to raise various bodies of Volunteers and Yeomanry,on certain conditions. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_12.2 |
14.7.1798
|
Portland to Shaw saying that the Admiralty see no reason why Manx fisherman should not be impressed for the Navy in the same way as others are. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_13 |
13.7.1798
|
Shaw to Duke General re Fencible matters |
| AP_X20(2nd)_14 |
27.7.1798
|
Shaw to Duke Mr. Banks has refused,with scorn,the Ensigncy offered to his son and declares that the recruiting for the Manx Fencibles is but a trick by which to get men for Lord Henry's Scotch regiment. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_15 |
n.d.
|
Shaw to Duke Fencible and Volunteer matters generally. He has been promised 500 pikes - but no artillery. And the pikes he considers to be better than muskets for untrained men,such as local levies would be. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_16 |
4.8.1798
|
Shaw to Duke Offers of more Volunteers. Capt.Stevenson's Company from Arbory and Rushen have been inspected. There are 120 rank and file. Uniforms for them have been ordered from England. It is requested that they be formed into two Companies and called the south Manx Vols. the Company Commanders to be Capts. Stevenson and Gawn. Expresses his disappointment at the conduct of Deemster Crellin,whose character is,in fact,very different from what it is supposed to be. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_17 |
4.8.1798
|
Shaw to Duke List of Officers recommended for the Volunteers in the I.O.M. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_18 |
6.12.1794
|
Shaw to Duke The new Fencible Companies have been inspected by an officer from England. Two men only were absent - one sick and one on special leave. They were all passed and declared to be excellent. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_19 |
|
Shaw to Duke An account of the enmity which Deemster Crellin bears him,and of the general efforts made by the Deemsters to increase their power. The Keys have refused to impose penalties,as he wished,on those who sheltered rebels coming from Ireland,saying that the very suggestion that they were capable of doing such a thing was an insult they would not put upon their countrymen, And yet Crellin says there are at least a thousand Irishmen living in the Island,though a return recently compiled showed only 169 males of over fourteen years of age,of whom at least half had had been residents for a number of years, (Letter incomplete - sheet missing. N.M.) |
| AP_X20(2nd)_20 |
1.9.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.It seeing reported that Mr.Frankland (the Att.-Gen.) has married and is not to return to the Island any more he asks that the Duke will see to the appointment of one who is prepared to reside there. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_21 |
6.10.1798
|
J.Taubman to Shaw (copy) saying he proposes to reduce the strength of his Volunteer company to fifty men as the Methodists amongst them refuse to turn out on Sundays or when there are religious meetings. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_22 |
7.10.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.with an account of the rejoicings at the recent great victory. Also of Major Taubman's decision to reduce the strength of his Vol. company "which I am ashamed to send to the Secretary of State". Capt. Stevenson's company appear to be doing well,and all appear to be very willing "but God help me,I cannot speak with confidence of any man on the score of steadiness." |
| AP_X20(2nd)_23 |
19.10.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.Capt.Quayle's Troop of Vol.Cavalry is now complete. They are cheerful,willing and proper for the Service they have undertaken,being almost all landowners or better-class farmers. ‘Their Captain has spared neither trouble or expense on their account,but they need a good drill instructor - whom he hopes the Duke will arrange for. What remains of Taubman's company do well,drilling on Fridays and Sundays,and their captain is shortly to stand them a Dinner. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_24 |
15.10.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.Although the new companies were complete nearly five months ago the officers have not yet been gazetted and are therefor not drawing pay. He wishes to assemble the whole Corps for at least a fortnight,but while they are still unpaid does not like to order the officers to incur the expense of living away from their homes. - which few of them can afford. The strange thing is that the Volunteer officers have been gazette do while they have not. He has inspected Capt.Quayle's troop of Yeomanry,who number 84 and made a good appearance, though some of them have to travel six or eight miles to their place for drill every day. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_25 |
22.10.1798
|
Shaw to Duke.The augmentation of the Fencibles is at last gazetted,but the clothing has not yet arrived. Capt.Quayle's troop - who appeared to be so willing - are now giving trouble "truly the Devil is in these people,you never know when you have them " over the question of allowances. It might help if they were divided into four detachments in different localities,and this is recommended.He has but little faith in the Volunteers,upon whom he would not like to have to rely in an emergency, This is mainly due to their want of good officers. But they would,no doubt, be of use if attached to more experienced troop. He has inspected Major Taubman's Douglas Volunteers,who are good-looking men,well dressed,clean and neat, |
| AP_X20(2nd)_26 |
16.11.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Suggests that in the absence of allowances the Yeomanry should be embodicd and paid for a month and thus get some good training. Encloses No. 27 below. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_27 | Northern Manx Volunteers (Major Crellin's Corps) Distribution by parishes,and names of officers. | |
| AP_X20(2nd)_28 |
19.11.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. General Volunteer matters. Most corps are doing well,but the difficulty of assembling the Yeomanry for training is affecting their efficiency. They should be divided into a Northern and a Southern troop or else reduced to fifty men in the South only. He finds personally that in the poor circumstances in which he has to live his spirits and energy are not what they used to be. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_29 |
22.11.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. The pay of the officers in the new companies of the Fencibles should have been issued from some six months earlier than has been authorised - which is very unfair to them. |
| AP_X20(2nd)_30 |
6.12.1798
|
Shaw to Duke. Pay has now been authorised as from the date of the Letter of Service, (27th April) Helaments,however,that he gets none of it. |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
||