Atholl Papers Bundle AP_X20(3rd)

Ref	Date	Brief Description
AP_X20(3rd)_1	4.1.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. A false alarm of an invasion has given good practice to the troops and shown them to be in good heart. This alarm,which was believed by all, reached Castletown at three a.m, as a atatement that hundreds of men had landed at Port Cranstal,and was received from several sources, immnadiately it reached Douglas Lord Henry Murray collected a hundred Fencibles andstarted for Port Cranstal by way of Laxey,while those in Castletown,under Major Cunningham,started at six o'clock while the Volunteers were called out to replace them. Shortly after,however,an express was received from Deemster Crellin to say that the alarm was without foundation,and the writer,who was about to leave on horseback to overtake Cunningham,found it unnecessary to do so. The Fencibles had marched off in little more than an hour after the alarm wes given,and the Volunteers were at their posts to a man. All were ready and willing except,it is said, some of the gentry in Douglas,who stayed in their beds. The morning was a cold,raw and sloppy one.(Night of 30/31 Dec.)
AP_X20(3rd)_2	18.1.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. An addition to the clothing grant made to the men of the Fencibles out of the Duke's private purse has placed them on a level with the best treated units in the Service, Lord Henry is not having great success in getting men to transfer from the Fencibles because “so it is with all our fellows that no sooner do they enlist but... they get a wife with,not uncommonly a child or more already made,and that nails them to the Island. But it was really a pleasure to see how steady and willing,and how much like men, they behaved on the occasion of the late false alarm - nor ware the Volunteers a whit behind! The alarm has,indeed,increased the loyalty of the people and drawn them closer to the Duke who they look on as their only security against being "shuffled in with" one of the northern counties of England and so losing their independence.
AP_X20(3rd)_3	26.1.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. All the Volunteer Corps have been approved of and their offices gazetted,with the exception of Major Taubman's. This,while no doubt due to an error,is very unfortunate and has hurt the Major - a man of unquestionable loyalty, who has spent much time and money on his Company which is in complete and really good order,well equipped and clothed except only for the arms and accoutraments which they await from the Government. He begs that the Duke will try and get matters put right. He also mentions his own case,in that he is compelled to draw heavily on his own income,which he cannot afford to do.
AP_X20(3rd)_4	2.3.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The reason for Major Taubman's Company not being gazettead was that it was regarded only as an "Armed Association" but the Govt,has now agreed that it shall be treated as the other Volunteer units are, and the Major is now starting to raise a second company. This is good, for an example is needed "That we are brave I think most true,and loyal too, needing however to give to that principle an active turn. For from ignorance, conceit and jealousy..and having no other County to emulate or anything to compare ourselves with,we need in many things to be treated like grown children; and in this Volunteering business we do not easily give in to or conceive the necessity of order and system, or the propriety of uniformity and neatness," But things are improving daily, though the want of officers who would feel themselves to be such is a great hinderence. If the Duke would explain this to Mr.Dundas it would help things. He himself is plagued by them in many ways such as the inability they seem to have for rendering Returns etc. on the dates they are due. Further arrangements suggested for Deemster Crellin's Northern Manx Vols.
AP_X20(3rd)_5	7.3.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Recent bad weather has made the roads so bad that many of the Courts have had to be postponed, Officers suggested for Taubman's Dougles Vols. if the increase to two companies is approved.
AP_X20(3rd)_6	30.3.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The people of Douglas wish to have the seat of Government moved to that town. With an account or the irregular manner in which they have set about letting their wish be known.
AP_X20(3rd)_7	12.4.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. He finds that amongst some people there is hostility to the Volunteer movement, and in the Fencibles there is jealousy of them from a feeling that as soon as the Vols. are really efficient the Fencibles, being more expensive to maintain,would be disbanded. But,in his opinion, the Vols. are certainly not yet fit to be trusted with the entire defence of the Island,though at the same time they do not deserve the unkind things which he believes are being reported of them in London. - perhaps to spite him,as being responsible for them. The latest rumour is that the Fencibles will be disbanded unless they agree to serve anywhere in Europe.
AP_X20(3rd)_8	19.4.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re his appointment of Mr.Stowell as acting Att.-Gen. in the continued absence of Mr.Frankland,and Stowell's refusal to appear in wome case the papers in regard to which were enclosed,(but are now missing, N.M.)
AP_X20(3rd)_9	26.4.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. A King's Messenger has arrived with a warrant for the arrest of Mr, John Bonham on a charge of High Treason. He was living at the Hague,where he was arrested with the aid of a Captain in the Fencibles,and has now been taken off the Island, Major Taubman - whose Vol. companies have not yet been officially accepted - will not believe that this not a design on the part of the writer to mortify him "God help me amongst them all."
AP_X20(3rd)_10	20.9.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. General, Appointment of Ensign Murray.
AP_X20(3rd)_11	11.4.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Regrets that the Duke does not give him his confidence as he feels he deserves. With regard to the suggested move of the Govt. to Douglas he sees no advantage to the public in it,whilst for himself he cannot live on his salary,in the manner a Governor should do in Castletown,and in in Douglas he would certainly be even worse off.
AP_X20(3rd)_12	6.6.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The swords etc.for the Volunteers have not yet arrived, Some salt smugglers have been caught. There is a shortage of muskets and powder. A Col. French who recently left the Island has left many debts behind him,but the Commander in Chief has ordered him to return and pay them. He would be glad if the Duke would express the thanks of the small tradesmen to the C.in Chief for his action. And Mr.Heywood has been defrauded of a considerable sum due for services rendered to the Duke of York's Royal Dublin Volunteers (raised by the Dublin Corporation) in the Island. As the Duke does not consider Heywood to be his friend it would be a gracious act if he would do anything he could to help him. So far as he is aware Heywood has never said or done anything to show him to be other than a well-wisher towards the Duke.
AP_X20(3rd)_13	17.8.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. (from London) re his return to the Island,by the end of the month.
AP_X20(3rd)_14	8.9.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. shows him back in the Island,after crossing from Liverpool in a herring boat.
AP_X20(3rd)_15	29.9.1799	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Lord Henry's failure to get recruits (From the Fencibles for his own Regt. N.M.) may be put down to the fact that money is fairly plentiful after a good herring season. He may have better luck when January comes and necessity induces young men to enlist. Coiners are believed to be at work in Douglas,and plans to catch them at work are detailed. Mr. Ray,of salt-smuggling fame,who has recently taken the hotel (Mitre. N.M.) at Kk.Michael is thought to be concerned in it along with a Douglas watchmaker named Crab.
AP_X20(3rd)_16	12.1.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re the affairs of Lt. Rankin ~ who is deeply in debt.
AP_X20(3rd)_17	2.2.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Lt.Quirk hee been knifed in Mr. Duggen's tavern,where he was sitting quietly when a Fencible private and a townaman,both the worse for drink,came in The Fencible being impertinent Mr. Quirk ordered him out upon which he was attacked by both men, He has ordered a court-martial on the soldier and arranged for the civilian to be arrested.
AP_X20(3rd)_18	21.2.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The possibility of a shortage of grain.
AP_X20(3rd)_19	27.3.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. expressing pleasure to hear of the good passage he and the Duchess had had to Liverpool.
AP_X20(3rd)_20	27.3.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re. the refusal of the Army Agents to pay lodging and ration allowances for the Fencibles such as are paid to other regts. of the same type. The men have already received them and it would be impossible to recover the money. He has been blamed for not having the men out in uniform oftener, but has done this deliberately so as to save their uniforms,the cost of renewing which would fall on the Duke. Ammunition also is short,there being only ten barrels of powder available for field days for all troops. Mr. Stowell,High Bailiff of Douglas,is indolent and neglectful,
AP_X20(3rd)_21	4.4.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. General.
AP_X20(3rd)_22	5.5.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The beer and lodging allowanees of 2d per day for the Fencibles are still unpaid. There is great need of them for there is great scarcity in the Island. Oats or oatmeal are not to be had,potatoes very scarce and dear,and barley the same.
AP_X20(3rd)_23	31.5.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The non-receipt of the allowances is found to be due to orders having been given to stop them - but these have never reached the Island. The 1st Manx Fencibles have sent not less than 300 men as volunteers to the 2nd Manx,serving in Ireland,or to regiments of the Line. And the places of all of them have been refilled without expense to the public. To expect men of a Corps which haw done so well to refund allowances which they have long ago spent is unjust and unreasonable.
AP_X20(3rd)_24	6.6.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The Adjutant (1st.Fencibles) being unlikely to live long he suggests Capt.Heywood as being the only officer at present in the Corps who is qualified to undertake the work. He is being asked,as tenant,to pay for clearing field drains through the Lord's Domain,but feels that he should not have to do so.
AP_X20(3rd)_25	21.6.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. asking if something can be done for the four orphans left umprovided for by the death of the adjutant,which is expected soon
AP_X20(3rd)_26	30.6.1800	War Office to Lt. Gov Shaw (copy) Refusing the request for the allowance of 2d per day on the grounds that it should have been known that,as the Billeting Act did not apply to the Island, a special allowanee of 6d, per week had been authorised so that men had been overpaid by 8d.per week. The 2d per day only applied to special places in England, and for a limited time, Also the payment has been made to all men of the Corps, wheras it is understood that some of them live in barracks,and therefor do not qualify.
AP_X20(3rd)_27	4.7.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Fencible appointments and promotions,
AP_X20(3rd)_28	16.7.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The adjutant having died his poor children are being looked after by Mrs.Shaw until something can be done for them - which it is hoped the Duke will be able to arrange for. There is a great shortage of bread. He has sent to Liverpool for flour to give to his own labourers,of whom he is employing a good number on improving the estate,to the amusement and scorn of his neighbours. But he hopes that if he leaves before the benefit of this work is apparent the Duke will see he does not lose by it.
AP_X20(3rd)_29	18.7.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Capt.Heywood does not wish to be Adjutant as it would entail his reverting to the rank of Capt.-Lieut. As there will be an Ensign's place vacant he recommends Lt. Dun (who is a half-pay Lieut. in the Line) for the vacancy.
AP_X20(3rd)_30	1.8.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to War Office. (copy) In reply to No. 26 above. When the Fencibles were formed on the Regular Troops leaving the Island in 17[] the same allowances were granted until 1797 when a new scale was allowed,which was thought to apply to them,although it seems that it did not,thus placing them on a different scale to the rest of the army. The error was accidental and not intentional and the request that it be overlooked is repeated. The barracks,in Castle Rushen are but the shells of miserable hovels, badly situated, unhealthy and unfurnished The furniture and utensils were spoiled or lost through being lent to new Corps which were being formed in the Island at the beginning of the war for use in requisitioned buildings. All this was for the general good of the service,and he does not think he should be blamed for it. Im any case the barracks are unhealthy - some have been used as prisons in place of the ordinary gaol which, despite money the Duke has himself spent on them, it is even worse.
AP_X20(3rd)_31	2.8.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. With copies of Nos, 26 and 30 ebove, Why did not the Agents let them know for two years that their claims were om the wrong scale ? but if the Duke cannot help the refund will have to be made - though "God knows how,for many of the men who have families are next door to starving while the othere are obliged to pay up to 10/6 a week for board and lodgings,even when living with their relations.
AP_X20(3rd)_32	5.9.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The drought has been so continuous that for a fortnight or more there has not been a drop in the channel of the Port-e-Chee river,while in the North the streams at Milltown and Ballaugh are both "as dry as the middle of the road." Springs almost everywhere are dry or poisoned by the steeping of flax - though this is known to be illegal. Details of condition of crops,with varieties of potatoes sown. He has made a journey around the foot of Snaefell to determine the best way by which to construct a road from Douglas to Sulby Bridge. Difficulty in raising the money for it make him fear however that it will not be done in his lifetime,though a start has already seen made from the Onchan end where four miles of good cart road (nearly to Snaefell) for about sixteen guineas. He suggests that the Fencibles or other troops might be employed in the making of it.
AP_X20(3rd)_33	19.10.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. General. New clothing for the Fencibles has arrived.
AP_X20(3rd)_34	8.11.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Suggestions for new officers to fill a vacaney. P.S "We have just this instant got the news of the death of poor Whaley - so there's a Castle ready made to be let or sold."
AP_X20(3rd)_35	13.12.1800	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. General. Reasons why Ensign Thompson is unlikely to make a good Adjutant. It is no good marking a letter O.H.M.S. unless it be also franked. The last one he received cost him 8/5d.
AP_X20(3rd)_36	n.d.	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Fragment. Trivial.
AP_X20(3rd)_37		Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re the"Jacobinital" views of a visitor to the Island named ? (cannot decipher N.M.)
AP_X20(3rd)_38	n.d.	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re. a petition sent to the Treasury by Mr. de la Pryme. Trivial.
AP_X20(3rd)_39	n.d.	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Suggestions (from some person to Lt.-Gov. Shaw ? N.M.) for things to be done by the Keys and proposed to the Duke. (see AP_X21_11)




Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2022