Atholl Papers Bundle AP_X21

Ref	Date	Brief Description
AP_X21_1	n.d.	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. suggesting that Capt. Taubman should be officially put in Orders as having received the brevet rank of Major,and to act as second Major in the Corps.
AP_X21_2	14.7.1788	Lt. Gov Dawson to Duke. He has received the Duke's letter asking for what purpose he has summoned the Keys to meet,and what business was transacted "Though I cannot consider any part of my conduct in the government of this Island as strictly within either the objects or limits of your Grace's enquiries yet, being desirous of showing your Grace every attention not unbecoming the Office I have the honour to hold I am willing on this occasion to construct my late instructions from the Secratary of State into a permission to answer your questions." ...
AP_X21_3	24.1.1791	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Promising to let him have,as requested, copies,authenticated by the Clerk of the Rolls,of all the laws and statutes of the Island.
AP_X21_4	24.1.1791	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. protesting that he requires no inducement to do his duty - as the Duke would realise if he knew him better. for he is not a mercenary man. He has always considered the Duke and his family to have been ill-used with regard to their Manx affairs and,so far as is compatible with his duty,will be happy to do all he can for him. But,considering the relationship in which they stand to each other it would be best that no favours of any sort be asked or given on either side.
AP_X21_5	16.1.1791	Lt. Gov Shaw to Rt. Hon Henry Dundas. acknowledging an intimation that he had been appointed secretary of State for the Home Dept.
AP_X21_6	-.12.1791	Lt. Gov Shaw to (not indicated. Could it be Gov. Smith? N.M.) Learning unofficially that the Keys propose to send delegates to London he asks for instructions as to how he shall act if they do. Objecting to the proposed basis on which funds for the support of the delegates are to be raised,he complains that the Keys are taking into their hands (without the Council) the entire control of Island affairs. The Clerk of the Rolls "insidiously (as is his character) does all in his power...(to mislead the Keys ? N.M.)...from enmity to the Duke founded on all the venom and malice of detected treachery to a family who had unbounded confidence in him"
AP_X21_7	7.2.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Sec, Parliamentary Commission.(copy) forwarding copies of old statutes -(apparently to satisfy the Commissioners what part,if any, the Ecclesiastical officers took in passing the laws. N.M.)
AP_X21_8	22.2.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Introducing Mr.de la Pryme,who comes to ask for assistance, “He is not a native of this Isle,and does not meet with that degree of countenance (?) from the monied men of it which his well directed industry,his giving bread to so many poor,and in the example he sets to others he so greatly merits, having failed to gain the support of "the loudly patriotlike Manksmen of the Keys” he has desisted from any further application to them and trusts entirely to the merits of his case, and to your Grace and myself for bringing it to the notice of the Administration. This,the only manufacture of any kind which deserves the name in the Island,has been well conducted,gives bread to several hundreds of the poor and promises,if properly encouraged, to succeed., "And though I despair of seeing anything of the kind set agoing by any of those monied men who would be thought Patriots yet others,stimulated by Mr.Pryme's example, would soon follow...if Manx manufactures had free entrance into England...and the Isle might become ... a kind of workshop for the manufacturers of England....." Letter goes on at some length to blame the poverty in the Island on the selfishness of the few who, having made money too easily by illicit means, will spend it only for selfish ends,and not use it to support industries which would benefi their poorer countrymen - who are not indolent but lack the chance to work. The few rich,in fact,prefer to keep the majority poor.
AP_X21_9	25.2.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. asking his protection for that very worthy man Dr. Scott,who is worried about the future of his family,and wishes to take his son into partnership and secure for him the reversion of his own post as surgeon to the garrison. After a chance conversation with Mr. Taubman and "his good old woman" he managed to convince them that "they or their party were,...from the hour the Duke had renounced all claims on the Island...the dupes of the spleen and malice of John Quayle and Richard Dawson".
AP_X21_10	2.3.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. with thanks for help to Dr.Scott,who is "the friend of mankind who would wipe the tear of sorrow from every eye and,if he could,remove pain from every honest heart etc". He wants no thanks for what he does for the Island,but only wishes that he had the power to do more. Though not known to the Duke at the time of the Revestment he had heard all about it from his relations Lady McIntosh and her brother Invereauld,and had considered the Duke to be hardly done by. On coming to the Island he could not understand the reasons for the disputes between the Duke and the Manx people,but did his best to find them out. He could not be accused of partiality for the Duke,who he knew had opposed his appointment — not that he disliked him,but that he wished it for a friend - but neither then,nor up to the time of writing had he been able to find any just grounds for these disputes, He believed them to arise and be supported by the prejudice, spleen and malice of a few individuels...." The chief of these were Gov. Smith,the Att.-Gen, - both duped by Gov.Dawson and "the right unworthy and infamous John Quayle, Likewise John Lace - a proud man disappointed in his hope of being the Duke's factotum. At the bottom of it all,however,are Richard Dawson and John Quayle. To make P.J. Heywood the successor of "such a scoundrel as Quayle” was bad management. Lace would have done better,or better still old Taubman,who also wished for the post. He would have cheated a little,but would have let no one else do so,and there would now have been no party against the Duke. .. That there should be this party shows the cleverness of Dawson,who holds them together though they all hate each other - calling Lace a noisy bully;the Taubmans scoundrels and smugglers; and Dawson an adulterous rascal who connived at the prostitution of his own wife. And now Curwen has promised the Taubmans to oppose in Parliament any further compensation to the Duke or that he should have any official connection with the Island. This in return for a promise that when the Ministry changes he will be appointed Governor of the Island,while an attempt has been made to bribe the writer by a promise that he shall retain the post of Lt.-Gov. This in the hope that he would,in his own interest,oppose the Duke In the Island lies are being circulated and facts misrepresented so that passions may not cool and "that damned Scots Lt.-Gov." may not open the eyes of the people to their true interests. But "neither your Grace nor the angel Gabriel could make for yourselves a single Manx true friend...but from motives of self-interest,nor keep one except by the gift of substantial benefits."
AP_X21_11	3.3.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. (Draft) In the sincere belief that the good of the Island and the happiness of its people will best be served by the cooperation of people, Duke and Government he is trying to bring this about,and in the hope of forwarding matters sends certain propositions which he would like the Duke to consider. (These must be No. AP_X/20(3rd)_39 I think. N.M. ) Mr.Taubman and his son, have seen this letter and agree with it, wishing to see an end to all differences,with peace and good will prevailing.
AP_X21_12	4.3.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Bishop Crigan. (an unofficial friendly letter,signed Yours affectionately) saying that he has obtained Taubman's support in connection with the propositions (see AP_X21_11.N.M.) which he is sending to the Duke,but fears that Quayle's evil influence may yet make him change his mind. All he does,himself,is for the good of the Island,which he wishes much and believes would be best served if its people went hand in hand with the Duke.
AP_X21_13	29.2.1792	J. Taubman to Lt. Gov Shaw. Mr. Lace's reaction to the Proposals. 6.3.1792 saying he approves of the Proposals,but can take no active part in the suggested reconciliation unless the Duke first withdraws hia opposition to the Keys’ right of Legislation, Also the Bill of Assessment,now before the Crown Lawyers,must have received the Royal assent before he will consent to make any move. 7.3.1792 asking for the draft of a memorial to be sent to the Treasury.
AP_X21_14	12.5.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. re. the appointment of a Water-Bailiff. for which office the present occupant (Mr.Savage) is unfitted, He suggests Mr.Heywood - of whom he speaks highly - and protests against a suggestion that it should be given to his brother,as this would rouse suspicion amongst the people that his support of the Duke was not so disinterested as he always proclaimed - and as,indeed,it was. He has learned that,without his knowledge,Mr.Taubman has written to the Secretary of State (to Curwen asking him to speak to) with regard to an increase in his salary.
AP_X21_15	7.5.1792	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. in which he protests his wish to serve the Duke,as he believes in the justice of his claims and that a settlement of them would be for the good of the Island. The character or Deemster Lace and Crellin who,like other members of the Keys,will be friends of the Duke if,and only,when favours are forthcoming. The only disinterested person in the Island is Mr.Heywood "who deserves everything at the hands of your Grace for his very handsome conduct...". Of Sir Wadsworth Busk who "I still cannot bring myself to think as a bad man,only from indolence of mind and body,superlative vanity ond self-importance the dupe of old Quayle". Complains of how his poverty prevents him from mixing with the people.
AP_X21_16	-.-.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. He has helped Lord Henry Murray in every way he could to get recruits from the Fencibles for his regiment,but he fears Lord Henry has not been getting replacements for them as promised, Also that he has been unwise in making cash advances to them in the way he has.
AP_X21_17	22.3.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Mr Moore,the new Adjutant,has arrived,and with him the Sergt-Major,several N.C.Os and a Drum-Major.
AP_X21_18	7.4.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. saying he will arrange,as ordered,for an inspection of the Fencibles by the Duke.
AP_X21_19	25.4.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The surveyor from the Postmaster-General has reported the Packet as fit for service and thinks the Duke's complaints must have been made when he was in a passion. But many instances of its mismanagement can be supplied, such [that] Nicholson must be made to realise the need for improving the service.
AP_X21_20	25.4.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Capt.Small re the need for a survey of the post Packet.
AP_X21_21	23.5.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. An enquiry regarding the Packet boat will commence very shortly.
AP_X21_22	29.5.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. The Fencibles are being assembled. Lord Henry promises to make a good officer, but many of the men are raw and undisciplined, They can be licked into shape however, but some severity will be needed, Major Taubman has been unable to get to Castletown owing to an attack of gout, Difficulties of getting clothing. General Fencible matters.
AP_X21_23	2.6.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Complains that the Duke,from their first meeting,has appeared to neglect and slight him - treating him as a mere cypher. He has,as it will be agreed by all who know, done more for the Duke than all his Agents put together. When he first arrived in the Island there was scarce one gentleman who would hear the Duke's name mentioned,while even his Agents Capt.Small and Mr.Heywood were against him. But now,owing to the writer's influence many of the people favoured him. Yet he gets all the unpleasant tasks to do,whilst any favours etc, are sent through the hands of others. This must stop. He will continue to give full support to the Duke who,in his turn, must treat him properly.
AP_X21_24	3.6.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Complains of the difficulty he has in geting the Fencible returns rendered correctly. Steps are being taken to stop malingering, and the Surgeon (Dr.Scott) has taken a house which he is fitting up as a hospital with eight or nine beds. The difficulty of getting a parade ground, Permission has been given to the Sergeants to wear silver lace which should help towards a needed improvement in their morale.
AP_X21_25	10.6.1793	Lt. Gov Shaw to Duke. Mr. Farrant,High Bailiff of Peel,has resigned.




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