Any comments, errors or omissions
gratefully received The
Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2022
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Brief Description
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| AP_X22(3rd)_1 |
28.2.1797
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Arrangements by Lt.Gov. Shaw for the formation of Volunteer Corps in the
Isle of Man. Service to be voluntary and unpaid Lt.Col. commanding...John Taubman Jr, Major Robt.Heywood to be O/c Douglas. Major George Quayle to be O/c Castletewn, Major J.F Crellin to be O/c Ramsey, Major James Quirk to be O/c Peel Each of the above Corps will supply men for the service of the guns in their town When serving thus they will be under the command of:- Douglas Batteries... Capt. S.Cable Castletown Thos. Harrison, Ramsey Lt.Crawley R.N. Peel Chas. Cooper, All Companies are to be allowed to choose their own junior officers,subject to the approval of the Lt.Gov. - who will himself appoint all senior officers. Capt.Mark Wilks (Hon.East India Coy's Service) to be Brigade Major. Dr. Patrick Scott to be Surgeon. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_2 |
6.3.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. French attack at Cardigan Bay - an account of which he has received from the Mayor of Liverpool. This has given a fillip to the recruiting for the Volunteers. He does not himself fear anything worse than an attack by a few hundred men (more likely Irish than French) in search of plunder. He has asked for arms and ammunition,but none are sent. Arrangements are being made to arm all who apply,as soon as he gets the weapons with which to do se.. If they do not come the lack of a sufficient defence will be no fault of his. To organise the people is not easy,for many would command and few obey,but he is doing his best and not sparing himself. He has appointed as his agents in London Messrs. Robt.Campbell and Chas.Shaw,hoping that through them he will be able to obtain some of the things needed,which the Authorities being occupied with greater matters are liable to overlook. He hopes the Duke will approve of all he is doing. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_3 |
11.3.1797
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Return of Volunteers in the Island,as formed to date. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_4 |
12.3.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Enclosing the above. In addition Mr. Kirwen has offered to raise a Company for the defence of Castletown, but with this limited liability and Mr.Kirwen saying that there were not three men in ths Island from whom he would take orders the writer doubts if he would be justified in accepting the offer. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_5 |
14.3.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Twenty barrels of powder have arrived,which is but a poor supply for the eighteen lbdrs, which have now been mounted, There are as yet no signs of the 20,000 rounds of ball (or the makings of them) which he has ordered, It would bo a great help and encouragement if the Duke could visit the Island, even if only for a week. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_6 |
16.3.1797
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Duke to Commander-in-Chief (?) asking for information as to what applications and plans for the Defence of the I.O.M. have been sent in by the Lieut-Governor. As these have been sent direct he would like as Gov.to see if he agrees with them before they are put into effect. From what he understands some of them are such as he would strongly object to - such as Volunteers being allowed to choose their own officers,and letting others, known as Foreigners,who use the Island as an asylum from their creditors,being allowed to command troops there. (Copy) |
| AP_X22(3rd)_7 |
29.3.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. He has had a letter from the Duke,so different in style from what he had expected and thinks he deserves that he is at a loss how to answer it. Whatever he has done has been for the good of the Island and of the Government and,as he thought,in accordance with the wishes of the Duke as Governor,to which he has always been willing to subordinate his own. "and yet,if my letters are not to be honoured with any notice,nor any intimation communicated to me of what may be the views or plans of your Grace how in the name of God can I...possibly conform to them". He does not know what the Duke means by his "want of confidence" He,being the person responsible,in the Duke's absence, for the defence of the Island,has done no more in raising volunteers than has been done everywhere in England . Some four hundred volunteers had been enrolled before any question of pay or uniforms arose,and it was due to the receipt of a copy of the regulations issued in England for the Yeomanry,which members of the Strangers Company took as applying to them, that he had to tell them this was not so,and that all volunteers in the Island would be treated - be they strangers or Manx - on the same footing. "I repeat,and most sincerely,that I have every respect for your Grace,but beg leave to offer my humble opinion that you,in the matter of ceonfidence have rather failed me than I you". His commission lays it down that in the absence of the Governor-in-Chief he is responsible and has full powers. This he takes to include the right of corresponding directly with the Secretary of State,but he will gladly cease to do se if he receives orders from the Secretary to write only through the Duke. If the Duke would but treat him with confidence and some show of friendship he would give his utmost in return. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_8 |
7.4.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. Trivial |
| AP_X22(3rd)_9 |
28.4.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Again asserting his desire to serve the Duke in all things, though he knows it is the wish of the latter to get rid of him so that someone more to hie liking may be appointed,and for this reason has never given him his confidence or countenance. If he will only do so now he will find him zealous and anxious to support him in every way. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_10 |
-.5.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. Mr.Sutherland,who he recommended for a commission in the Fencibles (see AP_X22(2nd)_25) he now finds to be unsuitable for one. He has now gone to Birmingham,and from the number of debts he has left behind him is unlikely to return. A Peel boat on passage from Youghal to the Island has been captured by a Freneh privateer, but allowed to go on condition that she landed some prisoners from the privateer. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_11 |
24.5.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke of Portland. (Copy) Enclosing for payments the bills in connection with the mounting of guns in various batteries in the Island. Permission to spend up to £150 for this purpose had been given by the Board of Ordnance,but the work was not done until the French descent on Cardigan Bay gave rise to alarm, It is now regretted that increased prices of materials,and the absence of the volunteer labour which was expected,has made the cost more than was anticipated. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_12 |
24.5.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Enclosing copy of the above,and commenting on it. In addition to the work originally estimated for a small magazine and Guardhouse (for which the timber was given by Dr.Curghey) has been built at Ramsey. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_13 |
13.7.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. Trivial. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_14 |
13.7.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.shows the method of summoning members to a meeting at Tynwald. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_15 |
5.8.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. The need for new coinage - to be put into circulation by paying it out to the Fencibles. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_16 |
10.9.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. The herring fishery has failed;high prices offered from England has led to the export of almost all cattle;and the prices of all necessities are double what they were four or five years ago. An embargo has therefor been placed on the export of pigs,and dairy produce and game . An association for the protection of game is being formed. The grouse have been exterpitated and many of the partridges destroyed. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_17 |
19.9.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.General. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_18 |
30.9.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.The prospect of a restarting of the war make him anxious for the safety of the Island, which is so near to Ireland,where the people have declared their intention of becoming a republic under the protection of France. The main danger,as he considers,is attacks by small plundering parties from Ireland. He therefor begs the Duke to come to the Island and give orders as to what he wants doing as,while prepared to act on his own responsibility in an emergenecy,he is anxious not to do anything of which the Duke would not approve. A small addition to the Fencibles would,he considers,be of much more value than a larger number of partially trained Volunteers or an undisciplined mob of untrained men. The present strength of 300 Fencibles is quite inadequate for the proper defence of the Island,now an important outpost facing Ireland, What is needed is:-An augmentation of the Fencibles. The Troop to be re-established as Yeomanry. Six or eight companies of Yeomanry foot. Six or eight 3pdrs. (Field guns). One or two armed Brigs or Cutters for coast protection. A proper supply of gunpowder (there being not more than twenty barrels available). He hopes that the Duke will not consider it a liberty on his part to make these suggestions. It is done with the best of intentions. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_19 |
30.11.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Having read the noble address of both Houses of Parliament to the King he would like the Manx Government to present something on the same lines. But if he proposes it he fears that he may again be told that "We want nothing... let us not do anything which would bring us to the notice of the publick? The Keys are to bring in legislation regarding smugpling and resident debtors from England. With regard to the former,the Revenue officers,though they see wine put into kegs and loaded for shipment have no boats in which they can go out to the ships which are being loaded, The strangers who have fled to the Island to escape their creditors elsewhere have,by their extravagance raised the price of the necessities of life beyond the reach of people of small incomes. They also set a bad example to the young and ruin honest but credulous traders by incurring further debts and then absconding, What does the Duke think about these matters ? What the Island really lacks is a strong Government. This the Duke can supply by being Governor-in-Chief, whether in the Island or not. He may,indeed,be of more service to the Island when he is in London than when resident. Being,not so much the Island's Governor as its friend,patron and agent. Another long appeal for the confidence and support of the Duke by which to bolster up his own position,in return for which he will do everything in his power to advance the interests of both the Duke and the Island. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_20 |
4.12.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Lt. Sutherland,who has proved to be so unworthy of his commission,should be superseded. If Langness is turned into a camp for prisoners-of-war,as is suggested, it would bo hard on people living on small incomes, though otherwise for the publick good. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_21 |
9.12.1797
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Forwarding,for submission to the King, Addresses pledging support in the national crisis from the Legislature and from the Keys. He has tried,but without success,to get the Keys to join in a joint Address, but even to get the Keys to send an Address is something,seeing how afraid thay are that something may be asked from them for the protection they receive. Asks the Duke's aid to secure an increase in his salary. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_22 |
11.5.1798
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. The Letter of Service authorising the addition of three companies to the Fencibles has been received,and every endeavour will be made to complete the work. Promotions and appointments suggested amongst the officers in this connection. Capt.Stevenson of Balladoole (from the Half-pay list) was suggested for a Company in the new augmentation,but asked to be appointed to the Volunteers instead,as pay was not an object with him. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_23 |
24.8.1798
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.Volunteer companies as follows have been formed as from the 26th July. Kk. Arbory under Capt.Stevenson 60 R.& File;Kk. Rushen Mr. Ed. Gawne 60;Douglas Col. Dawson 50; The first two have been combined into one Corps with Capt.Stevenson as Commandant. They are to receive uniforms,which have been ordered from England,and a shilling a week per man. They do at least one drill per week,and most of the men two in addition to (?) Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Col. Dawson's Company was actually formed, trained and clothed last year. It is hoped that all these Companies will now be confirmed,and commissions issued to their officers. He has inspected Major Taubman's Company of Douglas Volunteers,and after the conditions of service had been made clear to them some eighty men enlisted although men were going about trying to dissuade them on the ground that they had no right to quarrel with or offend the Irish. This company may also be now regarded as formed and a list of officers for it is submitted. Deemster Crellin has offered to raise four Companies of fifty or sixty men each,and Mr. Cowell of Ballaquane to raise one in Peel. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_24 |
25.9.1798
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. The additional companies of the Fencibles have been doing duty for four months,but the officers have not yet been gazetted, Will the Duke please take this up with the C.in C. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_25 |
28.10.1798
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.The new Fencible officers have at length been gazetted,but only with pay as from the 11th Oct, The Duke is aeked to point out to the C.in Chief that they have seen doing duty from the 24th May and to ask that the matter may be put right. Also Nelson Scott, by an error,has been gazetted to the Strathspey Fencibles. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_26 |
16.11.1798
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. The officers (see above) are still not gazetted,and he encloses a memorial from them asking the Duke to get the matter attended to. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_27 |
30.3.1799
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke.A return of the ammunition held. The stock is very small and,as a consequence,only four of the eleven Volunteer companies formed have as yet had a chance to do any practice shooting. The muskets are also in very poor condition and are 120 short of requirements. The batteries in the towns are in very bad shape. They were built hastily,largely by unskilled lavour. The platforms are decayed and the carriages having been exposed to the weather for years are mostly unfit for service. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_28 |
6.4.1799
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke of Portland. Transmitting a memorial (missing N.M.) from the inhabitants of Castletown protesting against the removal of the capital to Douglas. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_29 |
n.d.
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Memoranda of matters to be considered by Tynwald. |
| AP_X22(3rd)_30 |
n.d.
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Duke. He has let it be known that an augmentation of the Fencibles is proposed. He thinks the men could be obtained for the normal bounty plus a little extra from the officers who recruit them. He has also informed many of the principal people that he would be happy to forward to the Duke any applications for commissions. He fears there will be competition from the recent attempt to secure new men for the navy. Major Taubmen has changed his mind -for some unknown reason — about going to London to see the Duke ( see AP_X22_11 and 16) |
| AP_X22(3rd)_31 |
n.d.
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Lt.Gov.Shaw to Lord Henry Murray. advising caution in the manner in which he advances money to any recruits he is obtaining from the Fencibles and reminding him that such a thing is illegal.(see AP_X21_16) |
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Any comments, errors or omissions
gratefully received The
Editor |
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