[From Atholl Papers - AP X17-11(a)]

[Report ]No 7 [by Governor Wood 30 June 1763]

My Lord

I have as answer to your Graces letter of the 30^th ult ready wrote to accompany a remittance of £1200 prepared for Charles Lace who is hourly expected that your Grace might have all the money that could be collected and as near the time your Grace mentioned as was in my power. In the interim I have mentioned your Graces letter of the 19^th inst together with the six deeds, the tythe money shall be collected as soon as possible, and in the letter which is to be sent with the remittance, your Grace will receive a particular of the sums hitherto receive for tythes. What your Grace is pleased to mention concerning the fund to be provided for the reparation of chancels &c I shall lay before the Council, and transmitt to your Grace the plan which shall be judged the most eligible to suit your Grace and indemnify the purchases of the tythes.

As the staircase going up to your Graces appartments the Court room & publick offices in Castle Rushen was in a ruinous & dangerous condition, there was an absolute necessity to take it entirely down & also to make some little alterations in the court room, the estimate whereof, and a new dial plate to the Castle Clock are computed at about £30 Brit and are nigh finished. I have endeavoured by different person to procure an estimation of the necessary repairs in the inner ward; the platform & drawbridge which are immediately wanting, I shall send your Grace an estimate off ym [?] but all agree that untill the roof (which will be the principal expence) be strip'd the timbers examined & it appear which of them may be put again into the work & which are decayed, they cannot with any degree of certainty form a judgement : but say that the longer the repairs are delayed, the greater will be the damage & expence. The paper mill did not escape my attention ; but the manager failing, it has not been wrought since my coming to this Isle. The Iron forge is just begun to work and the proprietor was ordered to take up his licence this week ; there is a Mr Rase, who, farming an ancient water corn mill added to it a mchine for grinding snuff, but does little or business the Attorney General however have order to enquire into the matters.

The trade of this Isle is at present a little dull & cash scarce; partly owing to the reasons I formerly gave your Grace, and partly (as some conjecture) that the peace may have this effect for a little time. The Government (your Grace may observe) from an unwillinngness to discharge all their seamen at once, have thought it proper to employ some in the service of the Custom House and the many cutters stationed on these coasts greatly annoy the boats. Upon the eve of war or peace the trade (as I am informed) usually meets with inconveniences, but as these circumstances are only periodical, it does seem to be the opinion of the most sensible merchants that trade will soon revive & flourish.

When the abstract of the current quarter is sent your Grace it will show that things are upon the mending hand which I hope will long continue. I have the honor to be

with the greatest respect my Lord

Your Graces most obedient & most humble servant

John Wood

Castletown 30^th June 1763