[From Atholl Papers - AP X17-19]

[I have broken up the long paragraphs to ease reading]

[Governor Wood to Duke No 14 17th December 1763]

My Lord

Your Graces Letter of the 18 Ult did not come to hand till the Evening of the 9 Inst, owing I presume to the tempestuous Weather we have had of late. I am Extremely Sorry to hear of your Graces bad state of Health, I hope next Acct will be more favourable.

By this Opportunity your Grace will Receive a Remittance of £1100 Brit. The Tythe Money whereof is £40.16.8 Mx which makes £35 Brit And I hope to be Able to make another Remittance about the beginning of the year. As to what your Grace mentions Relative to Mr Davenports Wreck shall be Observed. I lately received his Majestys Commands for taking off the Quarentine, a very lucky Circumstance for the Merchants.

I acquainted Mr Taubman, that tho' your Grace had not recalled his Commission; yet it was not only your Graces Opinion, but that of your two former Governors, that a Merchant being Either a Deemster or One of the Lords Council was altogether Inconsistent: Upon which I immediately Recalled his Interim Commission, And in Consequence of what your Grace Observed, have appointed Deemster Lace to Officiate, until your Graces Pleasure is further known.

It gives me Infinite Concern, that Either your Grace or your former Governors, should think they have Cause to find fault with my Conduct; When my Two former Letters were laid before them, I hope the last Paragraph of your Graces former Letter to me accompanyed them. Vizt

"Now I have ased all the Arguments I am against Mr Taubmans being Deemster, As being One in Trade, yet notwithstanding all I have Said, If you still adhere to your Opinion of Mr Taubmans being Deemster, I shall yield the Point, Not doubting but you will take Care that as little Incoveniency arrive from it as possible; And that it may not be drawn into a President[sic Precedent] hereafter."

- If after such an Opening might they not have thought me Unworthy of the Trust Reposed in me, had I Withdrawn the Recommendation of a Person, Who I had near Two years Experience of as Deputy Deemster, And with whom the Publick Seem'd so well Satisfyed; besides joined to this, My Predecessors Letter which I transmitted your Grace in my last, And which shews his high Opinion of Mr Taubmans Qualifications for that Office, without starting any Objection whatsoever; And for my part I have never yet seen the least Inconveniency Arrise from his being a Merchant, Either in Regard to your Graces Revenue or to his being in Council; yet far be it from me to put my short Experience in Competition with your Graces Opinion, or those of much longer Standing.

From what I have now Offer'd, I hope your Grace will be Assured that Nothing further is Ment than a Vindication of my former Conduct, Since your Grace Insists upon knowing the Grounds of my Scruples Concerning the Attorney General; My Opinion of him is, That he is not Wanting in Capacity or Cleverness, but Deficient in that Honor Steadiness & Integrity so Essentially Requisite in a Judge: But thinking your Grace would have Relyed upon what I mentioned in my former Letter (Especially considering the Attorneys Connections here) made me Delicate in Writing Characters or raising any Dust, as It has ever been my Study (since I came to the Island) to Promote Peace & Unanimty; It Appeared likewise a Matter of less Moment, as that part of the Attorneys Character was not of that Consequence in the Office he now Posesses, and which indeed I had no opportunity of Discovering 'till after he was in Commission.

If I had not been Conscious that I was Acting for your Graces Intererst, I never would have Presumed to have started the smallest Difficulty, to anything that had the Least Appearance of being your Graces Inclination, tho' Unhappy to think your Grace does not yet see it in that Light. I Consulted with the Receiver General through the whole of this Affair, as he is the only disinterested Person of the Council Residing here. If my Zeal (In what I Apprehended to be my Duty) has Carried me too great Lengths, I am heartily Sorry for it, And ahall be ready to Obey what further Commands your Grace is pleased to Honour me with.

And I have the honor &c

Castletown Decr 17 1763

The last Quarters Abstract Accompanys this.

Notes

John Taubman was a major merchant, in particular importing large quantities of Tea which was later run (smuggled) to Great Britain and Ireland - the 4th Duke blamed him for the UK decision to force the Revestment on his family.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2023