[From Atholl Papers - AP X46-15]

[Letter from George Moore to Duke of Atholl, 20 February 1759]

My Lord Duke

In a conference I had with Govr Cochrane on the 30^th instant relating to my Intack near the Fort in Douglas, we agreed that I represent to yr Grace the whole that relates to that affair, in consequence hereof I presume to transmit to your Grace the papers that are herein sett ? , namely the lycense w^ch the late Govr with the consent of all your Grace's officers granted me in 1746 to which is annexed the great inquests returns, this rent and the plan of the premises as the same was given me of Record being an attested copy thereof ; I also transmit to your Grace a copy off the agreement which Cha: Killey made with Jas Brew & Paul Killey [sic Paul Kelly] the 3d of May 1758 at wch time I was in London, whereby they contracted to make a bulwark, to fitt up the ground and to inclose it with a stone wall agreable with the record plan thereof ; the building was accordingly begun and a considerable part of the foundations laid and built on before I came home, I also transmit to your Grace, a copy of Mathias Taggart's missive 26^th Janr last to the corroner to charge me before the Governor, a copy of my petition to his Honr dated the 2d Feb^ry and copy of my petit^ns to him dated the 10^th Feb^ry with a written paper containing the heads of my said conference with the Governor, The import whereof is to communicate to your Grace all the circumstances and to shew that no enroachment has been made by me or by the said contractors on any of your Grace's property : I have also transmitted to your Grace copys of the petitions which they said contractors Brew & Killey have presented to the Governr and copy of a memorandum of their applying to the Deemster for his authority to convene the Great Inquest to give legal proof that no enroachment has been made, with their negative answers, and as we are supported by your Grace and the laws of the Isle in all matters of property and thence derive our right and security, I most humbly represent these papers and their contents to your Graces princely consideration and direction : at the same time, tho' I made no manner of objection to appear at any point or in any place to which it was charged to defend the imputation of having made an enroachment, which seems a name of a malignant tendency, yet it appears extremely odd, that I was charged in a judicial way to appear before the Governor, not knowing in what capacity or to what court, he, as judge presided ; by directions of the Attorney General to Matthias Taggart! yet when I spoke to Taggart, he seemed to confess that he had not received any such directions from the attorney general and on the attorney general being since ask'd by Charles Killey, he said, as if he had been from Castletown at the time of my being charged and that the directions given to or by Mathias Taggart were unknown to him, the said Attorney General.

Much, very much against my inclination it is, that I am under a necessity of entertaining any opinion contrary to the government, or acting in any manner on principles differing with any of your Grace's officers, but how can I consistently demean myself, when opposition descends [?] and is given me in the manner of importations wherewith I have been accustomed this thirty years, and innovations are introducing in the discharge and delivery of cargoes on arrival here from a dangerous voyage, as this has been lately done to me, it may not be improper or I hop'd may be excused, to mention it to your Grace, and is contained in some letters which I have exchanged with your Grace's collectors, whereof you have copys transmitted herewith, complaining of Mr Lidderdale the deputy searcher's manner of behavour to me, to which I have added some other circumstances that your Grace may hence see what opinions of his behavious and estimate of his capacity may be justly framed.

These matters tho' they affect me, are not now the object of my concern, than my endeavour to exert myself for your Grace's advantage and the extension of trade here, while under your Grace's auspices I would do my utmost to promote. This port lies extremely convenient to the north channel, thro' which is found a convenient passage in time of war to America & Africa for the Liverpool ships, the Lancaster & Whitehaven ships, if this port was rendered commodious it would not only be inviting to the ships of sd places, but would also be inviting to the ships belonging to the Clyde and with them point a path to a new branch of trade with the merchants of Glasgow, with whom at present your Isle has little or no trade, excepting in the tobacco way. I have had some conversation with a few of the Liverpool merchants in respect of the enlargement of this harbour and no later than yesterday a gentleman from Liverpool was here who told me he was a partner in some branches of trade with Mr Knight, and seem'd much to approve and greatly pleas'd with the design ; for this purpose it is computed that fifteen hundred pounds will be wanted to accomplish the undertaking proposed to be advanced on the credit of the harbour fund at 5 per cent interest, one thousand pounds whereof to be rais'd among the merchants in Liverpool and five hundred pounds to be raised in this town ; if your Grace condescend to approve of this undertaking in this manner, I shall proceed to make an experiment, but I shall make no movement or other steps, but as will be agreeable with your Grace's good pleasure, to which my bent and inclinations incine me to devote all my actions, being with equal sincerity and truth

my Lord Duke

your Grace's most obedient and faithful subject and tenant

George Moore

Peeltown 20^th Febty 1759

Moore's Intack near the Fort in Douglas was on the north side of Fort Street.

His request for money to improve Peel Harbour was a constant theme around this period - eg AP X46-24 re his attempt not to pay over money collected in Peel harbour dues to help discharge debts incurred by other ports (esp those around Castletown) which he argued was against the 1734 Harbours Act (others are AP X46-23, AP X46-41).

An example of his disputes with Capt Lidderdale, whom he finds to be much less flexible than the previous searcher John Murray, is given at length in AP X46-10, AP X46-28