[From Crown Agent's Letter Book 2]

James McCrone to Alexr. Milne - 13th March 1835

Michael Church

I have the honor to receive your letter of the 9th inst, this day, enclosing draft for £105 to be paid to the committee for superintending the building of St Michaell church in this Isle, provided the same has been proceeded with to my satisfaction.

In answer thereto, I have sent the form of a receipt to the Bishop which I desired him to copy, to subscribe and send to me when I should pay him the money, and when I receive that receipt I shall pay the ammt & send the voucher to you accordingly.

I have to add that the Bishop personally contracted for having this church built, that it is furnished, and by far in a style of superiority & elegance to any building within the Island - Indeed considering the materials it is considered a piece of very fine masonry, and every part of the work does great credit to the native workmen of the Parish by whom exclusively it has been done - four individuals in the parish contracted with the Bishop, and they employed the masons & joiners by the day, & by rotation superintended the work daily themselves, but I am sorry to add, that each of them have lost £25 by the contract & no one is disposed to relieve them of one penny of the loss, though they came forward purely that a good & sufficient church should be built

James McCrone to Bishop Ward - 24 March 1835

Kirk Michael Church

My Lord Bishop

I return the receipt you have been pleased to grant for the contribution of the Crown towards building St Michael church, because it is neither in terms of my instructions, nor in stric accordance with truth, for the exps @ contract has not "cost nearly £1500" and the Parish assessment amts to more than "£600 only" while the grant is not "£150." If a receipt is sent to me forthwith in terms of the one I now return, ending with the word correction, the money will be instantly paid into your Lordships accnt with Messrs Holmes, - if not I must return it to the Board.

I conclude by assuring you, that your sneer falls light on me, being conscious I have acted fully as straight forward in the matter as your Lordship, that I would do the same, if it were to do again, and that I am not answerable to you for my reports,

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