Crown Agent Letter Book 1 -1832-1835

James McCrone[JM] had been appointed Crown Agent in 1828 but this would appear to be his first letter book - the vast majority of his letters were to Alexander Milne[AM] at the Office of Woods & Forests at Westminster (these are those with blank Author & Recipient in the index); he seldom copied received letters into the book

Page	Author	Recipient	Date	Topic
1			18320711	request to obtain AG's opinion on memorial
2			18320711	Memorial re unenclosed lands
3			18320716	Notice by Lt Govr to quit Millfield & Large Garden
4			18320730	Remittance
4		Jas Quirk act AG	18320815	Memorial sent for AG + Clerk of Roll's opinions
5			18320816	Lease to Kirk Lonan Mining Association
5			18320825	required changes to transmitted accounts
7			18320830	Remittance
8			18321001	re claimed damage by Miss Crane to property caused by new pier at Peel (rebuilt 1807 30ft shorter than old one)
10			18321002	noted grant of £100 to Scotch kirk finished since 29 Apr (JM signs as an elder, John Welch as architect)
11			18321003	application for grant towards building Lezayre church
12			18321002	Remittance (inc £5 paid for damage to a passenger
12			18321128	apologises for delay as been away;Acks note of £100 grant towards Scotch church
13			18321128	Remittance
13			18321128	note of his inspection of Lezayre Church - stone work complete + roof putting on
14			18321128	request for 1st instalment of grant towards Lonan Parish church
15			18321205	accounts for 1827-1831, abstracts for 1832 + acct of sales of crown land - some comments re procedure
18			18321206	errors noted due to haste yesterday to get accounts to the packet
19			18321212	returns filled in statement for 1831
20			18321212	receipt of £100 for Scotch church
21			18321212	Remittance
21			18321212	certificate by architect building Onchan church declaring £50 more etc
22			18321022	[?why out of seq] re accounts explains difficulties in getting receipts from Moars (paid by not charging rents)
24			18321217	sending duplicate of lease to Laxey Mining Association
24			18321218	acks recpt of letter to be sent to Miss Crane [see 18321001]
24			18321226	enc certificate needed for 2nd instalment for Lonan Church
24			18321226	Remittance
25			18330107	Remittance
25			18330108	enclosures Welch rxpt £150 for Lezayre church; wardens' rcpt £50 for Lonan
25			18330109	accts 1827,1828 + 1829 made out anew - long acct of background
28			18330115	re Accts 1827-1830
30			18321026	re need to inspect progress on Lezayre
30			18321026	Remittance
31			18321026	re supply of limestone to Dublin - not in his control leasee John Clucas (had supplied large quantity for Ardglass new pier)
32			18330116	encloses Seneschal's annual account
32			18330116	encloses certificate re Malew vicarage
33			18330116	sends Additional Laws of IoM to update Mill's Statute laws - cost 10/-
33			18330116	acks rcpt of 2nd insallment for Lonan church
34			18330122	acks ltr of 18th inst mentioning tasks inc making a list of promised sums to church rebuilding (a list is annexed to entry)
36			18330122	acks rcpt of £100 towards Lezayre church
37			18330124	notes request to report on Crown property in Michael + that needed for new church - annexed account
39			18330128	encloses rcpt for £43 15s as 2nd installment for Lonan but states the 1st of £50 still not rcvd
39			18330129	acks recpt of list of payments made 26 Nov 1831 to 29 Dec 1832 but need dates payments were credited to his account (long explanation)
41			18330130	Remittance
41			18330205	acks rcpt of £50 as 1st instalment for Lonan Church
42		Commissioners	18330204	long memorial by JM re his appointment + need for an increased remuneration
44			18330205	encloses memorial + hopes the commissioners will find his claims reasonable remunerate accordingly
45			18330205	re Miss Crane's claims - given gratuity of £100 - problems in that Commissioners do not understand no Stamp Act in IoM
46		Rev Wm Gell	18330205	request for rcpt for money allocated for Malew Vicarage
46			18330205	[Private] comment on appointment of Rcvr Genl who as Water Bailiff is Judge + jury in his own court
48			18330206	request for Lease to Laxey Mining Assn to be issued
48			18330211	enc rcpt by Malew wardens for £82 5s
49			18330212	acks draft of £100 for Miss Crane
49			18330212	acks draft of £50 to Lonan
50		Rev J Qualtrough	18330212	notice that money paid to the wardens credit at Holmes Bank
50			18330217	re Lease granted to James Aiken in 1829 - as he was in England only just got counterpart signed
51		Lt Govr	18330223	does he still want to lease Lord's garden and Millfield
52			18330303	re Lt Govr + Lord's garden
53			18330303	Vicars of Malew + Rushen ask if they could receive their stipensds (£20 & £8 resp) direct from JM without having to send receipt etc to Cmmrs
54			18330304	Remittance
55			18330312	re Memorial by IoM Mining Co with bill of cost incurred by them in trying a question of right to cut water courses
57			18330320	Remittance
57			18330405	Remittance
57			18330416	encloses accounts 1831+1832 together with sales on Crown property; query re rents for lighthouses
59	Northern Lights	JM	18330312	remittances paid 1829-1831
60		Lt Govr	18330420	rents for Millfield + Large Garden
60			18330421	enclose account from warden for repairs to Malew chancel
61			18330423	encloses letter from tenant of George Hotel Castletown - 'would afford great accomodation.. till the new inn be finished'
61			18330503	Remittance
62		Thos Kneen	18330509	requested extension of lease of George Inn refused and Brarracks dept to be put into possession
62			18330516	Remittance
63		Arthur Bridson	18330516	unless accounts for last year's lime are sent will apply to AG to bring prosecution
63		S Nobel	18330520	have informed Mr Kneen re George - Asked AG to take such steps as necessary to you as Barrack Master into possn
64		J Quirk Act AG	18330520	requests aid in putting Barrack Master into possession
68			18330604	re request to Board by Mr Meurant wanting leases for Limestone quarries
69			18330604	Remittance
69			18330622	mentions interview with Mr Meurant who wants to exclusively work Marble Quarries - asked Brine Civil Eng to survey quarries gives history of usage of quarries
71			18330631	Remittance
72			18330809	reply to Board re Mrs Kermode's request to enclose 41 acres in Foxdale
75			18330817	re lease of Marble quarry
77		Thos Kneen	18330926	re request to pay £10 4s 5d in lieu of broken glass noted in 'old' George Hotel [then being readied as a barracks]
78		Capt Nobel	18330926	enc copy of letter sent to Thos Kneen this day
79			[missed]	query from Mr Blamure obo Lt Genl Goldie + James Holmes asking what terms the Board would sell the Lord's rents of several parishes
82			18330904	Wardens of Lezayre asking for next installment
82			18330905	Remittance
83		Edwd Meurant	18330912	agreement for a lease of part of Polvash quarry
83			18330913	re granting licences to enclose parcels of commons
86			18330924	re Kk Michael church
89			18330923	re Blamure's request
90			18330926	re delapidatd state of Lt Govr's accomodation in Castle Rushen, Board want to learn of any agreements respecting repairs
92			18331002	re progress of Lonan church
93			18331001	to propose a licence for Mrs Kermode (Foxdale enclosure)
94			18331003	re request to provide a return of Crown property - asks re lighthouses
95			18331022	re request from Board re Lords rent payable in certain parishes [see Blamure's query] answer annexed
97		Lt Govr	18331029	re request to make further reports re Government House and Rolls Office + encloses letter from Board that they do not intend to send any person to report but that the Lt Govr should procure a report from the person alluded to in his letter and send it either thru JM or direct.
99			18331030	long report on history and current state of Govt house etc as housed within Castle Rushen and why these "old dilapidated buildings should not be repaired so as to be occupied as they at presnt are"
105			18331031	encloses report on Revenue
105			18331101	Remittance
105			18331104	further information re Bill lately brought into the Keys re separation of the Records
106			18331105	"really do not see how it is possible for me to make up the accounts applicable to this Isle in the form presented to me
107		James Quirk	18331106	presented to attent Gt Enquest re encroachment on mountains - notes that it should be ascertained what was licenced "for I know very considerable encroachments have been made"
108		James Quirk	18331106	Sergt of Skinsoe came to pay Abbey rents but I would not receive them - some dispute for some 10 years need resolving
109			18331108	verified accounts for 1827-1831 but query re 1827 and difficulty of getting a duplicate voucher from the deposed vicar of Malew as whereabouts unknown - long acct of lime quarries and difficulties of getting accts from some "Goldsmith & Moore are miserable witches who live nearly 30miles from the quarries and in summer season go by boat and fetch lime-stone and burn it"
113			18331114	sends rcpt from wardens of Lonan
113			18331115	notes Bishop accuses JM of misrepresenting him - enc copy of my answer to Bishop's irritating letter [not copied]
114			18331115	"absolutely necessary to have something done with respect to the public records" crown interests would not be regarded if under native management
115			18331120	recvd estimate from Lt Govr of the repairs required to Govt house - does not include Rolls Office - Lt Govr should reside in Lorn house + the rooms converted into communal rooms, enlargement of Court house, Rolls office and Jailers residence.
116			18331126	rcvd copy of Meurant's letter re lease of Marble quarries - cannot recomment much beyond 300 yds of sea front - part of Castletown + the new church rest on bed of hard marble and nearby quarrying out of question. Notes relatively poor quality of local marble
118			18331126	encloses plans of Govt house etc together with survey plan for Marble quarries - notes difficulties with Seneschal enforcing entry of deeds to Lords records - also queries appointment of Seneschal since Athol's departure
120			18331203	Remittance
120			18331216	no reason to prevent final payment of £50 to Onchan Church now consecrated and in use
121			18331219	ack'd recptfrom Office of Memorial by Castletown constable + request by board asking by what mechanism they are paid
122			18331224	Remittance
123			18340217	Remittance
123			18340217	acks draft of £344 9 2d for repairs on former Govt house &c in 1830 + 1832; intends to leave on Friday next to meet Board [in London]
124		T Brine	18340218	notes payment via Holmes bank for repairs + suggests form of required rcpt etc
125		James Holmes	18340218	payment for Brine
126		T Spring-Rice	18340303	[from London]asks that a copy of his Memorial [18330204] be laid before Board
126		Viscount Howard	18340304	[from London] Lt Govr had asked him to interview re the Lt Govr'd miserable accodation - to be seen Sat next at 13.30
127		Lt Govr	18340305	reported above to Lt Govr
128			18340303	[from London] re Goldie + Holmes request to purchase rents - ok by him but they should not be granted power to hold Courts Baron nor should alienation fines be included
131			18340305	re memorial to board from Revd A Crigan + Caesar Bacon exors of will of Lt Govr Smelt for £100 laid out on Dairy + riding house at Castle Rushen - cannot recommend payment
132			18340305	re letter from Lord Grosvenor submitting that Board should cover costs of trying legal right to cut water channels [see 18330312] - JM thought Board should pay as was a key point (the mine holders had been succesful) in running the mines
134			18340303	re Mount Strange was always in book as 10s 6d rent but cannot find ever paid being waste and unenclosed - JM wants to eclose it and build a small cottage there
135			18340306	notes no way of checking lime working + sales - wants permission to employ a trustworty hills man at 12s/week to check
136			18340306	[from London]encloses short statement of facts to allow Mr Green to draw up a case for AG re Barony of Bangor + Sabal
136			18340307	re request to confirm that those who became securities for JM as crown agent are alive + solvent - yes
136			18340310	[from London]wants to turn attention to unappropriated commons but need maps to be held both by JM + board - suggests copies of those held by JM be made by Mr Vignoles for board - also there Capt Thompson on Island who can produce reduced copies for 25 guineas
138			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
138			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
138			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
139			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
139			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
139			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
139			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
140			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
140			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
140			18340310	[from Office of Works &c London]
141			18340418	returns auditor's observations on accts for 1832
141			18340429

Notes

It is intended more as a finding aid than as full abstracts of each paper.

The dates are ISO standard format year month day;
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2023