[From Goldie-Taubman Papers - Letter Book]

John Taubman - Letter to Marquis of Buckingham 1787

3 Nov 1787

My Lord Sensible (as I am) of your Lordship's attachment and good wishes for the wellfare of this Island, I am emboldened to trouble? you with every occurrance, that in any degree contributes or concerns its prosperity. In the first place I beg leave to inform your Lopp, that the Duke of Atholl visited this Isle last summer, and during his stay (about a fortnight) took matters in his power to remove the prejudice, and make himself agreeable to the Inhabts. I had the honor of svll Interviews with his Grace, but we could not prevail on him to adjust and settle the disputes and diffces subsisting between his Grace and the people respecting the game &c, which he desired might lye over till next summer, when he proposed making a longer stay amongst us.

I am inclined to think from this condescending visit, that his Grace has some very great design in contemplation. Indeed it is even whispered (but would hope without foundation) that his Grace expects to obtain from the present ministry, some new grant of this Isle, or perhaps only of the Revenues thereof, which God forbid, as I am confident, it would not be for the Inhabts intrest to change our present situation.

I have the pleasure to tell your Lopp that we had a plentifull and abundant harvest last season, but am sorry, I cannot so wish for our herring fishery, which has turned out a scanty & bad one, and attended with a very great & uncomon misfortune, for on the night of 21st Sept last there arose a most tremendous and sudden storm, which destroyed & dashed to pieces from 20 to 30 fishing craft and about 30 fishermen were drowned at the entrance of Douglas harbour, occasioned in a great measure by 60 or 70 yards of the end of the pier being washed away some little time before in a violent tempest. In short this dreadfull misfortune spread out a panick amongst the fishermen, that the fishery (which at that critical period promised to be plentiful) was afterwards departed and given up a month sooner than usual, which has been an irrepairable loss to this poor Island.

Some[?] day, ago accidentally meeting a vessel loaded for London, I embraced the opportny of shipping two small kegs of those herring to the care of a friend in London and directed him to forward them to your Lopps home, which beg your acceptance of. I am &c

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