[From Home Office File HO 98/63]

[small amount of text lost in tight binding]

Lt Govr Dawson to Gov Smith re imminent visit of Duke of Atholl - 13 June 1788

Isle of Man 13th June 1788

My Dear Sir

I am truely apprehensive of the evil consequences of the Duke of Athols visit to this Island the people at large you know are stupid & ignorant they will make bonfires & illuminations on his Grace's approach to every Town & if he feeds them & gives them drink they will put their needs under his feet no thing can counter act this and prevent the better & more intelligent people from following the example of the Mob but my being authorised to support the dignity of the Crown or not being Order'd to the contrary which will amount to the same thing the Duke I am told has given out that he is to bring with him a letter from the Secy of State to me I presume for my guidance if it be possible my good Sir endeavor to know the tenor if these my instructions that I may be prepared before hand I do not want to be in any scape but I see plainly that the best intended complaisance has been without effect & probably misrepresented, & woud therefore do my duty & no more. I may possibly restrain the Keys and the principal people from running headlong to destruction if I am allowed to keep up the proper consequence [] the Govr but if not all is over with the wretched People, I declare I have no personal enmity to the Duke but I cannot help feeling for a people over whom I have so long presided I woud have wished & that ardently, I have left them in possession of that happyness which you & I have laboured to pocure to them & which but for this untoward attack of his Grace might have been [given?] to their latest generation.

Dan & the Ladies desire their best respects to you all & the young ladies.

I am with real esteem &c

J Dawson

Notes

Almost devoid of punctuation. See also re the Letters sent to Duke and to Dawson