[From Home Office File HO 98/64]

No Letter Book to be found - 26 Feb 1791

Shaw to Evan Nepean under Secretary of State

Dear Sir

Since I did myself the honour to write you last, I have been truly favoured by Governor Smith, in a letter of his, most excellent of its kind and in regard to me, most friendly, as conveying to me much of solid and good advice and instruction, to which it is seriously my intention to pay all due attention.

But for several matters of more particular information His Excellency refer'd me to a book begun by him and which he desired to be carried on of all correspondence with the Secretary of State; next, to the Instructions from His Majesty which accompanied his own Commission as Governor of this Isle; and also those given to the late Governor Wood in 1765 on its being vested in the Crown. But neither one or other of these have I been able to find, nor were any papers whatever delivered to me by my Predecessor Lieut Govr Dawson, but the Statute books, and a [great?] large drawer ful of papers, containing, as he inform'd me at the time, and I have since found in much the greater part but mere rubbish, now, and in the other part very little of any value or importance.

May I not then Sir beg you would have the goodness to direct copies to be made and sent me as soon as may be at all convenient of the instructions above mentioned and of all other permanent import, which may since have been given and necessary for me to know for my more certain guidance in the Station to which through your goodness I have been appointed. This Sir will be one very essential to the many favours with which you have alreay honoured me and will ever claim my most sincere gratitude.

It will I hope prevent my walking any longer in the dark, or, what may be just as bad my being obliged to ask advice of other people who it is at least possible may fancy they had more knowledge than they actually possess, not to mention another risk possible also, of consulting with who may, or fancy they, have an interest of their own of some kind, to serve, in the counsel they give, and I'm sure Sir, you need not to be told that self interest is found soumetimes to have a power to warp opinions, and to change them too. I am sorry Sir, I feel myself obliged to be so troublesome to you, on this occassion I have thought I might use more freedom with you than I could venture on with my Lord Grenville; to whom otherwise I believe this letter might have been addressed; and I would hope when you consider how indispensibly necessary it is for me to have instructions and as ample as may be, that I may so much the more certainly know what really is properly my duty - you will forgive the liberty I have taken.

And having the honour to be with most sincere respect &c

Alex Shaw

Castle Rushen 26 Feby 1791

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