[From Home Office File HO 98/68 + /69]

House of Keys declared unsafe

Lt Govr Smelt to Lord Viscount Sidmouth

Castle Rushen Isle of Man 16th October 1817

My Lord

I beg leave to enclose the affidavit of an Architect respecting the State of the House of Keys, and the resolution presented to me this day by the Members that it be quite impossible for them to continue their sittings in the House.

Your Lordship will I trust allow me again to support the application for a grant towards rebuilding their house, so essentially necessary for the public business of the Island - a plan and estimate of which was some time ago transmitted to your Lordships Office.

I have the honor &c C. Smelt Lieut Governor

House of Keys 16th October 1817

Upon reading the Affidavit of Thomas Brine Architect as well as upon the personal inspection of the Individual Members of the Keys, it was unanimously resolved that the said House, is not only unfit, but imminently unsafe for holding their meetings, and that they should forthwith adjourn to the George Inn in Castletown.

By order of the House John Taubman Speaker

George Inn 16th October 1817

Resolved unanimously that the Members of the House of Keys being now altogether deprived of a place of meeting for transacting the Judicial and other Business of the Country

A deputation of their Body shall be appointed to wait upon the Lieutenant Governor to represent the same.

Resolved that Mark Wilks and John Christian Esquires do form the said Deputation, and that they be directed to impress the Lieutenant Governor with the urgent necessity of solicting His Majesty's Secretary of State for an immediate order for rebuilding the House of Keys according to the Plan and estimate transmitted by him, and in comformity to the reiterated representations of this House.

By order of the House John Taubman Speaker

Report of the State of the House of Keys at Castletown Isle of Man agreeably to Inspection taken the 10th of October 1817

The whole of the external Walls are in a very decayed State, and separated in various parts from the Roof to the Foundation.

The Timbers in Floors and Roof much decayed, and a great part of the Roof falling down.

That the whole of the Building is so dilapidated as to render it impossible to put it into tenantable Repair, and that it is very dangerous to assemble in the same in its present state,

Thos Brine Clerk of Works

I certify upon Oath that the above Respect of the State of the House of Keys is strictly correct, and I do firmly believe that it would be unsafe for the Members of the House to assemble there in the present dilapidated State.

Thos Brine Clerk of Works

Sworn before me at Castletown in the Isle of Mann this 16th day of October 1817 where Stamps are not used or to be had.

Robert Kelly Civil Magistrate

Lt Govr Smelt to Lord Sidmouth

Castle Rushen Isle of Man 7th October 1819

My Lord

I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that under the authority of your Lordship's letter to me of the 31st May, a contract for rebuilding the House of Assembly for the Keys of this Isle was entered into with Mr Thomas Brine, late Clerk of the Works, who has undertaken to execute the intended building agreeable to the estimate already approved of by your Lordship amounting tp £1039 10 -.

I have at the same time to state that in consequence of your Lordship's compliance with the proposal made by the Members of the House of Keys to pay from their own resources the [recept] of the Carriage Services for one year, [according] to the estimate of the Commissioners [] the sum of £131 9s - (which is the value [of the] said services for one year) must [be] deducted from the beforementioned sum of 1039.10s. and will reduce the amount to be paid by his Majesty's treasury to the contractor, to £908 1.-

I have taken the liberty to include a letter which has been addressed to me by Mr Brine the contractor, praying that the above sum £908 1s may be paid to him by installments at [such] periods as the work advances, and also requesting that the 1st installment of £200 may be paid immediately [so as to] enable him to defray the expence [] incurred.

I have therefore to request that your Lordship will be pleased to inform me in what way the said sum of £200 is to be obtained, whether by a draft on the Treasury, or whether your Lordship will think proper to recommend to that Board to give directions to the Receiver General of the Isle of Man to pay the different installments as they become due, to the extent of £908 1s out of the revenues of the Island.

I have the honour &c C Smelt

Thos Brine to Lt Govr Smelt 5th October 1819

Sir

In consequence of the Contract entered into for building a new House of Keys agreeable to Estimate £1039 10 0 - a proportion of the Work being done and Materials furnished.

I have to beg your permission to draw for the first instalment £200. The second Instament £200 when the walls are built and Roof put on - The third instalment when the floors are laid and sashes and frames fixed - and the remainder £439 10 0 when the building is completed and approved - of which it is understood £131 9 0 is to be paid by the Members of the House of Keys - being the amount one years carriage service.

I have the honour &c Thos Brine

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