[From Home Office File HO 98/71]

James Clarke to Henry Hobhouse under Secretary of State Home Dept

Lancaster 7th March 1822

Private

Dear Sir

I have written a letter to Mr Peel, which of course you will see - The Duke of Atholl as you know has been in the Island for some time - The great object of his visit has been of a pecuniary nature - He has been raising aloan upon his estate of nearly £40,000 - A great part of this has been advanced by Mr Holmes - This Debt, it is supposed will never be redeemed, and ultimately the Manx property will be sold - This I think would be a fortunate result - This is the first time the Duke has been in the Island for many years, and whether hr ever returns after he has taken his departure is considered very questionable - My private opinion is he never will return.

With the approbation of Mr Peel I will write a short ^polite^ letter to his Grace stating that it is my fixed purpose to visit the Island in the Summer; which I am persuaded will meet his convenience as well as that of his Majesty's Government - I am persuaded Mr Peel will know through some channel or other, the uneasiness which has existed with respect to the Isle of Man ever since the Revestment - Although for many reasons it should be one of the most happy and contented spots in the world, it is at present a divescum imperium, and the Crown must be firm to keep its share in the division.

I remain yrs truely James Clarke

James Clarke to Robert Peel Secretary of State Home Dept

Lancaster 7th March 1822

Private

Dear Sir

Although the Duke of Athol knows that I mean to visit the Isle of Man in the Summer, and which I am persuaded will meet the approbation of His Majesty's Government; yet he has written to me an uncourtly letter pressing my attendance on the 23d of this month - This can only be done for the purpose of annoyance, as the Duke must know that the Lancaster Assizes commence on that day; and even independently of this circumstance a passage to the Isle of Man during the month of March, when the equinoctal gales are most violent in the Channel, is not a very prudent measure. My last letter from Mr Holmes, who is the most opulent and respectable merchant in the Island, informs me that the House of Keys and his Grace are at complete variance, in consequence of a most intemperate address to them by the Duke.

It is in my judgment most desireable that the Duke should never visit the Island - he has inweighed with great violence against the late act of Parliament, which prohibits the importation of foreign corn into the Isle of Man, except when it may be imported into Great Britain - whatever he might think of this measure as Duke of Athol; yet as Governor of the Isle of Man, he should have refrained from censuring at a Tynwald Court an act of Parliament, which was to bind his Majesty's subjects in the Island.

Although I have pursued, and shall continue to do so, a quiet and a neutral course; yet I can see distinctly, that the Duke wishes to observe towards me that irritating conduct, which he has invariably shewn against every Attorney General since the Revestment of the Island in the Crown - Nothing short of the most unbounded power will satisfy the Duke, and this I trust his Majesty's Government will never concede

I am Sir your most obt humble servant James Clarke

James Clarke to Duke of Atholl

Lancaster 10th March 1822

My Lord Duke

I beg leave to apprize your Grace that the Lancaster Assizes begin on the 25th instant; and I am strongly persuaded that any attempt to cross the channel, during the equinoctal gales cannot, upon mature reflection, be considered by your Grace as a very prudent step - I shall have great pleasure at all times, in concurring with your Grace in every measure, which can conduce to the prosperity and tranquility of the Isle of Mann, and to the maintaining of that harmony and good understanding, which ought always to subsist amongst all the servants of the Crown, who are officially connected with the Island

I am yr Grace's most obt humble servant James Clarke

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