[From Home Office File HO 98/73]

George Quirk to James Clarke 22 April 1824

Castletown

Dear Sir

The disposal of Mr Curwen's does the Secy of State honor and some justice - I believe to a Man the Keys would be desirous of recalling the Memorial. It is not yet known who is to present the Petition of the Keys against the Duke of Atholl but I have been told that they insisted upon Col W [Wilks] pledging his word that it should not be entrusted to the charge of Mr C. [Curwen] Since my last letter the public business of the Island has remained in status quo, owing to the Lt Govrs indisposition; but he is now convalescent and on Monday laid the first stone of a new Chapel in Castletown.

The vacancy in the House of Keys is not filled up - but connected with it, there is a curious story in private circulation viz that it was scotched by the Bishop and the Duke in the event of Mr R Cunninghame's return to the Keys he should be elected - the Keys are anxious for the fate of their petition which I conceive the Duke of Atholl is not unprepared to meet, as several of the charges have I understand been at different periods under the notice of the Secy of State - a Tynwald Court will be called for the purpose of passing a new Highroad Bill or continuing the old act, The keys I think are prepared to yield the point of preponderance, and we shall have a new Bill upon terms acceptable to all - a measure which will not admit of further delay.

The Lt Govr has recd a communication from the Secy of State that has relieved the minds of some Members of the Council from the very unpleasant situation in which they were placed by the resolution to which you have referred - the sentiment of those members at the time of signing the resolution accorded with yours, but they signed it with a foresight of the result and from a consideration that it was advisable that the Governor should be informed by the Secy of State, that his functions as Govr do necessarily cease as to all legislative and judicial Acts, and that public business is not to be suspended by his absence - a truth which it is in vain for any of his Majesty's Servants in this country to attempt to convince him of. Resolutions are got up and put befor the Council without any previous discussion; the Duke's intentions are good but they ought to be manifested in a temperate and dispassionate manner, and the Council should not be required to sabction measures which in many instances serve only to puzzle and perplex. Extremes produce extremes - it is hard to say which party is most violent. I believe nothing on earth could again induce the Keys to listen to the voice of reconconcilation, they affirm that the last truce was hollow and meant to cover sinister views - the Registry and Highroad Bills were lost because the Keys conceived that they originated from interested considerations, and many (perhaps idle) tales are told of the object which the Family of Atholl had in view if those two Bills had been carried in the shape in which they were submitted to the Keys - the manner of announcing to them their exclusion from the Jail Delivery is accounted for as signifying displeasure at the failure of the Measures which the Bills were intended to introduce. In the conflicts wch have engaged the House of Keys at intervals for the last 150 yrs it is undoubtedly true that the Keys have assumed or gained a position which they did not in ancient time possess and the appellate jurisdiction given to them by the Duke of Atholl himself by Act 1793 has enabled them to maintain.

A most impertinent paragraph appeared in a Newspaper called the "Manx Patriot" published last Saturday reflected upon the wise measures of the Head of the Home Department. This paper is printed in the same Types and in the same Office which were used in putting forth a most wicked and disgraceful print entitled "the true Manxman". The Lt Govr has given directions to my Brother to purchase the paper (conceiving it to be a libellous production) and to collect evidence, if it should be hereafter deemed worthy of no[torn] in order to a prosecution. I hope that such productions will not stamp a character upon the People of Mona; there are no subjects more loyal than the Manx - tho' the terms Whig and Radical, which I assure you are of very modern introduction are "as familiar in their mouths as household Words". I understand that the Clerk of the Rolls is preparing the Coroners' Bill to send to the Duke - and you will have an opportunity to add clauses to amend the Law as it respects Sheep stealing and Actions of arrest for damage. The will I have no doubt be well received and productive of much good. D Xtian has not the confidence of any person at present on the Island. The Man who meddles with every thing no person chooses to meddle with - I strictly observe your injunctions of privacy and confidentially relate to you the passing events.

I am &c Geo Quirk

Notes

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