[From State Papers SP 48/2 p164]

Want of Copper Coin

Isle of Man 12th Septr 1778

{noted as Copy sent to Treasury}

My Lord

The great inconvenience & distress which every class of People in this Island suffer from the want of Copper coin for change, more especially since the Herring fishery has become so very considerable upon their Coasts, induce me to intrude upon your Lordship so far, as to submit the following state of their case to your Lordship's consideration.

There has been time immemorial a distinction & difference in value between the copper coin of Great Britain & that of the Isle of Man, the Copper Coin of the Island having been constantly impressed with the Arms of the Island on one side & either the Cypher or Arms of the Lord Proprietor on the other, this coin consisted of Pence & half Pence, & it was enacted by Law that fourteen of such Pence currency shoud be given in exchange for one English Shilling, & so in proportion for any piece of English money of greater or less value, Payments in general are made throughout this Island in Manx currency and by the express laws & constitution thereof the chief Rents accruing to the Lord of the Mamor are payable in this Manx value & currency for these reasons it is the ardent desire of the inhabitants to retain & continue the standard Insular value & currency.

No coinage of copper currency having been made since the year 1758 the same has become extremely scarce to the great detriment of Trade and injury to the inhabitants, it woud be therefore of the greatest utility & benefit to the People if his Majesty would be graciously pleased to order a coinage of three hundred pounds in value of copper Pence & one hundred & fifty Pounds in half Pence of the same standard & value as those at present current bearing his Majesty's Head impressed on one side & the Arms of the Island on the reverse.

I beg leave to represent to your Lordship that it has been the constant practice before the Isle became vested in the Crown whenever there was any scarcity of copper coin for the Lord Proprietor to Issue an order to the Governor for the supplying a certain quantity, which was immediately comply'd with without incurring any expence to Government; and a law was then passed in the Island making it Penal to counterfeit such coin.

As I am ignorant of the manner of issuing copper coin in England. I have presumed to mention the mode practiced here as thinking it production of the least trouble and inducing no expence. if his Majesty shoud be graciously requested & shoud think proper to issue an order for my carrying it into execution, I am certain it woud be of the greatest publick benefit & be gratefully & thankfully received by every inhabitant of the Island

I am &c

Richd Dawson

Notes