[From State Papers SP 48/2 p171]

Report from Lt Governor Dawson to Secretary of State Lord Suffolk

A Flax Manufactory established 1777

Isle of Man 27th Decr 1778

My Lord

Having been apply'd to in behalf of the Baroness Aichelburg to transmit to your Lordship a Certificate of her having been in this Island and having established a manufactory for refining Flax & Hemp here, I thought it proper to visit the manufactory and to enquire into the present state of it before I gave the Certificate.

I have now therefore to Certify to your Lordship that the Person called the Baroness Aichelburg has been in this Island and has established a Manufactory for refining Flax & Hemp and that her People are now actualy carrying it on.

I think it my duty further to inform your Lordp that the Baroness arrived here in December 1777 and brought with her about Twenty five Men & Women Manufacturers. That her agents purchased lands & houses and have erected buildings proper for their business. That since their arrival near half of their People have left them, That during the time the manufactory has been established they have imported 22tons 18 cwt 0qtr of Flax undress'd and exported 8 tons 2cwt 0qtr refined.

These are all the circumstances relative to the manufactory which I have been able to collect which I thought incumbent upon me to lay before your Lordship that your Lordp might be the better enabled to judge of the present state of the Manufactory and the probability of its success

I am &c

Richd Dawson Lt Govr

Notes