[From State Papers SP 48/2 page 365]

P J Heywood to Wm Adam re status of report on Keys' Bill - Sept 1783

Isle of Mann Sept 5th 1783

Dear Sir

You will please recollect that the Legislature of the Isle of Mann in the latter end of 1781 transmitted to the then Secretary of State an Act of Tynwald framed by them for regulating & ascertaining the Duke of Atholl's manorial rights. That a Copy of this intended Bill was sent to his Grace by the Attorney General of this Isle who informed him that he was directed by the Committee who drew it up to desire his Graces Opinion on the several Clauses of it. And yet without waiting for this Opinion the Lt Govr was prevailed on to send it to London for the above purpose. A Caveat entered by the Duke stopped its progress for that time and nothing further was attempted to be done in it during his stay in Town that winter but immediately after his Departure from thence Mr Taubman Chairman of the house of Keys made another Effort by an Application to Ld Sydney then Secretary of State & in consequence thereof Mr Kenyon then Atty Genl was asked to report upon it - There it has rested every since and I am given to understand the Keys have by their Agent in Town formed great hopes of its receiving the Royal Assent very soon matters having been put into proper Train for that purpose.

The remarks I have made on this Bill will I hope fully justify the opinion I have given of it that it will be injurious to the Dukes property here in the highest Degree And I need hardly urge to you that it would be contrary to every species of Justice if Manorial rights established to his Grace by Act of paliament and payable by his own Tenants could be modified or regulated by these Tenants themselves. And if they should be successful in this 3rd Attempt it will I fear totally frustrate our intended Operations next Sessions & I am the more anxious on this account as I have very little dependance on the good wishes or Services of the present Attorney Genl [Wadsworth Busk] in favour of the Duke knowing well the long Intimacy that has subsisted between him & Lutwidge on these Accts I thought it proper to give you [] Intelligence of a matter so interesting to the Duke.

Nothing can I presume to be done in Lord Norths Office respecting this intended Act of Tynwald without Mr Sheridans privity If I should be mistaken in this I hope you will by some means learn whether it yet remains with Mr Kenyon or is returned by him to Ld North's Office or transmitted from thence to Mr Wallace & if so hope you will be able to stop its further progress at least till the Dukes arrival in London.

I have the honour &c Peter John Heywood

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