T 1/507/330 - Governor Wood still not paid 1774

Isle of Mann 8 Janry 1774

The Expectation I had of being able to acquaint your Lordship with my Departure from this Island was the Occasion of my so long deferring thanking your Lordship, for the very expeditious Manner, in which Your Lordship was so kind as to procure me the King's leave of Absence; of which I shall always retain the most grateful Sense - My bad State of Health has been and still is such as prevents me from reaping the Benefit of it, but I hope, as the Season becomes more favorable, to be able to get over in the Spring.

Among the several Grievances this Government labours under (of which I delayed any further Representations till I should be in London) there is one that without manifest Injury to myself and Family I cannot avoid mentioning to Your Lordship, and begging Your Lordship's kind Interposition.

In a Letter, which I had the Honour to write to Your Lordship the 14th Novr 1772, I intimated, that there was then upwards of two Years Salary due to me; and I have received none ever since; so that there is now four years in arrear.

My Salary being established at £600 @ ann, His Majesty by Warrant dated the 18th July 1770 was pleased to authorize and direct the Receiver General of this Isle to pay the same. And deducting the incident Expences of the Warrant, I was paid up to the 5th January 1770 - My several applications to the Receiver General afterwards met with the same answer; That he could not pay me without an Order from the Board of Treasury - wherupon I wrote to my Lord North, representing the Matter; and also to the Lords of the Treasury, advising their Lordships that there was then upwards of two years Salary due to me, and that I has that day (the 14th March 1772) drawn on their Lordships for £1000 upon that account. Upon the 20th I received a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, intimating that my Bill could not be paid, as there was no Fund for that purpose, but the Revenues of the Isle of Mann, appropriated by Act of Parliament. I again applied to the Receiver General, and had the Repetition of his former Reply; which greatly distresses me.

There having been pretty considerable Importations into the Isle for these years past, of course there must certainly be funds accrued - And may I beg leave to observe to Your Lordship, that, without the least Detriment to the Crown, it would be highly convenient for His Majesty's Servants here, were the Receiver General directed to pay the Salaries in this Isle (as hitherto accustomed and by the Warrant authorised) occasionally as the Revenues can afford - and that the Remitting the Specie to England, and returning it again to this Isle, for the Payment of Salaries are attended with double Risk and Delay, without answering any one good Purpose.