T 1/546/250 - Still delays in paying Civil Officers - 1778

Extract of a Letter from the Lieut Governor of the Isle of Man to the Earl of Suffolk dated 12 March 1778

I must beg leave to represent to your Lordship the great Hardship We suffer by the Payment of the Civil Establishment being always upwards of Three Years in Arrear, to the lower Class of Civil Officers whose Salaries are very small, the Uncertainty & Delay of Payment obliges them to apply to other Means for their daily Subsistence which renders their Offices of little Consideration, a neglect of Duty is the general Consequence, & even depriving them of their Posts is scarce felt as a Punishment - in the higher Department the Suffering of the Officers is in proportion to their private Fortunes.

I hope your Lordship will excuse my including myself as Lieut Governor among the Number of those who suffer from an Arrear of Salary the constant extraordinary Expence of the Character with which I am honor'd with require the Aid of my Salary to support it, & a long Arrear in Consequence must be felt by me in a more immediate & forceable Manner than by any other of His Majestys Officers resident in the Island.

Notes

The Lieut-Governor at this period was Richard Dawson - the recently appointed Governor, Edward Smith, resided in London with occasional visits to the Island. The arrears in paying the civil officers was a constant refrain ever since the Revestment.