A copy is held at Manx Museum under MD 58.
Unknown author - sent to Marquis of Rockingham, suggested in a penned note on the Museum copy as possibly Mar-July 1782 when he was in 2nd term as Prime Minister, however the Caesar Parr slander complaint was in February 1766 (in Lib Scacc), and the fracas in Peel was in January 1766 - this was when Lutwidge requested the Dragoons be sent provoking a disagreement between Governor Wood and the young Major Pennington who appeared unaware that under the King's Warrant the Governor was also Captain General in the Island. The troops that accompanied Lutwidge were the cause of several complaints in the months following the Revestment as they broke into various properties in search of Tea which under a 1726 Westminster law was illegally imported into the Island but things quietened down within a few months. Thus I suspect the letter was addressed to Rockingham towards the end of his brief first Ministry - probably May/June 1766 and as his Minstry ended on 9th July 1766 it would have gained no traction although Governor Smith was to suggest in 1780s that Lutwidge was dishonest and that his accounts should be audited writing in one letter that Lutwidge's impunity was a curse on the Island.
Note the spelling is as written - the rendering of the name Lutwidge as Lutwich seems to be common in Cumberland as Humphrey Senhouse is quoted as using the same spelling in the 1740s.
However evident it is that an anonimous Letter is received with a bad Grace, & little Credit: yet in this case, necesity points out that method as the only Access to your Lordship ; And the Character your Lordship has (without flattery) established emboldens me to trespass a few minutes on your Lordship's time.
Upon the Isle of Man becoming vested in the Crown, Mr Chas Lutwich was sent thither to be at the head of the Revenue Department; And of credit be given to reports & Circumstances, that Gentleman has been in too violent a hurry to amass a fortune & is catched in a Faux pas. I have employed a friend who will spare no pains to find out the facts -.
One Parr (who knows him well) has lately taken every opportunity to call Mr Lutwich an Egregious Smuggler; & provok'd him to bring a prosecution for the scandal- A Declaration was filed - Parr appear'd to the Suit - Lutwich servilly sollicited a Compromise, proposing the most trivial acknowledgement - Parr was obstinate, prepar'd his defence & bid him defiance. Mr Lutwich pocketted the scandal. and deserted the prosecution - The Conjecture is, that many seizures which he has made were never reported; but brought by his own Cruisers to England, & sold there. - The sneaking way he usually agreed to pay the Smugglers the prime Cost of their Teas, after seizure (viz. Kenedy Lawton Angus &c &c &c) prevented a Claim or Detection, tho' it made it suspicious. And the manner in which he employed his Cruisers (his Brother & Fearen in particular) between the Island & Cumberland more strongly accounts, how he came so suddenly to amass his great fortune - His father had nothing but his four Quarters to pay his debts withal; and when he dyed in Carlisle Goal [gaol] a few years ago, this Gentleman either could not or wou'd not aford him a Coffin - And Your Lordship will find upon examination, that he has had no parts, education, friends or one qualification to recommend or help him forward.
The Credit & Authority Mr Lutwich has with the Board of Treasury deters people from exposing him openly, tho' his passions have been bent more against persons than things. And now finding the contraband Goods slip'd thro' his fingers, and a period put to Smugling; the only scheme he has now left is to keep up Business in Appearance, and himself in Authority - A Soldier & Sailor (both in His Majesty's Service) jostling in the dark; the sailor, after a few words, took up a Stone & knocked down the Soldier - Mr Lutwich intending to make a Handle of this, Cryed out an Alarum! Charged the Town with Sedition ! called for additional military aid, thro' depths of Snow; G [?Governor] commenced a judicial Inquiry - The whole affair was no more than I have related; and there was not a third person by to declare the particulars. This is mentioned as one Story, as there may have been many such like false designing Tales tabled before your Rt Honorable Board. But, my Lord, be pleas'd to order an Inquiry of the facts; And your Lordship will discover them to be only falacious Schemes, to keep himself in power - The people of that Island are, your Lordship may be assured, pacifick and perfectly well reconcil'd to the Measures of the Crown (except a few smuglers whose stock may now be exhausted) - These Smuglers have given the whole Body of Man'sh people great umbrage & Concern, as they have by their illegal practices, stood in the way of His Majesty's most Royal & compassionate Favor - However it is to be hop'd, that His Majesty & Your Lordship will vouchsafe to encourage them, in some honest employment at home; And my Life for them, His Majesty has not more loyal or more dutiful subjects in his Dominions.
In case your Lordship will honor these hints with Notice & Inquiry, I will examin more narrowly into that Gentleman's affairs - And can propose to your Lordship a plan by which the Revenue will be infinitely better & more fathfully served, at the sixth part of the expence to the Crown; and with the hearty Good of the people; who complain as loud as they dare against so powerful a man, tho' he grossly imposes on them extortionate Fees & unreasonable prohibitions, to shew his power, not promote the service - a poor farmer cannot now bring home his little boat loat of lime stones, without paying greater perquisites to officers than the law allows for a ship load of Merchandize, thus tillage may be discouraged.
Allow me, my Lord, to observe that Mr Lutwich having procur'd a twelve-penny Sea-chart of the Isle of Man, made last century, got one Barker, a writing Master in Peeltown to copy & sign it with his Name, very likely the better to palm it upon your Lordship and the Right Honourable Board of Treasury, or the Commissioners of the Customs, for an original Survey - Last month he likewise paid four Guineas for a Collection of obsolete Statute Laws of that Island, compiled and copy'd by one Foy a poor Refuge Hackney Writer in Castletown; this may also be exhibited as a specimen of his assiduity; but my correspondent says this collection is as erroneous and antique as Barkers Chart, and as superficial as Lutwich himself.
If Mr Lutwich has unfortunately all the Influence at your Lordships' Board, that he boasts of, I have said enough at present - Truth may be out of Season - However as I point out, facts, persons & places, easily confirmed or refuted, I have no other View than to undeceive your Lordship and thereby serve my King & Country, I chearfully rely on your Lordship's Honor, in preserving this Letter of Truth, from the insolent Resentment of a purse proud Man, whom Interest and Excess of Fortune may protect from Censure & Justice; And who may give me unnessararily Trouble & Expence - And I shall from time to time use my utmost Endeavour to merit Your Lordship's Confidence; And, with unfeigned respects. am My Lord Your Lordship's most obedient, obliged, fathful and Humble Servant.
From Lib Scacc 1766 (pages are un-numbered)
To His Excellency John Wood Esq, Governor in Chief and Captain General of the Isle of Mann and its Dependencies &c.
The humble petition and Complaint of Charles Lutwidge Esq, His Majestys Receiver General and Water bailiff of the said Island in his own behalf And also for and in behalf of philip Barnes Acting Collector of His Majestys Customs at the port of peeltown within the said Island.
Shewwth
That Caesar Parr of peel town aforesaid (a person intirely unknown to your petetioner) hath lately taken an occasion on the Sixth day of this instant February to make use of several abusive Expressions against your said petitionr Charles Lutwidge by publickly declaring and Saying that your petitionr was a notorious Smugler, and had carried of several Hampers of Wine and boxes of Silk and run them a shore in England, with many other vile scandalous and opprobrious reflections tending to Asperse Traduce and Defame your petitionr in his said post and Office of Receiver General and Water bailiff of this Island and which if dispensed with may in its consequences be very injurious to your petitioners Character.
That the said Caesar Parr thought proper on the day and time aforesaid to make use of menacing and threatning Language against the other petitionr Barnes (one of the Officers of His Majesty's Customs under your petitionrs Inspection and Direction by also publickly declaring and saying that if he said Barnes would attempt to Seize any boat belonging to him the said Caesar Parr that he would put a brace of Balls through the said Barnes' head, and the Caesar Parr has also at divers and sundry other times notoriously Insulted and Abused other Officers of His Majesty's Customs in the due Execution of their Duty, by means whereof His Majesty's Service is greatly obstructed as the Officers are liable to continual Insults and Abuses.
That your said petitionr Charles Lutwidge is advised that his character is in a particular manner protected by the Laws of this Island from any Reflections tending to asperse and defame him in his said post and Office of Receiver General and Waterbailiff of this Island, the benefit of which statute he most humbly claims : and has no reason to Doubt but your Excellency will also protect the other petitionr Barnes and all othe His Majejesty's Officers from the aforesaid menaces insults and Abuses in the due Execution of their Off. And therefore
He most humbly prays that the said Caesar Parr may be called upon to Answer this petition and Complaint and may upon Trial Receive such condign punishment for the Defamation, Menaces, Insults and Abuses aforesaid as the nature of his said Offence may be found to Demerit.
And they as bound shall ever pray &c
11th February 1766 Ordered that this Petition come on to be heard upon Saturday the 22d Inst whereof all proper parties & persons are to have Due Service and Notice And are enjoined to Attend Given at Castle Rushen this 12 Febry 1766
Ordered that this Petetion come on to be heard on Saturday the first day of March next. The same being continued at the Instance of the Pet Given at Castle Rushen this 22 Febry 1766
At Castle Rushen March 1 1766
The Deft appeared and prayed time to put in his Answer - this cause is therefore appointed to come on upon Monday the tenth of this Instant March.
[no further proceeding found]
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
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