# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_105433.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 20:32  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

---

By an Act 7 G. R. C20 for the further preventing his Majesties Subjects
from trading to the East Indies &c^a Sect 9^th It is Enacted that after
the 24^th June 1721, no Commodities of the Growth of the East Indies shall
be Imported or Carryed into the Kingdom of Ireland, the Islands of
Jersey Guernsey Alderney Sark or Man &c^a - but only such as shall be
Bona fide and without fraud Laden and Shipt in Great Britain
in Ships Navigated according to the Several Laws now in Being
upon a penalty of forfeiting Ship and Goods, and such Ship & Goods
shall and may be Seized and the same or the value thereof shall
and may be prosecuted in any of his Majesties Courts of Record
at Westm^r. or Dublin, or in any of his Majesties Courts in such Land
Island Colony Territory or place where the offence shall be Committed.

The Case - A Great Quantity of East India Goods has lately been Imported
into the Isle of Man in the Ship Dove Rich^d Green master, but it
being doubtful whether the officers of the Customs placed there who
have Deputations from the Commissioners of the Customs in England
can make a Seizure in that Island and prosecute in the Courts
there —

Quere — Whether any officer of the Customs having a proper Deputation
from the Commissioners of the Customs in England can Legally
make a Seizure in the Isle of Man and prosecute the Ship and
Goods in that Island to a Condemnation —

I am of opinion that no officer of the Customs can by virtue of
Deputation from the Commissioners of the Customs in Great
Britain make a Seizure in the Isle of Man because (as I take it)
their Commission doth not Extend to that Island, But I conceive
that the Clause in the Act 7 Georgij upon which this Question
arises gives power to any person whatsoever to Seize Goods Imported
into the Isle of Man contrary to the provision of that Act and that
their Seizures would not be deemed (as they are in England)
by the operation of the Act of frauds 14 Car 2^d Cap 11^th Sect 15
which directs Seizures to be made by officers of the Customs only,
for that Clause Extends only to England Wales and Berwick upon
Tweed. Therefore without officers of Deputies[?] may make Seizures in
the Isle of Man for Importations — Contrary to the Act 7 Georgij
and prosecute the same to Condemnation in the proper Court
there —

And this must be done not by virtue of their Deputation
but as Common persons by force of the Act of Parliament

P. Yorke
Aug^st 23: 1727

AP 143-2