LETTER VI.
To the same.

DEAR SIR,

ANNEXED is an account of the ports in the Island, the fairs, state of the registers of each parish, vicars, number of inhabitants, post-office, &c. also the revenues, duties exports, imports, prohibitions, &c. &c.

The following are the ports, with their creeks, appointed by commission, Sept. 15,1776.

PORTS.

Douglas Creeks, Port- Moore, Cornay, Laxey, Garwick, Groudel, Port-Concan, Port-Sodric, Greenwich.

Derby-haven.–Creeks, Castletown-harbour, Poolevash, Port le Marie, Port Iron, Fleshwick, Noorble.

Peele.–Creeks, Glenmay, Glenwilliam, Ballaugh.

Ramsay.–Creeks, Lanemoore, Port Cranstail, Port League.

FAIRS.

February.–Marown, Bride, Cross-four-ways, Poolevash.

March,–Boldin, Patrick, Peel

April.–Jurby, Balla-salla

May.–St. John's 2, Douglas 2, Bride, Castletown, St. Mark's, Ballaugh, Conchan.

June.–Sulby 2, Arbory, St. Anne, or Santon.

July.–St. John's, Peele, Four cross-ways.

August.–Laxey, Maughold, Balla-salla, Ballaugh.

September.–Balla-salla.

October.–K. Michael 2, K. Arbory.

November.–St. John's 2, Ramsay 2, Douglas, Jurby.

December.–K. Arbory, Andreas 2, Ramsay

N.B. Some of these fairs are well attended, but others are

A Retrospect of the Parish Registers
MAUGHOLD.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1647	
6
0
2
1648	
17
2
14
1649	
9
1
21
1650	
12
1
7
1651	
7
1
6
1792	
30
17
8
1793	
29
14
25
1794	
32
18
45
1795	
34
9
38
1796	
42
3
20
 
RAMSAY CHAPEL.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
32
0
7
1793	
33
0
4
1794	
25
0
7
1795	
35
0
6
1796	
30
0
3
1797	
31
0
0
 
LEZ-AYRE.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1787	
46
10
22
1788	
55
10
20
1789	
39
11
25
1790	
54
6
24
1791	
39
14
22
1792	
66
14
16
1793	
37
11
15
1794	
53
9
17
1795	
45
10
14
1796	
40
13
19
 
BRIDE.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
15
7
9
1793	
27
6
6
1794	
17
5
11
1795	
21
6
12
1796	
19
6
16
 
ANDREAS.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1666	
31
6
17
1667	
30
9
18
1668	
35
7
30
1669	
25
12
59
1670	
38
19
21
1792	
47
16
18
1793	
49
8
16
1794	
52
9
26
1795	
47
14
34
1796	
58
10
35
 
JURBY.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
26
5
6
1793	
24
2
13
1794	
22
4
10
1795	
21
5
5
1796	
28
6
8
 
BALLAUGH.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
32
5
12
1793	
40
8
10
1794	
33
6
22
1795	
32
7
8
1796	
40
8
23
 
MICHAEL.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
37
10
23
1793	
36
9
17
1794	
43
13
24
1795	
38
12
12
1796	
33
10
21
 	
GERMAN.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1790	
72
15
32
1791	
64
21
36
1792	
88
13
30
1793	
67
19
34
1794	
68
15
49
1795	
76
13
35
1796	
77
14
42
 

PATRICK.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1681	
26
6
11
1682	
15
3
10
1683	
19
3
4
1684	
31
6
11
1685	
18
3
43
1792	
46
20
20
1793	
43
19
5
1794	
47
12
18
1795	
52
24
22
1796	
52
26
31
 
MAROWN.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
 	 	omitted.	 
1792	
24
0
11
1793	
29
0
12
1794	
26
0
34
1795	
33
0
24
1796	
26
0
17
 
BRADDAN.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
56
34
58
1793	
59
40
92
1794	
45
56
145
1795	
63
34
108
1796	
59
44
87
 
ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
50
0
17
1793	
59
1
19
1794	
71
1
39
1795	
80
1
17
1796	
69
0
24
 
CONCHAN.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1698	
6
1
3
1699	
4
0
8
1700	
8
4
3
1701	
5
2
5
1702	
7
5
8
1792	
30
3
10
1793	
20
3
16
1794	
22
3
15
1795	
31
0
19
1796	
27
5
17
 

LONAN.
See parochial account.

RUSHEN.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
61
8
25
1793	
67
6
37
1794	
54
12
37
1795	
70
11
21
1796	
40
9
19
 
ARBORY.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
53
10
29
1793	
38
9
16
1794	
44
7
30
1795	
55
12
16
1796	
47
1
19
 
SANTON.
 	BAP.	MAR.	BUR.
1792	
19
2
13
1793	
11
8
15
1794	
21
8
15
1795	
13
9
14
1796	
24
3
11
 

MALEW.
See parochial account.

 

N.B. The registers in the most early state, I found so incorrect to justify a dependence on them.

 

Inhabitants at different periods; Vicars, Rectors, &c. in 1798.

PARISHES	Vicars, 1798.	INHABITANTS IN
1726	1757	1792
Kirk-Michael	Rev. John Crellin, epic regilt	
643
826
1003
Ballaugh. .	Daniel Gelling	
806
773
1015
Jurby	William Crebbin	
483
467
713
Andreas	Daniel Mylrea, rector, O. Archd.	
967
1067 l
1555
Bride	Wm. Clucas, rector, V. G. .	
612
629
678
Lez-ayre . .	Thomas Corlett .	
1309
1481
1721
Maughold	Thomas Cubbon .	
529
1759
2007
Ramsay .	Henry Maddrell	
460
882
Lonan	Mr Gell	
547
869
1408
Conchan .	Thomas Quale*	
370
434
690
Braddan	Robert Quale	
780
1121
5045
Douglas .	.Mr. Stowell and Mr. Christian	
.
810
1814
Marown .	Mr. Christian and John Bridson,.	
658
842
Santon	Charles Crebbin	
376
507
612
Malew	Mr. Harrison, Mr. Clague	
890
1466
3333
Castletown	Thomas Castley, M.A.	
785
915
Ballasalla		
360
–
Arbory	John Christian	
661
786
1143
Rushen .	John Clegg .	
813
1007
1590
Patrick	Evan Christian, V. O. .	
745
954
2163
German	Henry Corlett	
510
925
2606
Peeletown	.	
476
806
N.B. Lieut.-Governor Shaw is of opinion that the Island contains from 30,000 to 33,000 inhabitants, 1797.

The Isle of Wight, which measures 22½ miles from east to west, and 13 miles from north to south, contains thirty parishes, and about 18,700 inhabitants

POST-OFFICE.

A packet arrives from Whitehaven weekly,+, with letters and passengers; it sails Monday evenings from thence, (wind and weather permitting) stays three days in the island, and the' l returns. The post-office brought in, previous to 1791, on average 3461. 13s. 7d. per annum; this has been increase since. The following is the produce from January 5, 1797,to January 5, 1798.

Letters from and through London . . . 195 18 7
Bye and cross-roads . . . . . . . 262 3 3
458 1 10

.

From this is to be deducted the hire of the packet-boat, 1501.; post-master's salary 201 per annum; and the hire of the footpost to Castletown, about 91. per annum.

 

I Revenue from January 1790 to 1791. }? 8, d.

Collected at Douglas port 2,793 0 1O2

Derby-Haven 104 9 51

Peel 31 19 2\

Ramsay 86 19 4

3,016 8 11

Payments) salaries, bounties on her-} 3 27~ 2 2 rings, tic.. . . . . . . .

N.B. I understand that for several late years the revenue of the island has been greater than the expenditure.

 

Duties on Articles imported.

British spirits, 40,000 gallons, at 1&. per gallon. Rum ditto, at 2s. per gallon. Bohea tea, 20,000 lb. at 6d. per pound Green tea, 5,000 lb. at 1s. per pound. - Coffee, 5,000 lb. at 4d. per pound.

Tobacco, 40,000 lb. at 3d. per pound. Coals, 3a7. per chaldron.

French wine, 81. per ton. All other wines, 41. per ton. Other goods so much per cent. ad valorem.

Quantity of Wine imported.

In 1790, from Whitehaven, 19 tons 61 gallons of white From Sicily, 22 tons 93 gallons of ditto. From Oporto, 16 tons 240 gallons, and 17 tons 76 gallons of port; and of white 31

In 1791, from Oporto, 19 tons 219 gallons; 26 tons 85 gallons, and 1 ton ~ gallons of port. From Whitehaven, 247 gallons of white wine; and from ditto, 1 ton 68 gallons.

 

Quantity of Salt imported.

For ten years, ending January 1791, were imported into the Island of Man, 518,141 bushels of salt from Great Britain, duty free. From foreign parts, during the same period, 8,880 bushels.

 

Quantity of Coals imported.

From 1781 to 1790, inclusive, 33,932 chaldrons.

 

Articles imported duty free.

1st, Flax, or flax-seed; raw, or brown linen yarn; flesh, corn, or grain of all sorts; wood and weed ashes; coming from any place except Great-Britain. th

2d. White, or brown linen cloth; hemp, or hemp seed; e produce or manufacture of Great-Britain or Ireland.

3d. Utensils and instruments to be employed in Manufactures, fisheries, or agriculture; bricks, tiles, young trees, sea-she s, lime, soapers' waste, packthread, and small cordage for nets.

4th. Salt, beards, timber, and hoops; the produce and manufacture of Great-Britain.

5th. Iron-rods, or bars; cotton, indigo, naval stores, lumber, the growth, &c. of the British plantations in America; add all l other goods of the growth, &c. of the said plantations, for which any bounty is allowed on importation into Great-Britain.

 

Imported free into Great-Britain from the Island.

1st. Bestials, goods, wares, and merchandises, of the growth produce, or manufacture of the island, except such as are prohibited, and except woollen manufactures, beer, and ale.

2d. Linens, made of hemp or flax, not being the produce of the island. But no other goods of a foreign nation manufactured either wholly, or in part, in the island.

Prohibited to be imported.

-Wrought silks, Bengals, stuffs mixed with silk or herba, of the manufacture of Persia, China, or East-India; calicoes painted, dyed, printed, or stained there; cambrics and French lawns.

Brandy; British spirits, exceeding 40,000 gallons; rum, ditto, : and all Other spirits.

Bohea tea, exceeding 20,000 lbs.; green tea and coffee, exceeding 5,000 lbs. each; tobacco, exceeding 40,000 lbs.;

British refined sugar, exceeding 400 cwt. fully refined; bastard refined, exceeding 10 cwt.

 

Prohibited to be exported.

Brandy, rum, strong waters, and spirits of all kinds; to Great Britain or Ireland.

Tea, brandy, strong waters, and spirits of an kinds; coffee, chocolate, tobacco, glass, coals, British or other wrought silks salt and wine; to any place whatsoever.

Wool, woollen or bay yarn, live sheep; to any place except Great-Britain.

British refined sugar_to any place whatsoever.

EXPORTS.

To give an idea of the growth, produce, and manufactures of this island, I quote the amount of exports under that denomination, exclusive of grain, linen, bestials, and herrings, which took place in 1790. To Great-Britain in 1790; 1743 bushels of potatoes; 1313 crocks of butter; 201 boxes and baskets of eggs; 7 barrels of pork; 12 barrel of beef; 195 cow and ox hides, in ha*; 56 dozen and 10 calf skins; tanned leather, 3 cwt. 3-quarters 13 lb.; Cow and ox horns, 1400; cow and ox hair, 26 cwt. 1 quarter 16 lb.; honey, 3 cwt. 1 quarter 24 lb.; kelp, 1335 cwt.; beeswax, 1 cwt. 3-quarters 21 lb.; wool, and woollen yarn, 17 cwt. 15 lb.; linen yarn, 158 cwt. 3-quarters 15 lb.; lead ore, 69 tons odd; rabbit skins, 257 dozen and 10.

lo Ireland, of rabbit-skins, 103 dozen; feathers, 10 cwt.

3-quarters 18 lb.; bacon, 49 cwt. 2-quarters 16 lb.; Cotton twist, 40 cwt. odd ; lime-stone, 143 tons ; reams of paper, 1807 ; pavingstones, 282 tons; cheese, 11 cwt. odd; slate, 102 tons; sycamore and ash timber,` 80 feet; fern ashes, 17 cwt. odd; ha* powder, 1 cwt.; 130 hanks of candlewicks; 1 tomb or hearth stone; and dried beef, 2-quarters 24 lb.

 

Articles entitled to Bounty.

Linens made in the island exported to Great-Britain, and re-exported from thence–the like bounty as on Irish linens by 29th Geo. II. sect. 13.

Herrings cured, white, Is. per barrel.

Ditto ditto, exported from the island to foreign parts, 2s. 8d. per barrel.

Ditto ditto, exported to Great-Britain, and re-exported to foreign parts, 2s. 8d. per barrel.

Herrings cured red, exported from the island to foreign parts, Is. 9d. per barrel.

Ditto ditto, exported to Great Britain, and re-exported from thence to foreign parts, Is. 9d. per barrel.

Linen exported in ten years, from 1781 to 1790, inclusive. To Great-Britain, 506,365} yards. To Ireland, 1564 yards.

Cattle exported in ten years, from 1781 to 1790, inclusive. To Great-Britain, 727 horses; 4019 black cattle; 238 sheep; 248 pigs; 1 mule; ~ goats. To Ireland, 113 horses; 4 black cattle; 12 mules.

In consequence of that contraband trade, which is so generally known to have prevailed in the island, government, as soon as it became possessed of it, determined to lose no time in putting a final stop to so injurious a traffic, and therefore appointed commissioners from London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, to enquire into its nature and effects, and report thereon; with the remedies necessary to be adopted Among other matters, they state, the prejudices to the King's revenue to have been nearly 350,0001. per annum; and the value of seizures on the coast of Ireland, from the island, to have been nearly 10,0001. per annum. In consequence, the act of 5 Geo. III. passed, and some subsequent ones, which have nearly stopped this illicit trade, by enacting prohibitions and regulations, some of which are stated in this letter. But the revesting act, with these, greatly abridged their insular rights, and the Manks were deprived of some of their ancient privileges. They felt themselves oppressed, and sent agents to England to assert their rights before parliament; and prevailed so far as to procure, in 1766, an act for encouraging and regulating their trade, &c. and for ralsmg a revenue to effect the purposes therein mentioned. These acts now appear to have had a beneficial operation, and the inhabitants are perfectly happy under the British government.

Footnotes
1 Mr.Quayle died March, 1798.

Warners History of the Isle of Wight, 8vo. 1795.

+ See the act of parliament, anno septimo Geo. III. cap. 50, As no department is more respectable than the post-office, the salaries should therefore be adequate to its utility and various inconveniences: it is here too small; a man and horse ought instantly to be dispatched to each town on the arrival of the packet.