# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_101846.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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[obscured] and Services reſerved, and againſt the [obscured] other Perſons named in the Act, the Co-heireſſes of Ferdinando Earl
of *Derby*—with a Reſtraint of Alienation upon the ſeveral Perſons appointed to take under the Act.
The Grant, as deſcribed both in the Letters Patent and Act of Parliament, is made in the moſt general and comprehenſive Terms—
It is [obscured] The Iſle, Caſtle, Peel, and Lordſhip of *Man,* with the Appurtenances.
And all Iſlands, Lordſhips, Caſtles, &c. thereto belonging—The Patronage of the Biſhoprick—All Foreſts, Fores, [obscured]
Fiſheries, Fiſhing-Places, Royalties, Regalities, Franchiſes, Ports, and all Things to Ports duly appertaining, Lands then or
theretofore overflown with the Sea and then gained from the Sea, or which ſhould be thereafter gained from the Sea, lying or being in
or near to the ſaid *Iſle of Man,* Fines, Amerciaments, Anchorage, Groundage, Wrecks of the Sea, Eſcheats, Forfeitures,
Courts Admiral, Courts Port Morte, &c. and all Forfeitures, Penalties, Caſualties, and Advantages whatever incident to the ſaid
Courts—Tolls, Cuſtoms, Free Cuſtoms, Imports, Profits, Emoluments, and Hereditaments whatſoever, being or happening in or
within the ſaid Iſle, Caſtle, Peel, and Lordſhip, *or within the Sea to the ſaid Iſland adjacent or belonging,* or in or within any other
Iſlands, Lordſhips, or Lands belonging, or in, to, or out of the ſame, or any of them, howſoever incident or belonging, or Part or
Parcel of the ſame, at any time theretofore had, known, reputed, occupied, or enjoyed ; and the Reverſion of all the Premiſes and the
Rents, Duties, Cuſtoms, and Services thereto incident or appertaining ; and all Liberties, Franchiſes, Privileges, Juriſdictions,
Forfeitures, Depredaries, Immunities, &c.

And the General Saving Clauſe expreſsly bars all Right of the Crown.

The Iſland hath been always governed by its own Laws and Cuſtoms ; and when royal Commiſſions have heretofore iſſued (for the
King's Writ runneth not in the Iſle) for Redreſs of Injuries, the Juſtices aſſigned were to proceed " Secundum Legem & Conſuetudinem
" Partium illarum."

The Government is compoſed of Three States—1ſt. The Lord, who (though the Title hath been long ſince waived) hath ever
retained the Rights of the antient Kings, in aſſenting or diſſenting to the Laws propoſed, and by exerciſing an appellate Juriſdiction—2d.
The Governor and Council ; and 3d. The Keys, who are the Repreſentatives of the Commons—Their triple Concurrence makes the
Law.

The Laws of the Iſland have eſtabliſhed a Book of Rates payable to the Lord for various enumerated Commodities—All other Goods
pay a Duty of Two and One-half *per Cent.* only *ad Valorem* upon Importations.

All the Courts are held in the Name of, and the Magiſtrates and Officers are ſworn to the Lord ; and it is of their Juriſdiction to take
Cognizance of every Thing ariſing within the Limits of the Grant, and the Courts of Judicature in the neighbouring Kingdoms have
frequently, upon Application, refuſed to intermeddle, from a Want of Juriſdiction.

Courts Admiral and Port Morte are conſtantly held, and Proceſſes executed under the Authority of the Lord only ; and the Juriſ-
diction of the Judges extends from the full Sea Mark on the Shore to the Bounds of the Lord's Juriſdiction in the Seas adjacent to the
Iſle—Frequent Seizures have been made upon the Coaſt for Importations without paying the Lord's Duty, re-ſhipping Goods from one
Veſſel to another, and the like Offences, and the Forfeitures are appropriated to the Lord's Benefit—All royal Fiſh, Wrecks of the Sea,
and the like, are his by Prerogative—And in the Seaſon for the Herring Fiſhery, his Courts of Admiralty appoint their Admiral and
Vice-Admiral, who hoiſt their Flags, and make and ſupport their Regulations under proper Penalties, which fall to the Lord upon
every Miſbehaviour.

In general, every Act of Dominion and Ownerſhip granted by the Letters Patent and Act of Parliament, hath been conſtantly
exerciſed by the Lord and his Officers, not only in the Sea Ports, but in the Seas adjacent.

12th Geo. I. An Act was paſſed for the Improvement of his Majeſty's Revenues, Cuſtoms, Exciſe, and Inland Duties ; by which a general Pro-
1726, ch. 28. hibition was laid upon the Importation of all Commodities from the *Iſle of Man* into *Great Britain* or *Ireland,* not of the proper
Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of that Iſland.

This Act, though very prejudicial, had regard to the Privileges of the Iſland, as the Prohibition extended only to Imports from the
Iſland into *Great Britain* or *Ireland,* or within the Limits of any Ports thereto belonging—The Lord's Ports remained inviolate, he
was not deprived of his Forfeitures, the Juriſdiction of his Courts was not invaded.

The Earl of *Derby*'s then Leſſees or Farmers of the Duties and Cuſtoms of the Iſle petitioned, and were heard before the Houſe of
Commons againſt it ; and their Petition produced the following Reſolution of the Committee :

" Ordered,