# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_141931.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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9

Athole house 7.^th August 1764

My Lord

I have received the Honour of your Lordships letter of the
25^th July, informing me that in pursuance of the Act of the 12^th George the 3.^d
you are willing to Treat with me for the Purchase of the Isle of Man. —

I am very sorry to hear there have been so many complaints of Smuggling
from thence, which is a practice I give no manner of encouragement to, my Revenue
arising from a fair duty collected upon the Importation of Goods. —

I have the same Ideas with regard to the Sale of the Island that the late
Duke of Athole had, who always declared that no temptation of gain could induce him
to give up so Ancient, so Honourable, & so Noble a Birth right; Such as no Subject
of the Crown of England, now have, or ever had, Which has been in our Family near
four Centuries; and that he thought nothing could be an Equivalent to one of his
Rank and circumstances, for so great a Patrimony; At the same time his Duty and
Attachment to The King was such, that if it was esteem'd upon a fair consideration
an important point for his Majestys service and for the good of the Publick; He
in that Event was willing to enter into a Treaty for the Disposal of it, and these are
the only reasons that can induce me to do the same. —

The Purchase of the Isle of Man has been frequently thought of by former
Administrations, but upon Ballancing the advantages, and disadvantages which
might arise to Government they did not think proper to Treat conclusively upon it;
S^r Robert Walpole made some Proposals to the late Duke, but afterwards dropt them;
M^r Pelham once seem'd very desirous to bring the Sale to a conclusion, and the Duke
of Athole gave him a true and precise State of the nature and Revenues of this Principality,
that he might be able to judge what proposal to make; and he assured the Duke that
no proposal should come from him, which he would not adjudge if it was left to him
to settle as an Arbitrator; however the affair after being some months in agitation
was again dropt; * it was renewed in the Duke of Newcastles Administration; and
in the same manner it was laid aside. —

The reason why neither S^r Robert Walpole, M^r Pelham, nor the Duke of
Newcastle, carried it further; was thought to be, that upon thorough Examination
the Object did not appear to them of such consequence as it did at first, for
Supposing it was in possession of the Government the Proximity must still be the
same

AP 42B-9

MS 09707/6/332/11[?]