# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_140307.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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May it please Your Lordships

In Obedience to Your Lordships Commands signified by
M^r. Whately's Letter of the 11^th Day of May last, We have made strict Enquiry
into the Smuggling Trade carried on between the Isle of Man and this Kingdom
The Result whereof We are now to report to Your Lordships.

It is un-necessary to describe to Your Lordships
the Situation of the Isle of Man, further than to observe That it is near
enough to this Kingdom to answer all the Smugglers Purposes, enabling
them to keep up a constant and speedy Intelligence, allowing them by the
shortness of the Passage to execute their Schemes at the precise Times –
which their Associates here apprize them of, and to take all Advantages of
Wind and Weather.

This Situation, and the Circumstances of the Govern-
ment of the Isle of Man, afford a Refuge to Bankrupts, Fugitives from this
Kingdom, who resort there in such Numbers as to make a considerable part
of the Inhabitants of the Island. Many of these Men have established
Correspondences here, who having been in Trade and knowing exactly the
extent of the Irish Laws, are prepared to manage their contraband Traffick
with Advantage, and frequently to baffle the Endeavours of the Revenue
Officers appointed to guard the Coast of this Kingdom

The Contraband Trade from the Isle of Man is carried
on almost entirely by Wherries built at Rush, a Fishing Town within
Sixteen Miles of this City; They are prime Sailors, and several of them
have of late been purchased by the Isle of Man Smuglers for the Purpose
of running Goods on the Coast of Scotland. within a few Years they have
so increased the Dimensions of their Wherries, that although they are
quite open Boats, they have sailed round the North Coast, and have
landed their Cargoes in the most Western Parts of this Kingdom.

All possible Care hath been taken here to destroy
this pernicious Trade, as far as the Power of the Legislature of this Kingdom
can

[bottom left:] MS 09707/6/321
[bottom right:] AP 40B-16