# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_114718.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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The King ag^st William Pearce —

This Information was filed so long ago as last Michaelmas Vacation and the Defend^t
procured an Imparlance till the first Day of last Easter Term, He then did not plead to
the Information until two Rules to plead were given, and an Application made to the Court
for a third Peremptory Rule, & he then put in his Plea just in Time to permit the
Prosecutor to give Notice of Trial for the Sittings after last Term. —

The Prosecutor has at a great Expence collected all his Evidence in Hopes that the
Court would have appointed the Cause to be tried, but by Means of many Contrivances on the
Part of the Def^t and those concerned for him, the Cause has stood over — This has occasioned
very great Inconvenience to his Grace the Duke of Atholl, who is obliged to attend in Town
being himself a Witness until the Cause is tried — His Grace's Family are gone to Scotland and
His Grace is kept in Town for no other Purpose than to wait the Trial, which is attended
with very great personal Inconvenience. —

If this Cause should not be tried till the Sittings after next Term The Defendant avoids
Judgment till next Michaelmas Term, which Circumstance independent of the Inconvenience that
will attend the Duke's staying so long in Town, may and in all Probability will be attended with
serious Consequences to His Grace's Interest, for there are various Persons who have been for
sometime, and are now using every Contrivance to injure the Duke's Interest in the Isle of
Mann; and the Defendant is the Principal Agent in those Plots, and such Practices can
only be put a Stop to by making a speedy Example of a principal Agent. —

It is therefore the Duke's particular Wish and Request to M^r Erskine that he will
use his best Endeavors and Influence to get the Cause appointed to be tried at one of the Sittings
within the present Trinity Term —

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In the Kings Bench.

The King ag^st Pearce —

Take Notice that this Honorable Court will be moved
on Friday next being the first Day of next Trinity Term or so soon
after as Counsel can be heard That this Cause may be appointed
to be tried at the first Sitting within the same Term Dated this
22^nd Day of June 1791.

John Hanson
Chancery Lane

To M^r Lowten
Defendants Attor[?]

MS 09707/8/55(2)

AP 147-16 (b)

AP 147-16