# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_141938.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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between 30 & 40
~~excise~~ ~~many~~ thousand Inhabitants must still have aright to their Constitution,
Laws, Administration of Justice, and interior Trade and Commerce; And it would
be in the case of Guernsey, Jersey, Sarts and Alderny, whose imports and exports
are govern'd by their own Laws as much as if they were under Feudatory Lords,
and from those Islands they found that Smuggling was carried to a much greater
Extent than from the Isle of Man, (and I am credibly informed that is still the
case.) ⊕

As I have been but a few months in possession of the Isle of Man, and never
in the least turn'd my thoughts towards a Sale of; It is impossible for me, uninform
ed as I am at present, to fix upon what I should think an adequate price for a
Possession so very considerable both for Honour, & profit; ✝ I can therefore at present
have no Proposal to make, but will always be ready to receive with respect
any Proposal which shall come to me from your Lordship's. I am

My Lords

Your Lordships
Most Obedient
& most Humble Servant
Athole

✱ It was assumed by the Duke of Newcastle when he was first Lord of the Treasury, and the
Duke of Athole treated with the same confidence; being averse to sell, but always ready to
submit to the Kings pleasure in any matter which he thought for the Publick good, and
having a full reliance on the Duke of Newcastles honour and Justice, that as his Brother
had said, so his Grace would propose no terms which he would not award as an
Arbitrator; After the Duke of Newcastle was fully informed the matter was
likewise in the same manner laid aside.

⊕ I have heard that they have often thought in Ireland of raising a large sum
to offer towards the consideration & upon fuller deliberation dropped it.

✝ And as I never heard of any notion to purchase a part only, I don't at all
understand what it is.