# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_144205.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

---

THE 24 KEYS OF THE ISLE OF MAN:

— THEIR MODE OF ELECTION,
— CHARACTER GIVEN OF THEM BY THE INHABITANTS,

WITH

THE OPINION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INQUIRY;

AND

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT 24 KEYS.

I. *Mode of Election.*

[margin: Report of Commis- sioners of Inquiry, p. 69.]

" WHEN a Vacancy in the House of Keys was to be filled
up, *the Keys proceeded to the election and nomination of two per-
sons, to be presented to the Governor by their Speaker, as eli-
gible thereto.* The Governor having made choice of one of those
persons, directed the Clerk of the Rolls to administer to him the
Oath in the Appendix; and thereupon he became a Key, and was
entitled to hold that office for life, unless he chose to resign, and
the Governor accepted such resignation, or became disqualified by
expulsion by the House of Keys, or by the acceptance of the Lord
Proprietor's appointment to any office that entitled him to a seat in
the Government Council, or of the office of Deemster."

N. B. Thirteen of the Keys being a Majority, can decide upon
all points competent for them to inquire into.