1825.] Account of the Isle of Man. between 3 and 400 hundred acres. The grounds are well wooded, and the situation altogether is delightful. Plants and shrubs grow here most luxuriantly. The appearance of the country is billy, though the hills are tame and rounded, and their altitude low. Snafield is the highest, and is 2004 feet above the level of the sea. The soil is generally a light sand, and shallow. In some places are peat mosses. But the island principally relies for its fuel on the Whitehaven coal. The stone most abundant on the isle is a blue schistus; at Castletown and neighbourhood is excellent lime-stone, whence the island is supplied with lime. There are three lead mines on the mountains; viz. at Brada, Foxdale, and Laxey. At Brada also copper ore is found. The horses, cows, and sheep, are all small, and shew that there is great room for improvement in the breeds. In 1823, it was found, upon inquiry, that the Island exported wheat, 7,549 quarters; barley, 254; oats, 1,256. There are no poor rates on the Isle of Man. Paupers are maintained, as in Scotland, by collections in the Churches. The sovereignty of the Isle of Man formerly belonged to the Earls of Derby; but by the death of James 10th Earl of Derby in 1736, he dying with out issue, the Estate and Lordship of Man devolved to James Murray, 2d Duke of Athol, as sole heir of James 7th Earl of Derby; whilst the title and earldom passed in the male line to Sir Edward Stanley. In 1765 the 3d Duke and Duchess of Athol finding the English Government resolved to obtain authority and right on the Isle of Man, for the sake of putting a check to smuggling, and preventing it being a place of refuge for debtors, reluctantly complied to accept (being afraid of losing the whole) 70,000l. in lieu of their right to the custom and herring dues; which were then said to amount to 6,5471. a year. The Duke and Duch ess also received 2,000l. per ann. during their natural lives, owing to some misunderstanding arising from the English Government claiming more than the Duke asserted it was his intention to grant. In making a sale of the Island, the Duke reserved all his feudal rights as lord of the soil, with certain other profits coming under the same descrip 101 tion. These complicated claims led to disputes, and the 4th and present Duke resorted to Parliament to establish his mutilated rights, and complained that the sum given to his ancestor was greatly beneath the value of the revenue ceded to the crown, and prayed for additional compensation; which complaint, upon enquiry, seemed to be well-founded: and in 1802 Parliament voted that one-fourth of the gross revenues of the Isle of Man, which of late years has varied from 12 to 20,000l. a year, should be allowed to the Duke and his heirs for ever. In the Session of Parliament just now closed (June 1825) a Bill was passed granting the Duke 280,000l. for all his remaining rights and dues on the Island, for the mines and minerals,-for the patronage of the Bishoprick and the Churches, and the one-fourth of the revenue as granted to him in 1805 to be done away with, and he only to reserve Castle Mona and his lands, and hereafter to stand in the capacity of a private gentleman. The Island is ruled by a Governor, which is the Duke of Athol, and in his absence by a Lieutenant Governor, who is then invested with all his au thority, and performs all the duties belonging to that office. He can call in the assistance of the two Deemsters or Judges, (called Deemsters, or Doomsters, from the word doom, to judge); and also his council, which consists of the following persons. The Bishop, the Receivers General, the Water Bailiff, Attorney General, Clerk of the Rolls, and the Archdeacon. And on affairs of polity and legisla ture, the House of Keys, so called, as is supposed, from their being the persons that unlock the difficulties and mysteries of the law. The House of Keys consists of 24 of the chief landholders of the Isle. The appoint ment is for life, except in cases of criminal conduct, resignation, or the ac ceptance of any place that entitles him to a seat in the Council. When a vacancy occurs, the others present the names of two gentlemen of landed property to the Governor, or, in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor, who nominates one of them to fill the vacancy. These two, the Governor in Council, and the House of Keys, constitute the Legislature, and the laws they enact having received the approbation of the King, and having been pub published by proclamation on the Tynwald Hill, according to ancient usage, become statutes of the land. The House of Keys have no fixed time for their sittings, but meet as business requires. Tynwald Hill is in the village of St. John's, three miles from Peel, near the centre of the Island, and where the roads from Castletown to Ramsey, and that from Douglas to Peel meet. It is a green, circular, artificial mound, about three yards in height. The diameter of the top is seven feet. About a yard below, and round this, is a step or resting place, four feet wide. Below this is another step or resting-place six feet wide; and below this, another still wider. The circumference of the outer circle is nearly 80 yards. Laws pass ed by the Legislature of this Island are called Acts of Tynwald. Before they become binding upon the people they must be read from this place, which is generally done on St. John the Baptist's day. Some think the word Tynwald is taken from the Danish word "Tin, or Ting," a Court of Justice, and "wald," a field, or place fenced. Others derive it from the old British words Tyng and val, signifying the juridical hill." The two Deemsters, that is the Judges for the northern and southern districts of the Island, are appointed by the Crown of England, with a salary of 8001. a year each, and precluded from taking fees. They hold singly their Courts once a week, at some Court-house in their respective district. They have full power to determine all claims for debts to any amount, and decide all disputes respecting lands, contracts, and engagements; and also respecting defamation, slander, or simple breach of the peace. The frequency of these Courts, and the petty offences they take cognizance of, create continual litigation and bad neighbourhood. The business of Attorney and of Counsellor are here vested in the same person. There appears a great want of order and decorum at the Manx bar. Three or four of these Attorneys, or Counsellors, may be seen standing up together, arguing and contradicting one another in the most rude and indecorous manner. The parties at issue, and their witnesses, will also exclaim and contradict one another without [Aug. any ceremony while under examination. The Deemsters, or Judges, wear neither wigs nor gowns, and every way seem to want that commanding dignity which is so essentially requisite on the Bench. The Court of General Gaol Delivery is held at Castletown twice a year. All felons are here tried by a Jury. The Governor, Council, Deemsters, and the 24 members of the House of Keys, sit as Judges; but their judgment is subject to Royal confirmation. The revenue is of two kinds, viz. that which arises from the duties on Imports and Exports, which of late years has been from 12 to 20,000l. a year. After paying therefrom the Custom-house Officers, and the Duke of Athol one fourth of the net revenue, as a compensation for the sale of the sovereignty of the Island, as agreed in Parliament in 1805, the remainder is remitted to the Lords of the Treasury in London. The second kind is what is imposed by the Manks Legislature on wheeled carriages, dogs, and public houses; this amounts to something more than 2,000l. a year, and is solely expended in keeping the turnpike-roads and bridges in repair. Here are no toll-bars, and the roads, generally speaking, are good. A person may live as well on the Isle of Man with 2007. a year, as he could with 3001. in England. Whitehaven coals are from 20 to 22s. a ton. Butchers meat and flour are about the same as in any country village in England. A variety of fish cheap. Port wine from 18s. to 24s. a dozen. The duty on brandy is 4s. 6d. a gallon, and is here sold at 10s. a gallon. The duty on rum is 3s. a gallon, and is here sold at 6s. a gallon. The duty on black tea is 6d. a lb. and is here sold from 3s. 9d. to 6s. a lb. The duty on green tea is 1s. a lb. and is here sold from 6s. to 9s. a lb. Every description of groceries are at the like reduced scale of prices. The name of "Man," as given to the Island, is generally supposed to be derived from the Saxon word "mang," or "among," and was used in reference to its situation among surrounding kingdoms. But Bp. Wilson supposed it to be an abreviation of the Manks word "manning," which signifies among, i. e. among other nations. The arms of the Isle of Man are three 1825.] On the Conquest of England by William I. three legs, uniting at the upper part of the thigh, clothed and spurred, with the motto, "Stabit quocunque jeceris," i. e. which ever way you throw it, it will stand. The three legs refer to the relative situation of the Island with respect to the neighbouring nations of England, Scot land, and Ireland, previous to their union. The legs are armed, which denotes self-defence. The spurs denote speed; and while in whatever position they are placed, two of them fall into the attitude of supplication, the third, which will be upward and behind, appears to be kicking at the assailant, against whom the other two are imploring protection. The vis of the symbol is, that if England should seek to oppress it, it would soon engage Ireland or Scotland to afford protection; and if either of these should assail it, that it would hasten to call England to its defence. MR. URBAN, G. H. Aug. 3. IN referring to the "History of Eng Ν land," at the period usually designated the 'Norman Conquest,' we perceive it to be there represented that this Country became entirely subjugated, and laid at the proud foot of a Con 103 queror*. On the subject in question, propose to advance two seemingly decisive arguments, (at least, as I conceive,) till invalidated by more subtle disputants than myself, against England's having been totally overcome and subdued by the Normans; † and to which, without further cominent, I request to direct the attention of the readers of your interesting Journal. To proceed then, in the first place we are given to understand that immediately after the Battle of Hastings,' he marched directly to London; but on the way was met by a large body of Kentish men; each with a bough, or branch of a tree in his hand. This army was headed by Stigand, the Archbishop, who made a speech to the Conqueror, in which he boldly demanded the preservation of their liberties; and let him know that they were resolved rather to die than to part with their laws, and live in bondage. William thought proper to grant their demands; he agreed to govern them by the laws of Edward the Confessor, and to suf fer them to retain their ancient cus toms."-All this took place, be it remembered, previous to the ceremony of Coronation, and upon these conditions only, was he acknowledged King: indeed, Stigand §, the Primate, upon ⚫ Shakspeare, King John, Act 5th, Scene the last, says, "This England never did, (nor never shall,) But when it first did help to wound itself." + "The Ecclesiastics in particular," says Hume, "whose influence was great over the people, began to declare in his favour; and as most of the Bishops and dignified Clergymen were even then Frenchmen or Normans, the Pope's bull, by which his enterprise was avowed and hallowed, was now openly insisted on as a reason for general submission. The superior learning of those Prelates, which, during the Confessor's reign, had raised them above the ignorant Saxons, made their opinions be received with implicit faith; and a young prince like Edgar, whose capacity was deemed so mean, was but ill-qualified to resist the impression which they made on the minds of the people." P. 230.-From the above passage, cited at length, it must be incontrovertibly apparent, that the people were so much under priest-government, or to use our more modernized phrase, "priest-ridden," as well as overawed by popish superstition and artifice, as to be utterly incapacitated from taking up arms, at least for any lengthened period, and consequently of regaining, or endeavouring to regain, the ancient rites and privileges they had previously enjoyed, under Saxon Monarchs; that much of the arbitrary power exercised by these ruthless and inhuman spoilers, over this favoured land, may, with the utmost propriety, be attributed to the awe in which they held the absurdities of relics, and supposed preternatural interpositions. Any person, therefore, who surveys the above passage with the most moderate attention, must perceive that, (should they allege that he carried, and surmounted all obstacles to the Throne by force of arms,) the present argument entirely overthrows that opinion, and causes us consequently to infer that this kingdom was obtained far more by artifice than conquest. Vide Cooper's "History of England," 12mo, pp. 14, 15. c. 1. He was in fact crowned by Alldred, Archbishop of York; Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, refusing to perform the ceremony. Harleian Miscellany. Moss's Hastings. C. 2. pp. 51, &c. Some, however, say he did, which was most probably the case. any 104 Pronunciation of "Heard."—Shenstone. any others, refused peremptorily to per→ form the office. Now, one cannot well attribute his concession of the abovementioned privileges to any other motives than those of fear, and for the reason here assigned. Had he proceeded as a direct and determined Conqueror, would he not, to complete his victory, have negatived privileges and rights (of the nature of which he knew nothing, and which might, for ought he could tell, be utterly inimical to the system of government he intended to introduce,) wrested from him, as it were, by actual compulsion, and have pushed forward his title, as a Conqueror,' by the sword? I deduce the inference from his being (as History relates) a cruel, vindictive, and rapacious tyrant. This, I conceive, to be one argument exceedingly derogatory to the misap plied epithet of Conqueror:' and in the next and last place, I will observe, that it is a notorious fact, that part of Kent, to this very day, bears for its arms, a rampant white horse, the motto "Invicta," subscribed. I proceed, then to propose the following important question in relation to William's being strictly and appropriately endowed with the appellation of Conqueror t,' and would state my arguments thus If part of Kent, being part of England, remain unconquered, how is it possible that England, in a distributed sense, can be said to have been conquered? or perhaps the question might be more syllogistically stated in the following [Aug. Mr. URBAN, Chelsea, Aug. 11. THE remarks of your intelligent Correspondent J. S. H." Šupplement, First part, 1825, p. 583, ap. pear to my mind most acute, masterly, and conclusive. They evince soundness of judgment with delicacy of critical taste, and certainly require not the authority of an autos ia, "the master said it," to confirm their validity. But, Mr. Urban, should that be deemed important; should the image and superscription of Cæsar be sought for on the coin before its general currency be allowed, I am happy in the power of satisfying your readers with reference to Samuel Johnson himself. In his very entertaining and instructive Life of Dr. Johnson, in quarto, 1794, vol. 1. p. 171, Mr. Boswell writes thus: "I perceived that he pronounced the word heard, as if spelt with a double e, heerd, instead of sounding it herd, as is most usually done. He said, his reason was, that if it were pronounced herd, there would be a single exception from the English pronunciation of the syllable ear, and he thought it better not to have that exception." Conceiving it the duty of every one who is improved by your work, to aid your views, I have made this extract and remain, your obliged humble servant. Mr. URBAN, *B. Salop, Aug. 13. manner, viz. For England to be sub-E following inscription on an in v garden at Edgbaston, dued, the whole must be conquered. co. Warwick, may be acceptable (at Part of England was unsubdued ; there least) to your Shenstonian friends. fore England was not conquered. Yours, &c. I have troubled you by inserting the foregoing remarks, in hopes that they may attract the attention of some ingenious reader or readers, and beg to close them by subscribing myself, Yours, &c. J. D. Oxon. "Ah, Musæ perfida! Δ. Π. "Invicta." If this motto be considered as no proof of England's not having been absolutely conquered; I should feel much obliged to any of your Correspondents to prove in what sense it may properly be applied? and consequently to overthrow the syllogism subscribed. "Some writers," says the above-mentioned Historian, "have been desirous of refusing to this prince the title of Conqueror in the sense which that term commonly bears; and, on pretence that the word is sometimes in old books applied to such as make an acquisition of territory by any means, they are willing to reject William's title by right of war to the crown of England. It is needless, he further adds, to enter into a controversy, which, by the terms of it, must necessarily degenerate into a form of words." This Historian is far from being an impartial one, and the arguments before submitted, in my opinion, are far, very far, from "degenerating into a form of words." Mr. 1825.] Governor Pitt's Account of his celebrated Diamond. MR. URBAN, Bath, Aug. 15. I HAVE much pleasure in cr. Pitt's nicating to you Governor Pitt's own account of his purchase of the celebrated Diamond, both from the personal interest I feel in vindicating his character, and as I shall be glad to see his candid and plain statement of the fact recorded in your valuable Magazine. It is dated July 29, 1710, and is as follows: 105 one, I did not think of meddling with days, came and it away days, and then came and took it away again; and did so several times, not insisting upon less than 200,000 pa godas; and, as I best remember, I did not bid him above 30,000, and had little thoughts of buying it for that. I considered there were many and great risques to be run, not only in cutting it, but also whether it would prove "Since my coming into this me- foul or clear, or the water good; belancholy place of Bergeu, I have been sides, I thought it too great an amount often thinking of the most unparalleled to be adventured home on one bottom. villainy of William Fraser, Thomas But Jaurchund resolved to return Frederick, and Smapa, a black mer speedily to his own country; so that I chant, who brought a paper before best remember it was in February folGovernor Addison in Council, insi- lowing he came again to me (with nating that I had unfairly got pos- Vincatee Chittee, who was always session of a large Diamond, which with him,) when I discoursed with him tended so much to the prejudice of my about it, and pressed me to know, reputation and the ruin of my estate, whether I resolved to buy it, when he that I thought it necessary to keep by came down to 100,000 pagodas, and me the true relation how I purchased something under before we parted, it in all respects, that so, in case of when we agreed upon a day to meet, sudden mortality, my children and and make a final end thereof one way friends may be apprised of the whole or other, which I believe was the latter Datter, and so be enabled thereby to end of the aforesaid month, or the beput to silence, and confound those, ginning of March; when we accordand all other villains in their base at- ingly met in the Consultation Room, tempts against either. Not having where, after a great deal of talk Í got my books by me at present, I can- brought him down to 55,000 pagodas, not be positive as to the time, but for and advanced to 45,000, resolving to the manner of purchasing it I do here give no more, and he likewise resolvdeclare and assert, under my hand, in ing not to abate, I delivered him up the presence of God Almighty, as I the stone, and we took a friendly leave hope for salvation through the merits of one another. Mr. Benyon was then and intercession of our Saviour Jesus writing in my closet, with whom I Christ, that this is the truth, and if it discoursed on what had passed, and told be not, let God deny it to me and my him now I was clear of it; when about children for ever, which I would be an hour after, my servant brought me so far from saying, much less leave it word that Jaurchund and Vincatee under my hand, that I would not be Chittee were at the door, who being guilty of the least untruth in the rela-called in, they used a great many extion of it for the riches and honour of the whole world. “About two or three years after my arrival at Madras, which was in July 1698, I heard there were large Diamonds in the country to be sold, which I en-couraged to be brought down, promising to be their chapman, if they would be reasonable therein; upon which Jaurchund, one of the most eminent diamond merchants in those parts, came down about December 1701, and brought with him a large rough stone, about 305 mangelius, and some small ones, which myself and others bought; but he asking a very extravagant price for the great GENT. MAG. August, 1825. pressions in praise of the stone, and told me he had rather I should buy it than any body, and to give an instance thereof, offered it for 50,000; so bebelieving it must be a pennyworth, if it proved good, I offered to part the 5000 pagodas that was then between us, which he would not hearken to, and was going out of the room again, when he turned back and told me that I should have it for 49,000, but I still adhered to what I had before offered him, when presently he came to 48,000, and made a solemn vow he would not part with it a pagoda under, when I went again into the closet to Mr. Benyon, and told him what had passed, |