Carlisle Patriot, 19 Nov 1825 - Isle of Man Riots (2)

[petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk]

Saturday 19 Nov 1825   (p. 3, col. 1-2)

 

ISLE OF MAN.

 

[continued]

 

Sun-Office, Four o'Clock, P. M.—The Military have just received orders to march to Bishop's Court,—and a Deputation of farmers are reported to have waited on Mr. M'CRONE concerning the state of the public mind. We have not time to say more—but we sincerely hope that peace will be permanently restored.

 

We have this moment, on going to press, received "Patricius's" letter, announcing that last night the Proctor of Kirk Patrick's haggard and a house, containing tithe potatoes, have been burned, as also a building of the Rev. Mr. COTTIER's, containing the same. This shameful example of violence and insubordination, we trust will not be followed by other parishes.—The perpetrators are the greatest enemies of their own cause. We, however, rely with perfect confidence on the Lieutenant Governor, who will, no doubt, punish the offenders, and restore peace and good order. The best remedy to prevent similar expressions of violence, would be a law to render every parish liable to the expenses so incurred. This would render it the interest of every inhabitant to put down all acts of violence; and, we hope, that it will meet the attention of the house of Keys.

 

The paper from the Bishop, read to the people as abovementioned, was to this effect:—

 

"Notice.—Whereas it has been reported by evil-minded persons, that the tithe of potatoes will be taken from the poor tenants of this island, and from persons little able to pay the same;—They are hereby assured that such tithe will not be demanded from them, either this year or at any future time: and if any mistake should arise in this matter, the persons aggrieved will obtain redress, on applying to the Bishop.

 

"Bishop's Court, Nov. 3, 1825."

 

This is liberal, and well-judged: and as the latest accounts do not allude to any fresh outrages, we may presume that peace has been restored. The following observations we copy from the Manx Advertiser of the 10th instant, a paper in the confidence of the Duke of Atholl, and the principal authorities of the Island:—

 

We will not attempt to investigate, or to enquire into, the origin or the immediate cause of the late nefarious proceedings, so disgraceful to the Country, and which every good and conscientious man must sincerely lament: we would rather take occasion to recommend peace and harmony and good will to all. We are the more disposed to contemplate the tranquil satisfactions of peace, from the opportunity so graciously afforded us by the humane conciliation offered by our worthy Diocesan in the kind acceptance of the petitions of the poor. To concede to the wishes of the people, what appeared so much their desire, the boon of forbearance, and a total surrender of present claims, became necessary for the safety of the country. And every wise and good man would rather see tranquillity [sic] restored to thousands, than the possession of mere extraneous advantages which his independence enables him to sacrifice.

 

Could we sufficiently rely upon the good sense of those who have the destinies of the nation in their power, we should, at the present crisis, recommend an arrangement between the farmers and the clergy, which would forever put an end to further misunderstandings respecting tithes. The lawless rage of a disaffected multitude, it is greatly to be regretted, must have its own way to a certain extent; but the impression of non-resistance to the mandates of an infuriated mob must be removed; and every wise man will, for the sake of public security, be desirous that some medium should be restored to, to efface from the minds of the ignorant multitude the idea that they are omnipotent. This must be done. But how this very necessary work is to be performed, time will tell. Meantime, what hinders the sensible and moderate part of the inhabitants of this Island from concerting such conciliatory measures as might prevail on the authorities to mature a system of Commutation, which would embrace as well the convenience of the proctor as the accommodation of the farmer?

 

We are not authorized by any member of the Government to make these observations, or to offer these suggestions. They are the spontaneous product of our own sense of expediency—and this we should not have deemed requisite to profess were it not for that prejudice of party spirit which so lamentably pervades all spheres at the present inauspicious crisis. It must, however, be understood, that in the wish for peace, and to endeavour to conciliate and to heal the unhappy breaches which have of late disturbed the harmony of the country, we have not absorbed the sense of justice—of obedience to the law, and a proper respect for that order and decorum for persons and stations, which the constitution of England, as well as every branch of legitimate authority, demands.

 

For our own parts, we should like to see a general commutation bill, convinced that it would strengthen the church, restore harmony to many parishes, and add very considerably to the comfort of the Clergy.