Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xlv. (1901), No. 8. 1 1 



Liverpool papers of the time speak of it in terms of 

 praise. " Gobbock " was the dog-fish, which Manx people, 

 with somewhat singular taste, at this time preferred to 

 any other form of food. The theatre at Douglas is said 

 to have been a pretty little building, and was originally 

 intended for private amusement. The proprietor was Mrs. 

 T n, "a charming lively widow." 



The trip to the Hebrides, of which mention is made in 

 the letter, was never made. It was the intention of Philips 

 and his friend to take a prolonged excursion among the 

 islands, to study the Natural History of them. Circum- 

 stances, however, prevented the execution of the proposal. 



On December 23rd, Cable writes : — 



Douglas. 

 My dear Sir, 



Yours of the 23rd ult. I reed last week by Mr. Brew, together with 

 the specimens of swivels etc. for which I thank you. I think, with you, that 

 the Iron wire will be good enough to fit up a Long line and I shall be much 

 obliged to you if you will promise me ten dozen of them. If our intended 

 excursion takes place we shall find plenty of use for it, as well as for Nets, 

 and other fishing gear, which Major Taubman promises to furnish. He 

 seems very desirous to be of the party, & I think he will be a proper subject ; 

 for he is very fond of fishing, is very civil, and plays a tolerable game at 

 Whist. From the present appearance of things in the political horizon, I 

 really believe that a very few months will determine whether our excursion 

 will take place or not. I am inclined to think that we shall certainly have 

 peace before Summer. If this is the case we may turn our broad Swords 

 into Ploughshares, .t our Small Swords into fishing hooks. Can they be 

 applied to a better purpose do you think ? 



I was yesterday favoured with the company of Mr. and Mrs. Riley ; 

 they are going to England, as soon as the weather will permit, to buy 

 furniture to fit up a large house at Peel in which they are to enact the parts 

 of Landlord and Hostess. In other words they are going to open an Hotel. 

 It is one of her wild schemes, and she is as sanguine about the success of it 

 as if she was endowed with Prophetic knowledge. As for poor Riley he 

 seems to be quite passive, and rather desponding. He has lived so long at 

 Peel, without Society, that the Blue Devils have got compleat hold of him. 

 I hope they will meet with some friends in England to persuade them off 

 this project. I shall return your Burton by him. I assure you I have been 

 much entertained by it. It is not a book that one cou'd sit down to read 

 quite through, but there are such gleams of wit scatter'd up & down the 

 work that it is impossible to avoid being pleas'd and diverted by it. 



