38 Faraday, Correspondence of Lieut. -Col. Philips. 



they having been inform'd by somebody, that several thousands were em- 

 ployed in that Trade, and that there was no apparent reason why a Manx 

 Fisherman shou'd not be as liable to the Impress as an English one. I 

 suppose their Lordships were convinced by these arguments, for they ordered 

 the Spider, Schooner, commanded by a Lieut. Harrison to proceed on this 

 Station for the above purpose, and last Friday Night, but one (dreadful to 

 relate) he carried their orders into effect by impressing about fifty of those 

 sacred persons. Had an Earthquake happen'd or any other Convulsion of 

 Nature, it cou'd not have had a more terrible effect on the Inhabitants of 

 this Isle. That they were entirely ruin'd was past a doubt, and that this 

 ruinous business was occasioned by Captain Cable was another truth which 

 no one cou'd pretend to deny. His throat, of course, ought to be cut at 

 least, and his House pulled about his ears. In the meantime he, honest 

 man, showed no concern nor took any precautions about the matter. The 

 bustle is now, I believe a little subsided, & there has been no throats cutt, 

 nor any houses puU'd down. The Keys have, however, had a meeting 

 about the business, and they have memorialised the Admiralty representing 

 I suppose that the persons of their fishermen ought to be held sacred, and 

 demanding that this terrible business shou'd be no more repeated. And 

 now you have got a history of the most eventful circumstance that ever 

 happened to the Isle of Man. 



The Press Gang was a grievance of long standing 

 in the Isle of Man. In 1795, the Duke of Atholl, as 

 Governor, added greatly to his popularity there by 

 writing to the British Government, and inducing them to 

 promise protection in the matter to the Manx fishermen. 

 The result of this is seen in the letter. 



The next letter tells of the death of Mrs. Cable : — 



Douglas, Dec. 5th 1798. 

 My dear friend, 



This will be the shortest, and the most melanclioly Letter I ever wrote 

 to you — Mrs. Cable is no more, she died last Wednesday after about three 

 weeks illness, of a low Putrid Fever, from which I am but just recover'd. 

 This Event will cause me to leave the Isle of Man : for as neither my dear 

 Sarah nor myself have anyone to lean to except each other, the Survivor of 

 us wou'd be in a dreadful situation upon the Death of either : an event 

 which must necessarily happen some time or other. I mean to come tt> 

 England in a very short time to consult yourself, and those few friends I have, 

 about a Situation. As I hope to see you e'er long I shall say no more than 

 that I am and shall ever remain, your, & Mrs. Philips's, most sincere & 

 affectionate friend. 



Sam. Cable. 



