1802.] 
The magnificent ruins of Peel Caftle are 
well worth the vifit of a ftranger. They 
are of confiderable extent, and prefent on 
every fide the moft picturefque appearance. 
From the top of Snafield, the highett 
mountain in the ifland) the profpeét will 
amply repay the labour of the afcent. On 
a fine day, England, Scotland, Ireland, 
and Wales, are clearly to be feen. But 
what chiefly ftrikes thofe who are unufed 
to fuch fituations, is, the view of the 
country at their feet, and the conviction of 
their infularity by the obfervation of the 
furrounding ocean. Itis, indeed, difficult 
for one unaccuftomed to fcenes of this kind, 
to diveft himfelf of a certain awful and ap- 
prehenfive fenfation. He knows that the 
fame power which caufed the ifle to heave 
its broad back from the depths of the fea, 
can in an inftant deprefs it again ; and he 
feels the poffibility that that inftant may 
be the prefent one. 
It is extraordinary, that in fo fmalla 
place a diftin&t tongue fhould ftill be pre- 
ferved. The Manks language is in fome 
refpects fimilar to the Erfe. Almoft every 
Mankfman can fpeak Englith ; their ac- 
cent is very like that of Ireland, and they: 
may eafily be miftaken for Hibernians by 
thofe who have not attended cloiely to the 
Niceties of pronunciation, — 
Little Manks mufic is to be met with. 
There are a few original airs, which have 
much of the wildnefs of the Irifh. To 
thefe are fometimes fung ballads in the 
Manks language. The following is a li- 
teral tranflation of the firft ftanza of one 
of them ; probably the complaint of fome 
philolophical, though love-ftricken fifher- 
_ man, who has not caught more herrings 
‘the United Kingdom. 
than what are fuficient for a bachelor !— 
Oh! we muft poftpone it 
Until the time come ; 
For if it be our fate to be each other’s, 
We cannot be difappointed : 
We fhall entertain efteem for each other, 
lf we can never be married , : 
You will ftill be in my mind, 
And I fhall often be fpeaking of you. 
In this feafon of peace, many families, 
tempted by the exemption from taxes, 
will, no doubt, retire to the ifle of Man, 
as conceiving ita place where everyarticle 
of fubfiftence may be procured at a more 
moderate rate than in any other part of 
Aman of fortune 
will find a refidence in this ifland propor- 
tionably more advantageous than a man 
of limited income ; for the luxuries of life 
_ ate proportionably cheape: than the ne- 
 effaries; the prices of _ beef, mutten, 
es 
« 
Sketch of the Ile of Man. 
111 
bread, &c. are much the fame as in the 
neighbouring countries ; but wine, game, 
poultry, fifth, (particularly of the more de- 
licate kinds, fuch as lobfters, turbot, &c.} 
are infinitely lefs dear. A moderately 
fized houfe (and no other is to be got} 
lets for fifteen or twenty guineas a-year ; 
but that is the whole expence—there are 
no window-taxes, poor’s-rates, &c. which 
{well the rents in England fo exorbitantly. 
Coals are from a guinea to a guinea and a 
half a ton: the wages of female fervants, 
three, four, and five guineas per annum ; 
a carriage may be kept at a fmall expences 
and that fuperior fplendour of fiyle is not 
expected from the higher orders which the 
ufage of more haughty nations demands. 
Society is divided intotwo claffes, na- 
tives, and ftrangers. Into the former, 
unlefs by fome very fortunate coincidence 
of circumiftances, it is difficult to procure 
admiffion. Good introdu&tions, and a 
Jong refidence, are neceflary before any 
one is allowed to obtain an intimate foot. 
ing: nor is this furprifing, when it is con- 
fidered how many men of broken fortune 
and abandoned character have, from time 
immemorial, been duping the hone& 
Manks. Formerly the ifle of Man was 
their refort, their fanctuary; and, even 
now, {carce a week elapfes in which fevera] 
of thefe gentry are not fent to the caftle 
for debts contraéted without the ability of 
payment. The caution which the natives 
feel themfelves under the neceffity of ufing 
to guard againft the impofitions of fuck 
people, frequently preduces an appearance 
of inhofpitality foreign to their real difpo- 
fitions. This is more obfervable in the 
fouth of the ifland, where the influx of 
ftrangers is the greateft; and one unace 
guainted with the caufe of this referve, 
would, perhaps, be induced to give the 
Manks a charaéter which does not belong 
to them. 
As may eafily be fuppofed in fo {malla 
{pot, acomplicated chain of affinity binds 
together the whole of the inhabitants. I¢ 
is not uncommon to fee a maflter-uncle 
giving orders to a fervant-niece ; or a cou- 
fin, who has been uwunfuccefsful in the 
world, attending behind the chair of his 
more fortunate relation. Freedom of 
converfation, when {peaking of any indi- 
vidual in the ifland, is dangerous ; for it 
is highly probable that the perfon you 
addre{s, is connected in fome manner og 
other with the perfon on whom you may 
be commenting. 
The Manks are fond of dancing, and 
dance well. Formerly there were repuiae 
fub{cription aflemblies at Douglas every 
fortnight; 
