Man Isleof

Man, Isle of (Celt, Man = "district"), is in the Irish Sea, 27 miles from the nearest points of England and Ireland, but 11 miles nearer Burrow Head, Wigtownshire. It is 31 miles long and 13 broad in the widest part, having a total area of 209 square miles. The Calf of Man, 3 miles to the south-west, is a fertile island 800 acres in extent. In 1266 Magnus, King of Norway, ceded his rights over it to Alexander III. of Scotland, on whose death the inhabitants placed themselves under the protection of Edward I. of England. By him and his successors temporary grants were made to English nobles, who took the title of king, and from 1403 to 1651 the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, ruled it. Owing to the royalism of the Countess it was taken from them by the Parliament, but was restored at the Restoration, and in 1735 passed by descent to the Duke of Athol. Thirty years later the sovereignty of the island was purchased by the British Crown; but it was not until 1829 that, in pursuance of an Imperial Act passed four years before, full rights were obtained over it by further purchase.

Man still retains a semi-independence, hayingits own Governor and Parliament called the Tynwald, the latter consisting of a council of eight and a House of Keys, or Representatives. In 1866 popular election was enacted, and in 1880 household suffrage was established and women were enfranchised. Laws are still promulgated on the Tynwald Hill in Manx as well as English, but the Celtic dialect is now almost obsolete. The bishopric of Sodor and Man, traditionally founded by St. Patrick, consists now of the Isle of Man only. The climate of the island is very pleasant, and much of the scenery picturesque. A range of mountains runs from north-east to south-west, Snaefell (2,024 feet) being the highest point. The herring and cod fisheries are an important industry, and the lead-mines are very rich. Zinc and other minerals are also found, much cattle is pastured and exported, and some corn is grown. The tailless cat of Man still exists, but the Manx puffin is extinct. Man is rich in relics of remote antiquity - the Tynwald Hill in the centre of the island, Castle Rushen, and Peel Castle being the most notable. The chief towns are Douglas, Peel, Ramsey and Castletown, the old capital.