The Case for the Rights of the Duchy of Cornwall to the Scilly Islands

Scope and Content

An exhaustive examination of the case for the rights of the Duchy of Cornwall to the Scilly Islands, drawn up by Sir G. Harrison, 346 folios: (fo. 4) introductory remarks; (fo. 7) records bearing on the matter from 1300; (fo. 25) further records proving the right of the Duchy to the islands; (fo. 31) evidence and instructions for the drawing up a legal report; (fo. 32v) report drawn up by W. Illingworth, record agent; (fo. 35v) citation of records by W. Illingworth to prove that the islands were vested in the Crown; (fo. 40) additional evidence; (fo. 43) reports of C.H. Bellenden Ker, conveyancer and member of the public records commission, on the evidence, concluding that the islands belonged to the Crown; (fo. 47) Harrison's report to the special commissioners for the management of the Duchy, outlining the evidence for the ancient as well as the present title of the Duchy to the islands; (fo. 217) observations of H.W. Hewlett; (fos 235-333) further legal opinions, reports and criticisms; (fo. 341) decision of the Attorney and Solicitor General accepting the rights of Duchy with some caution. Every page that is written upon is numbered at the foot in the original hand. The blank pages are left unnumbered. The verso is also mainly blank. Sir George Harrison's bookplate is inside the front cover.

Access Information

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Acquisition Information

Bequeathed by Francis Jenkinson, 1923.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

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