2/ J ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLINr. j 137 substitute a fixed salary in place of these fluctuating presentments, under the autho- rity of various Acts of Parliament, would be desirable for the public ?— If the legislature were pleased to give us a salary equal to the duties we perform, we would much rather, certainly, have it, than be subject to the frequent conflicting opinions of a jury. In point of fact, have the grand juries exercised any discretion in diminishing the amount of presentments applied for by you?— Never, but in one instance, and that was about the time the opinion I have before mentioned was taken, there was a gentleman that opposed a presentment of 40 1. a year. In the case of prisoners convicted, there is a discretion in the grand juries to diminish the amount of fees, though there is not in the case of prisoners acquitted; do you know of any instance in which that amount has been diminished by the city of Dublin grand jury?— No, I do not. When you send in your presentments to the grand jury, do you think, that any discretion is left with the grand jury, as to lessening the presentments?— I think that the grand jury certainly might do so in the instance of some present- ments, if they thought they exceeded more than we merited; but they never have done so to my knowledge. Would not you resist any attempt on the part of the grand jury to do so ?— 1 cer- tainly would apply to the court on the subject, and I know the court have always held, that where a sum of money is to be presented not exceeding a certain su? n, that they are to present for that sum. What salary do you think would be sufficient to compensate you for all the sums which you receive ?— I should feel a delicacy in mentioning any specific salary. What establishment have you in your office; to what expenses are you necessarily subject by your office?—- We have a clerk to whom we pay 130 I. a year; another, 100/.; we pay another 80/.; and another 40 guineas; it has been raised lately, and we pay a messenger 30 guineas a year. What is the total amount of those salaries ?— 389 I. 12 s. 6 d. Have you drawn up any statement of the circumstances attending your office, and the duties you are called upon officially to perform ?— I have. [ The witness delivered in the same, which is as follows:] Statement on behalf of John Allen and Molesworth Greene, esquires, clerks of the peace of the city of Dublin. " That in the year 1784, John Allen was appointed by the corporation of Dublin under its charter, town clerk, in virtue of which appointment he is also clerk of the peace; and that Molesworth Greene was in like manner appointed to the same situ- ation in the year 1789, since which time both have continued and still continue to enjoy the office of clerks of the peace of the city of Dublin. " That their receipts from this office averaged, for the last three years, at about 1,870 /. yearly, a sum which they believe this honourable Committee will not con- sider more than reasonable for the joint clerks of the peace of Dublin ; and their numerous assistants, when the variety and importance of their continual and laborious duties are considered. " That the entire business of the quarter sessions is, amongst various other duties, originated and prepared in the town clerks office ; that the jurisdiction of quarter sessions is more comprehending in Ireland than in England, perjury and offences of a capital nature being liable and tried at quarter sessions, by the recorder of Dublin and the chairman of Kilmainham ; that the jurisdiction of the quarter sessions of the city of Dublin, has been considerably enlarged by the 48 George 3 ; the statute which created its present police establishment, by which all the county of Dublin within the Circular road, has been added to the jurisdiction of the city quarter ses- sions ; that the vigilance of the police so created has not only much contributed to the security of the metropolis, but to increase the business of the quarter sessions, and that the increase of crime may be inferred from the fact, that the number of commitments to the city gaol called Newgate, more than trebled in the last sixteen years, being in 1805, 628; in 1821, 1,880; and in 1822, to 2,183. " That it further appears that the city court of quarter sessions, which formerly sat only every six weeks, and is not yet required by statute to sit oftener, is under the necessity of sitting almost weekly throughout the year, or at furthest, by adjourn- ment at ten days interval. (( 549. LI Mr. Molesworth Greene. - / ( 14 May.) FH « T;