14S MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE djl". Tilr. are sold by weight sometimes, but am not certain ; I have made no inquiries about Michael Cullen, kilt I understand it is usual for the person who carries them about to take a —^ ' measure with him, in order that the person purchasing may satisfy himself that he .( May 23.) jjas the proper quantity. How does that agree with your assertion, that you believe it is sold by weight, if he takes a measure?— I do not know whether it is sold by weight or not. But you are aware that if you had any cause of complaint against the coal- meters, there is a court to which you can appeal for redress Yes; but I am not aware that I should receive much redress there. Have you ever tried it?— No, I have not; they are appointed by the Lord Mayor and the corporation. Is there any reason why the Lord Mayor and the members of the corporation of the city of Dublin should not be just as honest men as the members of a parish vestry?— No, I am not aware of any such reason. Do you believe it would be more for the advantage of the public that coals should be sold by weight instead of by measure r— Yes ; I do consider it would be a very great advantage to the house- holders of Dublin if coals were sold by weight instead of by measure. Have you any particular reason?— A tub is supposed to contain a certain weight, but by the artful way of putting the coal into the measure, great frauds are con- stantly committed. Do your objections to the mode of purchasing by measure apply to corn as well as coals?— I never purchased any corn; but I should suppose the same objec- tions would not apply ; corn would of course fit very closely into the measure, which the coal does not. Can you suggest any other change that would be advantageous to the public?— I am not aware of any thing particular, unless it were to sell by weight, and not to subject the buyer to corporation charges; nothing could be a greater advantage to the public, cither as private individuals or manufacturers, than having the coals cheaper, and particularly the manufacturer. Have you known any instances of coals being seized after they had left the ship for bad measure. Yes ; I have seen them seized in the streets very frequently ; and I have seen them sometimes thrown about the streets for the poor people to gather up. Did such coals come from the ship, or from a coal- factor's yard ?— 1 do not know ; it shows however that the authorities do not think they should rely much upon the coal- measurers ; if the present plan is adhered to they ought certainly to carry a measure with them. Do you think that it would be a better mode to change the system of selling coals fromjmeasure to weight, than to adopt a system by which the citizens could have their choice of buying either by measure or by weight?— I think if they were sold both by weight and by measure, that would be the best, because it has been supposed by some people that if they were sold by weight they might be wetted. You are aware that the worst coals are the heaviest?— Yes, but the quality is easily known by inspection; and they cannot always give us the worst; when they have sold the worst they must sell the best. Mr. Timothy Allen, called in: and Examined. Mr. " WHAT is your situation ?— I am clerk of the Guild of Merchants. Timothy Allen. ^ How long have you held that situation ?— Since January 1796. ^ Did you, previous to your appointment, occasionally assist the former clerk of the Guild?— I did. For any length of time?— Occasionally from the year 17S4. Does it appear from the records or the books of the Guild of Merchants that they were a corporation existing by prescription in the year 1438 ?— It does, by an ancient book which I have here. Will you produce the book ? [ The witness produced a document, containing the rules and bye- laws of the Guild of Merchants, commencing in the year 1438.] Did not the Guild subsequently receive a charter from King Henry 6th by authority of Parliament, confirming them to be and to continue for ever a Fraternity or perpetual Guild of Merchants, with power to make bye- laws -— They did. Can