ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. Can you produce that charter?— I cannot; but here is Queen Elizabeth's In- spexinius of that charter, which of course recites the charter of Henry 6th. [ The witness produced Queen Elizabeth's Inspeximus, which recites the words of the charter of King Henry VI.] That is in Latin. I have here a translation. • At what time, or by what record, does it appear that the Guild first exercised the right of appointing coal- meters, and fixing their wages?— In the year 1451, I will read the entry in the book ; the date of this is 1451 ; it says, " The Monday next before the fourth Friday next after Midsummer Anno predicte, it is granted in the same assembly that the water- bailiffs make the coal- peck after twelve gallons, and that there be a porter sworn to mete the coals, and take for his labour of the buyers for every peck," I suppose it is, but this is not at all intelligible, some certain fee, which I cannot make out; it is either a halfpenny, or a farthing; I cannot say which. Are there not other entries in the same book respecting the appointment and swearing in of coal- meters?— There are. Several?— Several entries. Have not the Guild subsequently received a charter from Queen Elizabeth, con- firming the charter granted by King Henry 6, of the ancient privileges and uses of the Guild, and also giving them full power and authority of making and establishing from time to time, any laws or statutes which should seem meet, and to change or alter such laws?— They did; here is that charter of Elizabeth, and also a translation of it; the words are " We further give of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, as far as in us lieth unto the said masters, wardens, brethren, and sisters, and they and their successors, that they the masters, wardens, brethren, and sisters, and their successors, may have, hold, and invariably observe and keep, all and singular liberties, customs, privileges, franchises, and usages of old by them or their predecessors lawfully used or administered; and that the master, wardens, brethren, and sisters, for the time being, and their successors from time to time, for the future, may have and shall have full power, faculty and authority of erecting, constituting, ordaining, making, and establishing from time to time, any laws, ordinances, constitutions or statutes, which to them or their successors shall seem good, wholesome, honest, profitable, conducible or neces- sary, according to their wholesome discretions, for the good rule, government, sup- port, or maintenance of the paternity or Guild aforesaid, as it shall seem by their experiences fit; and also the said laws, ordinances, constitutions, and statutes so ordained and made, from time to time to change, or of new to establish." Does it not appear by the books and records of the Guild that they have ever since, from time to time exercised the right of appointing coal- meters, and fixing their wages ?— It does. Does not the Act of the 33d of Geo. 3d recognize the coal- measurers, and point, out their particular duty ?— It does; and here is the Act. [ The Witness produced a copy of the same.'] In what manner do the Guild of Merchants appoint the coal- meters ?— By elec- tion. The guild are summoned and the election held. Every free brother has a vote ; and whoever has the majority of votes is elected. Is the meeting summoned by public advertisement?— There is a summons served upon every brother ; we seldom advertise meetings now. Are the inspector and book- keeper appointed in the same manner?— Certainly they are. At what periods did the Guild increase the wages of the coal- meters ?— They have increased them at different periods. Will you state the periods?— When I came into office the meters wages had been raised to 3 d., when I was first assisting they were only id., and on the 13th of January 1 794, were raised to 3 d. Will you mention the reasons why they were raised?— They were raised in the first instance, as appears on the face of the book, to afford a sufficient remuneration for fifteen new coal- meters, which were then found necessary to be elected to dis- charge the coal- shipping, the former number not being sufficient for the quick and expeditious discharge of the vessels ; then they elected fifteen new coal- meters; and in order to give them sufficient remuneration they were obliged to increase the wages one penny per ton. 549- Y 7 Mr.- Timothy Allen. \ ^ / ( 33 May.) Did