14S MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE djl". Mr. Did all the coal- meters receive that additional fee ?— Yes ; if they had elected Timothy Allen, fifteen new men without making that increase it would have reduced the wages of the men then in office very much. ( 23 May.) State the reason of the next increase P— In 1798 the wages were raised another penny, they were made four- pence; and it appears that the wages were inadequate at that period, and that they had increased the hours of attendance. The coal- nieters in their petition for the increase last mentioned, stated, that the salaries of government officers had been all increased, and that the wages of tradesmen had been raised. The last increase, making the present wages, was on the 12th of Juiy l 802 ; they were then raised to 6d. that was an increase of 2d.; the petition of the coal- meters requesting this increase showed that in consequence of the Union, and the residence of the gentry and nobility in this country, their emoluments were posi- tively decreased one third; the object of the Guild also was to make those men more independent; the Guild wished very much to raise their character, and to make them independent of any idea of collusion and corruption, and they also laid on them the additional labour of keeping a tally of the exact amount of the coal discharged, which was a laborious duty; they very reluctantly gave this increase; some members of the Guild were against it, but the majority carried it in favour of an increase, and it passed. Did the Guild think themselves entitled to make this increase in virtue of the charter which you have just recited?— They did, certainly. Does the charter specify their power ?— The charter gives them liberty to make new laws and statutes. Was any remonstrance made at the time against their power to increase the wages ?— No. lias there been at all times, within your recollection, a Committee of the Guild, for the purpose of superintending the coal- meters establishment, and for hearing and redressing complaints relative thereto?— There always has. How many members of the Guild constitute the Coal Committee, exclusive of the masters and wardens ?— Twenty- seven; and the two masters and two wardens make thirty- one. Do they not sit as often as is found necessary to hear and determine upon such complaints as may be made to them relative to the coal- meters establishment ?— They do. How often ?— There is a fixed day, the first Friday in every month, but if there is occasion they sit oftener. Have they at any time, within your recollection, refused to hear or redress any complaints made to them against any person connected with the coal- meters establishment?— I think not; so far as my judgment goes, they have always been ready to redress complaints. If they refused to do so would it not be competent to any person who thought himself aggrieved to apply to the Guild on a quarter- day for redress ?— Certainly it would. Have you ever known an instance of any such application ?— I have known some gentlemen come to the Guild, but they made no regular written application; I re- marked a Mr. Tomlinson, a coal- factor, coming there and speaking, but he presented no memorial. There was a kind of conversation. Where do the Committee sit ?— In their new hall; they used to sit in the Shake- spear gallery. Have you known any officers dismissed for misconduct?—- Several. On what ground ?— Whenever a complaint for misconduct appeared to the Com- mittee to require that severity, they have reported to the Guild such an opinion, who have dismissed them. Have many complaints been made?— I cannot say many; the book is here, which will show the exact number; it is surprising there have been so few, when there are so large a number as eighty meters. If any thing special occurs does not the Coal Committee refer it to the Guild at large for their determination at quarter- day ?— They do report and state their opinion, and leave it to the Guild to decide. When it is found necessary, does not the Coal Committee examine parties 011 oath ?— They do, whenever there is a magistrate present, which is generally the case; they do not, without there is a magistrate present. Has not the Coal Committee, in every instance of complaint before them, been governed by a desire of doing justice to the public?-- I certainly think so, except v. that