2jf> MINUTES QV EVTDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Mb. isaac stewart. I S l- u 1 I II H « m ( to Muy.) What is the value of the lead per pound so poured in?— About 4 d. Then if tbey are obliged to pour in two or three pounds of lead, they actually lo? e by the increase of charge?— Certainly ; but if I were to answer that question, I am rather inclined to think if the weight took so much lead they would charge for the price of the lead. Have you ever known that to be the case ?— No ; but I should surmise from the price they charge when they do not require lead, if they put in two or three pounds they would charge for it, exclusive of the charge for stamping. You are in trade?— Yes. You have seen a great number of stamped weights?— I rather think, upon recol- lection, that they . do charge for the lead; I think I have paid them for the lead myself. Who are the officers appointed to perform the duty of marking and adjusting weights?— There are now four clerks of the market, last year there were only three; each of them pay about 13 /. to every new Lord Mayor for the right of exercising the . power and authority of a clerk of the market; this information I received on making inquiry at the clerk of the markets as to those rates; two of those clerks were pre- sent, I asked them their names, one of them called himself Evans, and the other Moss; they informed me not only of the rates charged, but of the circumstance of their paying 13/. to every new Lord Mayor; this is also a matter of complaint of the citizens that the Lord Mayor should increase the number of clerks of the mar- kets at discretion, for the purpose of increasing his own revenue; he has also, it appears, exercised the power of permitting them to raise the rates of charge, and has increased the number of officers; thus gone on and going on to an extent that induces the citizens to call for Parliamentary interference. If in point of fact you should be mistaken in your information of any sum being paid to the Lord Mayor, do you think all your reasoning would fall to the ground ? —. Certainly. What reason have you, besides the information of those clerks of the market, to say that they pay a sum to the Lord Mayor?— I cannot say that I have any particular reason. 1 did not apprehend that it was necessary to go farther than to get those mens words for the sum of money they paid, and that those clerks of the market did not feel satisfied with the conduct of the Lord Mayor; and the reason they assigned was this, that their situation was not a very lucrative one, when there were three of them having all the profits and emoluments to be di- vided into three shares. Do you believe now that there is any thing paid to the Lord Mayors ?— I do believe that it was the case with the last Lord Mayor; and I do believe that it was the case with more Lord Mayors. I believe it has been done frequently ; that it has been paid even of late years. You do not believe it was paid to all the Lord Mayors ?— I do not believe now that it was paid when Sir Robert Shaw was Lord Mayor, because he has just said he did not receive any. I think they also said the secretary had part of this; they ( lid not say how much of this money each Lord Mayor had ; but how it was ap- propriated I cannot say. Has there been any increase in the fees of the clerks of the market?— I am not prepared to answer that question; but I am inclined to think they have been increased from what I have paid myself since I commenced business. I cannot positively state it, but as far as my memory serves me, I am inclined to think some of those fees are increased; I think I have heard other people make the same remark also. How are the measures regulated in Dublin?— The fee charged in Dublin is 13 for. fixing the city seal on all measures. What are the measures generally used in Dublin?— A variety; the same as in any other place; there are all kinds. Bushels and pecks?— Yes; naggins and half naggius. Do you mean to say that the naggins and half naggins used in the shops generally have the city seal on them ?— No; I do not suppose they have all the city seal on them ; but I apprehend they are liable to be seized if they have not. If they happen to be full measure, though not sealed, are they liable to be seized ? — I apprehend they are. Do you know by what law they are liable to be seized do not know of any law to that effect.' . In