• ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, 319 In point of fact, have you ever heard of any quart, or pint, or any measure which contained the legal capacity, being seized for want of the city stamp being upon it?— I have heard of their being threatened to be seized; but whether really they were seized, I do not know. You have heard many threatened to be seized upon the supposition of being short in measure ?— Yes; not threatened, but actually seized ; and they have threatened to seize my weights that had not the city stamp upon them. Have they ever done it ?— They have not. Did you stamp them in consequence?— I think I did. Have you any now not stamped ?— I think they are all stamped. In point of fact, you never had a weight seized in consequence of not being stamped ?— No. Have you ever known a person have a weight seized in consequence of its not being stamped ?— Not of my own knowledge. With respect to the stamping of the measures, with the permission of the Committee, I will state what is charged in London for the performance of the same duty. [ The witness delivered in a statement, which was read as follows:] Rate of Charge for affixing the City Seal to Weights and Measures in the City of London. Beer Measure. For gallon, half- gallon, quart, pint, and half- pint, one farthing each. Wine Measure. For five, four, three and two gallons, twopence per gallon; half a gallon, two- pence ; one gallon, fourpence; a quart, one penny; pint, one halfpenny; half- quartern, quartern, and half- pint, one farthing each. Rates for Charge of affixing the Seal to Weights and Measures at Guildhall, Westminster. Beer Measures. The same as in the city of London. Wine Measures- Five to one gallon, twopence per gallon; quart and pint, one halfpenny; and all - smaller measures one farthing each. Weights. Fifty- six pounds, twopence; all under down to one pound, sixpence per dozen ; and under one pound, threepence per dozen. While I was getting this information yesterday, I found the men were stamping very large quantities. But in point of fact, is it the practice in Dublin to stamp any measures used in the public- houses ?— I think it ought to be; and I think the reason why it is not is the very excessive charge made for stamping. If the clerks of the market have the power of enforcing the stamping of the measures in Dublin, do not you think they would be very anxious to avail them- selves of the power of doing it?— I am inclined to think they have the power, and I also think they ought to exercise it. Do you think they have abstained from doing so ?— I think the resistance of the people, in consequence of the greatness of the charge, has induced them to abandon it. In point of fact, if every measure used in the city of Dublin were to be stamped at the London rate of charge, would not the clerks of the market receive more than they do now ?— I cannot form a comparison of what are stamped, and what are not in Dublin. What is the smallest measure that is usually stamped in Dublin?— I suppose half a naggin. Is there any provision made by the law in respect to the potato- market held in Dublin?— I believe there is an Act of Parliament on the subject. What is the Act?— There is an Act of Parliament on the subject, requiring the Lord Mayor of the city of Dublin to provide beams, scales and weights, and weigh the potatoes free of any charge. 549- 3 O Have J AS Mr. Isaac Stewart. '— > ( 30 May.)