kio' ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUELIN. 73 Who is Mr. Charles Thorp, by whom that memorial is signed?— He is the pro- sent high sheriff of the city of Dublin. What was the result of this memorial?— The Lord Lieutenant declined to inter- fere, and the treasurer to the grand jury thereupon instituted a suit against two of the individuals who had been instrumental in laying the case before his Excellency ; these proceedings, however, upon a more mature consideration of his case, he thought proper to withdraw. Who were the individualsagainstwhom he instituted these proceedings ; were they the persons who signed the memorial ?— By no means; they were instituted against two householders of the parish, Mr. Kertland and Mr. Frazer, who, as I have already stated, had exerted themselves in bringing the case under the notice of the Irish government. You have stated the inspector of prisons to have had a salary of 100/. a year, in the year 1790 ?— Yes. What was the number of gaols in the city of Dublin, in the year 1790, which he had to visit and inspect?— 1 believe the gaol of Newgate and the bridewell in James's- street. What was about the number of committals in the year 1790?— I have no docu- ment from which I can answer the question. Are you aware how many gaols are now under the management and superinten- dence of the inspector?— He superintends the gaol of Newgate, the Richmond bridewell, the Smithfield penitentiary, the sheriff's prison, and the city marshalsea. Then he has now to inspect five prisons, when in the year 1790 he had to inspect one ?— I apprehend that any compensation for the duty which he discharges at the city marshalsea, ought never to have been a legal charge against the inhabi- tants of Dublin; all the expenses of that prison should be paid out of the funds of the corporation. In point of fact, he now performs the labours and the duties attached to five prisons, in the city of Dublin ?— I believe so; but I consider it very material to observe, that of those five prisons, three are almost literally under one roof; with the intervention of the sessions house, they form but one range of building. The number of prisoners in those five prisons amounting to about how many?— I suppose about 800 or 900, including the sheriff's prison. Then do you conceive that for the increased duties of five prisons, and the in- creased duties arising from an increase from 150 to 900 prisoners, that he is entitled to any increase of emolument?— He may, but not in the proportion in which his salary has been increased. Are you aware of the duties he has to perform, in each of those prisons?— I am aware that the duty is considerable, and if it were discharged according to the letter of the law, I think it would require as much time as one individual could devote to it. I am aware, however, also, that the present inspector is the curate of one of the poorest and most populous parishes in Dublin, and I think it impossible that, consistent with the discharge of his clerical functions, he could devote to the superintendence of five prisons, a portion of his time which would entitle him to so large a compensation as 400/. a year. You admit, however, that his duties require his whole time, are you aware of any neglect of those duties ?— I am not aware of any particular neglect as to superintendence, but, if I understand the Act of Parliament upon the subject correctly, he ought, twice in every week, to visit every cell in each of those prisons, which I consider it would, under his peculiar circumstances, be almost impossible for him to do. Do you think he does it?— I do not know. What reason have you to suppose that he does not do it ?— I will not assert that he does not do it; I have only stated, that consistent with his clerical functions, I think it next to impossible he should do it. You have visited Richmond penitentiary ?— Not recently. When did you visit it?— I have not been in the Richmond penitentiary for a considerable time back. Then you cannot give an account to the Committee of the state of that prison?— I cannot. Are you aware that the salary of the inspector was only 300/. a year, to the year 1822?— It was only 300/. Are you aware that in the year 1S17, the Smithfield penitentiary was added to his previous labours ?— I believe such was the fact. 549. L Are Mr. John McMullen. ( 1 May.)