ON TIIE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 97 time, than all the other prisons together; and that memorialist has not re- ceived any compensation for such attendance. That, in addition to the said attendance on the Richmond bridewell, memorialist was, in the summer of 1821, required, by the magistrates of the head office of police, to visit the Smithfield penitentiary; a duty which, in like manner, memorialist has con- tinued to discharge without any compensation:— Memorialist, therefore, re- spectfully submits these facts to the consideration of the grand jury, in the confident hope, that the gentlemen who compose it, will, on inquiry'; be of opinion, that memorialist's duties have been greatly increased since his ap- pointment ; and that, though for some time past these duties have been more than doubled, he has regularly and faithfully discharged the same, without receiving such reasonable compensation as the law empowers the grand jury to grant in the case of memorialist, and which a former grand jury liberally granted to him for a mere temporary attendance at Kilmainham. Memo- rialist therefore respectfully prays, that the grand jury will be pleased to present for your memorialist, such reasonable increase of salary as his ad- ditional duties may, in their judgment, fairly entitle him to receive." " Copy of Judge Jebb's note to Dr. Harty, dated 5 th May 1822. " Judge Jebb's compliments to Dr. Harty. He has shown his memorial to the Chief Justice and Judge Burton; and they are of opinion, in which Judge Jebb entirely concurs, that the great increase of duty, and the very meritorious manner in which it is performed, entitle Dr. Ilarty to an in- crease of salary ; and that, if the grand jury shall make a presentment, it ought to receive the fiat of the court." " Rutland- square, 5th May 1822." In consequence of the recommendation of the judge, was not your salary raised to its present amount ?— The circumstances were very peculiar at that time; on the opening of the term. Judge Jebb charged both the city and the county grand juries on the subject of economy, and if, after such a charge the question lay with the grand jury alone, I was certain that my application would be rejected, and therefore I was the more anxious to explain the circumstances of the case; and Judge Jebb's statement was, that' his charge with respect to economy, never was intended to pre- vent the grand jury from making proper remuneration to their officers for increased duties, but referred to various other departments to which economy can be carried. What was the result?— The result was, that I laid the letter from Judge Jebb with my memorial before the grand jury, and the application was granted. Will you explain to the Committee what are your special means of information on the subject of grand jury cess ?— My official connection with the grand jury and the prisons necessarily affords me some means; but the special means of information that I possess, arise from a very minute investigation of the subject, since the publication of the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, which drew my attention to the subject. What is the opinion generally entertained of that tax, by the citizens of Dublin ?— The opinion almost universally entertained is, that it is exorbitant and oppressive, enormous in its amount, and there is a very general impression that great abuses exist in its appropriation and management. What do you consider the causes of the prevalence of such an opinion?— I con- sider that the causes of such an opinion are the very universal ignorance that exists respecting it, and that very general and natural prejudice which readily believes the existence of abuses. What is your own opinion ?— My own opinion, led by the general current, had been an unfavourable one, and it was only changed by inquiry. What is the nature of the inquiry that you have made?— The nature of the inquiry that I made, consisted in a very minute examination of all the grand jury warrants to which I could procure access, and of all the other documents which could afford information on the subject. What led you to the inquiry; was it at the desire of the grand jury or altogether spontaneous?— The inquiry was instituted at the desire of the officers of the prisons at large, without the knowledge, sanction or concurrence of any other persons whatsoever, and was specially conducted by the inspector and myself and it was owing, as I stated before, to the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons of last session. 549- B b What Dr. William Harty, ( 12 May.)