. ,46 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE oSns You mean to state, that the class of voters registering out of the small houses you have heen describing are perfectly incorruptible ?- I th. nk they are 8 ^ l838' the3" StaT^ ekrhe° m are so likely to be bribed as the freemen P- CeoTo"! yNor the forty- shilling freeholders ?— The forty- shilling freeholders have dwindled to a mere nothing. . f t • n 0806 In fact all the corruption of the city of Cork belongs to the freemen? — No ; ' there was corruption among the forty- shilling freeholders m former times t0° 38o7. But in present times you think there is not?— At present, I think the corruption is with the poor freemen entirely. 3808 Extending to no other class of persons ?— Where there is a constituency of 4,000, there may be persons that may be bought; their poverty may lead them into sin and crime. . . . 3809. You think it is the freemen that are so easily led into sin and crime f— The poor freemen are a very depraved order of the community. Thev were so often corrupted, and they got so much money, that they have a taste for ft. • 3810. But still, although having a taste for it, they have not been able to in- dulge that taste, either at the last election, or the election before that?— No ; in consequence of the extension of the household franchise. 3811. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Do you know whether there was ever any pro- ceeding taken to make those persons who had been guilty of this bribery answer- able for it ?— No ; they played too deep a game, for they could not be legally caught. 3812. There never was any instance in which the offence was brought home to anybody ?— Not that I ever heard of. 3813. Did you ever know, or did anybody ever tell you of his own knowledge, that such corruption had taken place ?— It was a thing generally reputed ; it is as notorious as the sun at noon- day. 3814. But you, who take a great interest in those matters, never happened to meet any person who did know the fact?— I fancy it was done too secretly for me to know it in that way; I had not the confidence of any man that did bribe them, _ therefore I cannot answer that question ; in fact, I would be the last man in the world that they would let know it, because I would be the person that would punish them, if I could get at the fact. 3815. You would be anxious to establish the fact?— I would. 3816. You would be exceedingly desirous to get evidence to prove the fact if you could ?— I would. 3817. You have endeavoured to do so?— I cannot say that I have endeavoured ; if I thought I could prove the fact by a chain of evidence I would most un- questionably. 3818. You would feel it your duty to do it?— I would. 3819. And you would be anxious to do it from political motives?— I would. 3820. And yet you have never been able to get at any evidence that a single individual freeman was bought?— It was too well managed; I could not get at it. 0 b 3821. How did this class of freemen acquire their freedom ; were they persons who had served their time to trades ?— Coopers and weavers, and the trades that prospered at one time in Cork, and a great number of them were entitled to their freedom in right of servitude. 3822. Then those were persons who, having served their time to freemen of the respective trades, were admitted in right of apprenticeship ?— And their descendants, for every eldest son is entitled to his freedom. 3823. You are of opinion that this body of poor freemen, as a class, are a very 7, . constltuency, and liable to be brought under the influences of not acting of on ' u ^ P^- They would act corruptly ; but I believe fhat unon the ntl h T- f ttakG, a Sm, aU tnflG l6SS f0r the ^ od cause than they would upon the other, but if the other side bid higher they would get them away. franchise V^ Vi ^ n0t pe- S0DS t0 be Safely ent ™ sted with the elective Se e;, C e y- 1° n( VXerC1Se \ free independent choice, but they are dS^. UndCr SlmSter lnfluences % opinion is that they'ought & be 3825. Is