. ,46 . ,46 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr. D. Meagher. 2 March 1838. so imperfect that we would rather have their marks, and put their names upon one line distinctly. — They amounted to more than 40, certainly, in the booth that I was working in ; and others did the same at the other booths. 4M5 DO you mean that you wrote the names of 40 persons that could read and write >— I did, and I am sure a great many more; but I am safe in saying 40, and I am sure there was a considerable number done by others. 4^ 46. Did you ask each person whether he could read or write ?— I did not; , , . • , T but in 1 I stated shoulder, . . ... " Cannot you write ? " " Badly sir; and rather than write their names, they wished me to do it. 4547. Were they men that you knew before to be illiterate ?— No, they came in in shoals every day; we had labouring men waiting there six days in suc- cession without being able to register. 4548. Did you get those persons to make any attempt at writing before you yourself wrote for them ?— I did; and saw some men write a regular hand, which surprised me very much after I had done it for them. 4549. Did you make the men in each instance make a trial before you signed for them ?— No ; it was for the sake of despatch that I read it to them. 4550. Was it after you had written the names of those persons for them that you got them to write ?— In some instances it was so; in others I ascertained their being scholars by their reading over my shoulder. 4551. For what purpose was it that, after you had yourself written their names, you set them writing ?— There are many instances of men being able to read that cannot write, and I wanted to see whether they could both read and Write; and the men that were reading over my shoulder, I made them take a pen and write. 4552. That you did after you had registered them?— In some instances I did. 4553. For what purpose was that?— To ascertain whether the man that had read could write. 4554. Of what service was that to you in registering these people ?— To ascertain whether he could read in reality or not, or whether he might have picked up the words from me. 4555- Was it for the purpose, that, if any question was afterwards made whether amongst those who purported to be marksmen there were any literate persons, you might be able to prove the fact that many of them were able to read and write ?— The most remote idea of it never entered into my imagination. 4556. Then for what practical purpose was it that they having registered, you set them writing afterwards to ascertain whether they were able to write ? — To gratify my own curiosity. 4557- Did it not consume time?— It did not consume the time of the court; it was after the man was registered. 4558. Were" not there others to be registered ?— It was while another man was being examined ; I asked him to come to me and write before I gave him up his certificate or paid his shilling; I wanted to ascertain the fact; and there was another reason for my wishing to know it: many of them wished to get off without paying the shilling; but such of them as could pay the shilling, I wanted to make them pay the shilling to save our funds. 4559- Had not you enough to occupy you in paying attention to the evidence aftt I!! f 7V° I 1° rnd(; r U desirable for y ™ t0 try these experiments h lit I , feCted the J° b ° f havinS them registered ?- I had assistants • hid ZnJJV7 attCn1( UnS t0 the Pities while I was in court; we examinntiori nf fh 5 , mS UP t ie affidavitS was one duty, and attending to the nZt v i eT the ? arti6S hrou- ht UP gainst the franchise was 4^ 60 \ 7> ' w' 11068 tiey t00k UP half an hour upon one man allow InrfZ rn J f' ^ n0t the SpaCG ° f room in court very small, s. allow scarcely room for a man to write ?- Verv smnil • w, W1 ™ , to accommodation. , so as Very small; we had very poor 4561. Mr.