Mr. D. Meagher. 5 March 1838. not know. Richard Hedges 228 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE at all; if Mr. Colburn had taken it, he could not have taken it quicker than I did, and he would not have gone more slowly. 4001 In whose case was it that the decision upon that appeal was made by Baron Pennefather ?— It was in the case of Richard Hedges Beecher. 4QQ2. Upon what day was that individual registered r— I do 4003. ( To Mr. Colburn.) Will you state upon what day Beecher was registered, upon whose case Baron Pennefather made the decision ?— The ist of November 1832. . 4004. Are you able to state to what day the sessions continued after that? — They commenced the 10th of October, and ended the 29th of November. 4905 ( To Mr. Meagher.) Observing that Mr. Richard Hedges Beecher was registered on the ist of November 1832, and that the registry sessions continued till the 29th of November, that is to say, four weeks after, could any person have been deprived of the opportunity of registering, if he had thought fit, in the interval between the ist of November and the 29th of November ?— No ; but I stated that a number of freemen were in town, anxiously waiting the decision, and they staid then to register; and probably if they had gone away, some of them might not have come to town again to register, and therefore by the quickness of the decision coming through Mr. Besnard, persons may have registered that might not have done fo otherwise, and I thought there was an anxiety to make it known. 4996. Then you conceive that Mr. Besnard went more rapidly from Judge Moore to the barristers' court than Mr. Colburn would have done ?— I think it had that effect; because, if Mr. Colburn was not in court, a greater time would have elapsed. It was in the middle of the day that the communication was made ; and perhaps if it had not been known so quickly, those parties would have returned home, but the quickness of the communication kept many of them in town. 4Q97. Do you conceive that that is a ground of imputation against any human being ?— I should not make it a ground of imputation, but I said that it seemed to be a pleasing task to run with good news, and I thought that by the quick commu- nication to the barrister many persons were detained in town that probably would have gone home. 4998. Mr. O'Connell. Did the barristers register every non- resident that came after the decision of Baron Pennefather ?— They did ; they were compelled by the decision of the Baron to register them. 4999. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.'] Do you think that is a grievance that anybody has right to complain of, that persons did not go out of town that might have gone out of town if the decision had not been made known ?— When the subject was mentioned before, I was asked whether my pride was hurt, and I said it was; I thought it was going out of his way for an officer to take a communication that was not his duty, and I felt my pride hurt. 5000. Mr. Besnard has now stated to the Committee that the judge asked whether the proper officer was in court, namely, the clerk of the peace ; that he was informed by some person in court that the clerk of the peace was not there, but that there was another public officer there, namely, the town- clerk ; and that the judge thereupon called the town- clerk and handed him the paper, and desired him to take it to the registering barrister; do you conceive the clerk could have done otherwise than what he did ?— I think he acted very correctly. .5001. Then the town- clerk has further stated that he went directly from the court and handed it to the registering barrister; do you think that in doing so he could have acted otherwise than he did?— I think not. 5002. Do you now think that an injury was done to anybody, or that any affront was offered to anybody by what was done ?— If these explanations had taken place previously, I might have had a different feeling, but under the feeling I then had I had that impression. 5003. ( To Mr. Colburn.) You have heard the evidence that has been given by Mr. Besnard, of your being called upon by Judge Moore, for the purpose of entrust- ing to you this decision of Baron Pennefather to take to the registering barrister; t0 rU? tlf y° U wcre not in court at the timc ?- I must have been attending the registry that was pending at the time barristers, for the I account for my absence. Have you an? objection to state what 1 ent you pay for your house ?— Eighty guineas. 5006. Had you previously paid a higher rent ?— No 5007. Can you state at what rate you are rated in the city rate books ?— At 90L