V 76 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr. Patrick Flood. 97io. Was not Lord Forbes' life also?— Yes. 9711. Was not the late King's life also?— Yes, it was; it was m the case of 15 May 1838. Fagin, and he did not vote. 9712. Are there several upon the registry now, whose interests have expired, but who are still upon the registry ?— Yes, where the life has dropped ; they are still upon the county book, but they have no right to vote. 9713. How many are in that situation ?— Fifteen, I think. 9714. Have any of those offered to vote since Lord Longford's death?— No, they could not vote. 9715. Chairman.] Was there anything to prevent their voting except the oath ?— I think not. 9716. Was there any means of getting them off the registry before the end of the term ?— I think the assessor could take them off. 9717. Mr. O" Connell They have their certificates, probably?— Yes. 9718. If they have a certificate, there is no way of getting the certificate from them ?— There is not, indeed ; and I am satisfied those men are upon the clerk of the peace's book, though the life is dropped. 9719. Chairman.'] As the law now stands, there are no legal means of pre- venting their voting, except their reverence for the oath ?— No. 9720. And if the oath is not tendered to them, they may vote without diffi- culty ?— Yes; indeed they might. 9721. How many persons ceasing to have a good qualification do you believe to be upon the Longford registry at this time ?— I could not tell; there must be a great number. 9722. Are there 100 throughout the county?— I should think in the whole county there is. 9723. Not more than 100?— There might be, and perhaps not; I cannot say. 9724. Mr. O'Connell.] The Irish registry has this defect, has it not, that when a man is registered he has his certificate, which he may keep by him, which will entitle him to vote within eight years, though his qualification may be gone ?— Yes. 9725. And the only check to that is a tender of the oath to him that his qualification exists ?— Yes. 9726. So that in the first place, if the oath is not tendered to him, he may vote without any right to vote whatever?— Yes. 9727. And if the oath is tendered to him, and he takes it falsely, he may equally vote?— Yes. 9728. So that there is in fact 110 roll of registry at all?— There is a fictitious one. 9729. The clerk of the peace's list ?— Yes ; and even men who are dead are upon the list. 9730. And quite a different person may get that certificate; and if he goes up and states he is the person, he is entitled to vote?— Yes, if he takes the oath- 9731. That is, if the oath is put to him ?— Yes. 9732. Mr. Lefroy.] What land do you hold in your own hands?— I hold but five acres at present; I had some more. 9733. Have you ever been an extensive farmer?— No; I have never been a very extensive farmer. 9734- Rut the management of five acres is that from which you derive your knowledge of farming?- No ; I have let 500 acres of my own within the last two years; and I did not ask any man to value it for me. . 9735- Mr. O'Connell.] Who do you hold that land under ?— Mr. Kiernan ; it is only an accommodation. 9736. Do you pay rent for it ?— No. 9737- I mean for your own land ?— Yes; that is in Roscommon. 9738. What quantity of land have you in Roscommon?— I think it is 1,000 acres altogether; it is a joint property ; the lease has dropped in upon part; there is one life out when that drops in ; I could get 30 s. an acre advanced rent to- morrow, to lease it out. 9739• Mr. Lefroy.] How much does it pay?— Some only 25s. an acre. 9740. Where is that in the county of Roscommon ?— About 12 miles from Longford. 9741. Is