SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. > 2.5 the register and placed upon it again by him ?— So I understood them, and my 5 answers applied to them. 6643. Now, with respect to other persons, were there many who were admitted by him towards the close of his holding the office, who had been before rejected bv him ?— There were. 6644. Llad those persons been repeatedly rejected by him at former sessions ? Some of them had more than once. 6645. Was he pressed upon the subject of his former rejection ?— He was. 6646. What ground did he state for changing his mind?— I proposed to read for him a note of his former rejections of these men, and remonstrated against his entertaining their claims at all, and he gave us no satisfaction. Upon some occa- sions he said, u Gentlemen, you may talk on, but in the meantime I will reoister the man.'" I tendered evidence against the claim, and he refused to receive it. 6647. Chairman.'] Do you mean against the claims as a body, or against a claim as of an individual ?— Against the claim of each individual. 6648. Mr. Lefroy. J Was the evidence calculated to show that the man had not a bond Jide 10/. value?— I conceive it was. In some instances there were gentlemen in court, magistrates and grand jurors of the county, who knew the lands and heard the men swearing, and tendered themselves. In other instances it was by persons sent to view the lands, near the condition in life of the claimant, or per- haps a little better. 6649. That evidence was refused ?— Yes. 6650. And those votes so objected to were put on the register ?— They were. 6651. And remain on it still? — And remain on it still. 6652. And must remain on it if there be no way of reviewing the register?— They must. 6653. This occurred just immediately before Mr. French's resigning his office? — In October 1836 and January 1837. 6654. Did those registrations give great dissatisfaction ?— They created surprise in the mind of everybody who had witnessed Mr. French's former proceedings. 6655. They produced dissatisfaction?— Very great; it Avas considered quite unaccountable. 6656. Mr. O'Connell.'] Is that gentleman the uncle of Mr. I'itzstephen French, the member for Roscommon ?— I rather think he is, but I cannot state positively. I believe there is a relationship, but I do not know exactly how they stand. 6657. He was the King's counsel?— He was. 6658. Mr. Lefroy.] Were any of those votes that were so registered polled at the last election l— There were. 6659. Were they upon the list of objections given in before the Committee that sat upon the last petition?— They were. 6660. How many of those did you object to ?— Fourteen, under the head of re- registries. 6661. In consequence then of the Committee refusing to open the register, there was no way of reviewing the qualification of those votes ?— No. 6662. And they still remain on the register?— They do. 6663. Having been decided against repeatedly by the same barrister, w ho after- wards admitted them ?— Yes. 6664. Mr. French, you said, retired from the office of chairman of the county, after the January session of 1837?— Yes. 6665. Who succeeded him in the office of chairman ?— Mr. Tighe. 6666. A gentleman at the Irish Bar?— Yes. 6667. When did he first hold a sessions in the county for registering?— In March 1835. 6668. Mr, O'Connell.] He is a Protestant gentleman ?— I believe he is. 6669. Mr. Litton.] Is not he as great a Radical as any at the Bar?— He is. 6670. Mr. O'connell.] Is not he of a very respectable Protestant family ?— He is of a very respectable family, and he is a perfect gentleman. 6671. Mr. Lefroy.] Was he a member of the Political Association?— I under- stood he was ; I have read a speech of his made at the Association. 6672. Recently before his appointment?— No, not recently before his appoint- ment. 6673. Chairman.] He is a man of strong' party opinions, contrary to those which you profess?— He is. 643. c 2 6674. Mr.