j f > J SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 229 12058. Will you undertake to say that this man did not register in Granard ? Rev. E. M'Gaver. — I know he had no land to register, for I know his father and his mother, who lived in my parish. 29 May 1838. 12059. Mr. O'Connell.] Did they register at Granard for the county generally, or only for a particular tract of land ?— The Granard district registered in Granard. I do not know any instance where they went such a distance to register. 12060. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Was it not possible for a person to go and register in Granard, from that side of the county?— I admit the possibility, but I recollect Mr. Fosberry leaving Ballymahon; he said that people that did not register there, would have an opportunity in Longford. 12061. You not having been present at the whole of the registries which took place in the county of Longford, previous to the election referred to in your evidence, and not having examined the register to see whether or not the name of this man appeared upon the register, how is it possible for you to say absolutely and peremptorily that that man who voted never had registered ?— I am aware, of my own knowledge, that there were on the registry of 1832, for the election of 1833, " John Sodan, junior," and " John Sodan, senior.'* I am also aware, that John Sodan, junior, who there appears, was the eldest son of John Sodan there mentioned, as of Ballinahinch, and ought to be senior, not junior; and that John Sodan, junior, of Ballinahinch, had no vote, nor was he of age then. 12062. Are you certain that he was not of age?— From his appearance he appeared to me to be young. 12063. In answer to question 11825, you state that you knew an entire town- land laid waste; what waste was committed upon it?— They turned the Catholics out; it was laid waste for a time, and the Protestants afterwards got it. 12064. Mr. O'Connell.] Whose estate was that ?— Lord Lorton's. 12065. When was that?— When I was a schoolboy, 20 or 25 years ago. 12066. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Will you describe the waste that was committed upon the land?— The people were turned out; it was deprived, of tenants for a time; others have been put in their place ; that is what I meant by " waste." 12067. Then when you said that you knew an entire townland laid waste, you mean by that, that the tenants were changed ?— Exactly ; the Catholic tenants were turned out, and Protestant tenants substituted. 12068. Mr. O'Connell.] How soon after ?— I believe immediately ; in the same year. 12069. Then when you said " waste, 1' you meant laid waste of Catholics?— Of Catholics. 12070. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.'] Were the houses pulled down?— I think so ; if there were too many houses on it, it is generally the case. 12071. Do you mean to say that, in point of fact, the houses were pulled down? — I know that some houses were pulled down upon that very land at that time, and new houses built subsequently. 12072. Then it was to build new houses that the old houses were taken down?— To accommodate the tenants to come in. 12073. Then it was for the purpose of accommodating the tenants that came in that the old houses were pulled down and new ones built?— Yes. 12074. Do you call that waste?— I have explained what I mean by " waste;'' and if there is any doubt upon the meaning of the word, I think that doubt cannot exist any longer. 12075. Mr. O'Connell.'] WTere there a greater number of tenants turned out than were brought in ?— A good many more. 12076. And of course the tenants brought in did not require so many houses as the greater number that were turned out?— No. 12077. From that you infer that some of the houses were taken down?— Yes. 12078. The Protestants got larger farms than the Catholics?— Yes. 12079. - A- 110* built better houses?— Yes. 12080. What you complain of is, that the Catholic tenants were turned out, and the farms entirely cleared of them to substitute Protestants?—\ es. 12081. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Is it a common thing now to improve estates by getting the land into better condition, having rather more extensive farms, and a better description of house, than was formerly the practice in Ireland ?— I think it is an improvement to build better houses, and to encourage tenants to improve ; I think it is a better system. 643. G o 3 12082. Do