\ 254 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Rev. E. M'Gaver. with the editor of the paper; if they afterwards got my letter, it was their duty to insert it so far as would be free from libel, and to omit what would be liable to an 29 May 1838. action. 12207. Did you yourself make communications of this kind to Members of Par- liament for the purpose of publication ?— No; we were unfortunately circumstanced; we had not Members that would take up our case. 12208. But you had Mr. O'Dwyer?— I did not know Mr. O'Dwyer; it was through a friend that his letter was directed to me. 12209. Chairman.'] Did you ever hear of any parties who were dispossessed receiving sums of money, as it were purchase- money, for their former holdings, or gratuities or benevolences, or anything of that sort, from either of the parties from whose lands they were turned off?— I heard in this latter case, in the parish of Cashel, upon Lady Ross's estate, when they saw they were about to be dispossessed, they got a friend to speak to Mr. Hamilton, the barrister, and sent a memorial to him to use his influence with Lady Ross to get them their land. I drew the memorial for them. They went to some part of the north, where he was then ; he received them kindly, and said that he hoped they would get their land back, or compensation if they went to America. He told them to give quiet, peaceable possession, to obey the law; that he felt for their losses, and would see them re- dressed. Accordingly they took his advice and gave up possession, and afterwards applied for compensation. I took a memorandum of the sums they got. Some of them got none at all; but the total amount is about 30 /. 12210. That is with reference to Lady Ross's tenants?— The entire upon that townland. 12211. In cases in which Roman- catholic tenants may have been turned out off the estate of Lord Lorton, did they receive anything?— I have the names of persons who were turned off, and got no compensation ; but I have got names of others that got some trifle. 12212. How many persons do you say were turned off Lord Lorton's estate within the last 10 years and received no compensation?— Forty- five families since the year 1831. 12213. Without compensation?— I have a list of those that received compen- sation, but till after I look over that list I cannot say; I will furnish it by- and- by. 12214. You understand clearly that the object is to ascertain in how many cases within the last io years has Lord Lorton got rid of Roman- catholic tenants with- out giving them some degree of compensation?— In some cases he has given a trifle, and in other instances none. I have a list of the persons, and the number of pounds they have received, 12215. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Did any letter you wrote to Mr. O'Dwyer state the fact that the tenants had got compensation, any of them ?— I do not think it did ; for I do not think they got it then; they were a considerable time before they got it; they never got any compensation till they were in fact going off; in some instances they said they would not give it them till they were 011 their way to America. 12216. Are you sure that they bad not received any compensation before you wrote your letter to Mr. O'Dwyer?— I am. 12217. What was the date of your letter to Mr. O'Dwyer ?— I cannot state the date now, but I think I have a copy it. 1 2218. Can you state about the time ?— It was in that same year of 1833. 1 2219. What time in that year, was it towards the close of it ?— I think it was in the summer they were dispossessed ; but they did not go out of the country till the summer following. 12220. That was in 1834?— Yes. 12221. Was it immediately after they were dispossessed that you wrote that let- ter?— Some time after. 12222. Are you sure whether it was 1833 or 1834 vou wrote?— I cannot state that. 12223. At'e you sure, that, whether it was in 1833 or 1834, the parties who had been dispossessed had not received any compensation before you wrote that let- ter?— Yes; I am sure that when I wrote that letter they had no compensation ; and I am sure that if they had got compensation I would have stated it, for the thing was bad enough, and the report, and I would have let it go before the public as it actually was. 12224. With