SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 215 12346. Of the clergy ?— Clergy and laiety mixed ; we are never divided. Rev. E. M'Gav< 12347. The clergy are the most active in those meetings ?— They are. 12348. In fact it is they that convene these meetings?— One of them is the 29 May 1838. secretary, therefore it may be said that they convene them; but it is at the instance of the members of the club. 12349. When you speak of the clergy, you mean the Roman- catholic clergy ?— Of course. 12350. Mr. O' Connell.] Do the Protestant clergy take any part?— Not with us, except one Presbyterian clergyman. 12351- they take any part on the other side?— They are as busy on their side as we are on ours. 12352. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Do you mean to say that the Protestant clergy- men ever came up to an election town at the head of their parishioners ?— No, it was not necessary. 12353- Did you ever see them come up with any body of their parishioners ?— I never saw so formidable a body, or one more inclined to disturb the peace than that which came in with Lord Forbes at the election of 1837. 12354. Fie is not a clergyman ?— No, but he was at the head of the party. I understood that they bring Orangemen from the county of Cavan, persons who will fight and use sticks. 12355. Do you mean to say that you have seen Protestant clergymen doing this? — No, I do not. 12356. Have you ever known a solitary Protestant clergyman come to an elec- tion town at the head of his parishioners to vote?— I have not; for I do not think they have that influence over their flocks. 12357. And that is the reason they do not do it?— Of course, if they have no influence, it would be of no use to come with them. 12358. Did you ever hear of any Protestant clergyman coming up with his parishioners to vote in the county of Longford ?— No, I did not; I conceived they would find no use in going. 12359. Are the Protestant clergy in the county of Longford members of any Conservative club with a view to elections ?— I should think they are. 12360. Do you know any instance of it?— I know from publications and news- papers that there has been a tribute to this and that clergyman with a fictitious name ; but I do not know it otherwise than that it was signed by a person signing himself an " Edgeworth's Town Correspondent it was after the election of 1836. 12361. Was that by a Protestant clergyman?— Yes, it is supposed to be a Pro- testant clergyman who was the correspondent. 12362. Who supposed it?— The whole Catholic public, from his style of writing. 12363. From its being a good style of writing?— Those that knew him said that he was probably the author. 12364. The Roman- catholic persons that said so were such good judges of this Protestant clergyman's style, that they at once knew the letter to be his ?— That I believe to be so. 12365. From your own knowledge of his style?— Yes. 12366. Who are those Roman- catholic critics in Longford who are so well ac- quainted with the style of this particular clergyman ?— Those that read the papers edited in Longford ; I do not think I have read three of them. 12367. Can you name any of those critics?— Indeed I do not know any one individual; I know it was talked of at our club. 12368. Have you any other ground than what you have stated for imputing that letter to a Protestant clergyman?— Nothing but suspicion. 12369. Flave you any fact that you can state which will warrant you in saying that any Protestant clergyman was a member of any election club in the county of Longford ?— No, I have not; what I mean is, that I could not state, if I were put to proof, of any of the other party belonging to the club, because I do not know who are the members of that club. 12370. Mr. O'Connell.] Have you any doubt that the Protestant clergymen are as active as they can be at elections ?— I have no doubt of it. 12371. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Will you state uhat you saw done by the Pro- testant clergymen, that will warrant you in saying that ?— First, I know them all to vote and to register their votes; and I saw" Dr. Crawford, of Newton Forbes, 643. 112 at