S E L E C T C O M M I T T E E O N F I C T I T I O U S V O T E S , I R E L A N D . 285L ? / 13033. Was that suit prosecuted ?— I took the writ, I went into the court I saw the attorney's name to it, and I said, if I could lay hold of the attorney who attempted to intimidate me in the discharge of my judicial functions I would commit him, under the Act of Parliament,' for 14 days, as I had a right to do. The attorney was not there. Of course no action lay against me as a judicial officer, but I wrote to my attorney, and told him to enter an appear- ance, as I was anxious to have a full inquiry into my judicial conduct; but they discontinued the action, and paid the costs. 13034. But you were served with a writ pending the discharge of your duty ? — Yes, I was served with a writ at the inn adjoining the court- house. 13° 35- Chairman.] Are you aware to which party the person belonged who served you with a writ ?— The name of the attorney of the Liberal party, Mr. Rourke, was to the process. He wrote me a letter before, which letter I did not answer. 13036. Mr. Lefroy.] Can you state any other instances of attempts to inti- midate you coming from the same quarter, to intimidate you in the discharge of your duty ?— I think in court there were constant allusions made that were very offensive ; there was that sort of intimidation. I always told them, when allusions were made, that I wished to have everything public, as the rights of persons were at stake ; I wished to have everything as public as possible, in order that they should have every means of sifting my conduct. J3037- I think you told us you had no connexion whatever with the political parties in the county ?— Not the slightest; I did not know any one in the county, except Sir George Featherstone, who took no part in politics, and Mr. Thomas Lefroy; those are the only two men I knew in the county. 13038. As mere acquaintance ?— As mere acquaintance. 13039. You were no relation of Lord Longford or Lord Forbes?— Not the least; I never was in company with Lord Longford in my life, nor do I think I ever saw him above three times in my life ; I had no acquaintance with Lord Forbes until I went into the county; I was introduced to Lord Forbes in the county. 13040. It was not until you came into the county that you were introduced to Lord Forbes ?— I was introduced to him before the court- house at the assizes ; he asked to be introduced to me. 13041. Then is there the least truth in the statement that your appointment was owing to interest made for you by Lord Longford or Lord Forbes ?— Not the slightest; I rather think I was appointed through the Attorney- general; I had gone away not thinking that I should get any appointment. I did not apply, but I rather think my friends applied to the Attorney- general to know whether my name was down. I went to Leamington, and after that I got a letter from Mr. Stanley, which, from the style of it, makes me think it must have been through a friend :— " Lord Stanley presents his compliments to Mr. Fosbery, and begs to acquaint him that it is proposed to employ him under the provisions of the Act to amend the representation of the people of Ireland, in holding a special sessions for registering voters, and requests to know whether it is his wish to undertake that duty. " Dublin Castle, 25 August 1832." I should not know Lord Stanley if I saw him. 13042. The first communication you had on the subject of your appointment was a communication from Lord Stanley of the fact of your appointment ?— Certainly; I was at Leamington at that time. 13043. You were at that time at Leamington?— I was; and had no idea of being appointed, for I heard they were all filled up before I went from Ireland. 13044. Had you ever taken any remarkable part, or a direct or strong part, in politics ?— I never was at a public political meeting of any kind in my life. For a person to say he is free from politics in Ireland would be absurd, for everybody speaks of politics in a country that is convulsed by political agitation; but I never was at any public meeting in my life, and the only public docu- ment I ever signed was about the repeal of the Union; I avoided it as much as possible. 1304.5. Chairman.] Are you any relation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer r — First cousin. ^ „ , 643. 003 13046. But