8 June 1838. V 288 M I N U T E S O F E V I D E N C E T A K E N B E F O R E T H E John F Fosbery, was not previously acquainted with Mr. Berwick, except from seeing him in the Esq. hall of the Four Courts. 13076. Be so good as to read the letter ?— [ The Witness read the letter, which was as follows :] " Dear Sir " Cannon Hotel, Longford, Saturday. " I was sorry not to have an opportunity of seeing you this evening, previous to your leaving court, to thank you for your kindness to me, and your impartial conduct in the dis- charge of your duty, since 1 attended in your court, for which 1 feel myself indebted to you." It was signed " Walter Berwick." That is an extract from the letter. Then there were some other things simply connected with certificates. 13077. Had that gentleman attended before you during the greater part of the registry ?— Yes. 13078. Mr. Lefroy.] On the Liberal side ?— Yes; he must have been there 10 days I should think, at the end of it. 13079. And he volunteered that testimony ?— Yes. 13080. Chairman.'] Were his politics what are termed liberal?— He is consi- dered to be a Liberal; I rather think so; he has been promoted by the present Government; he is as gentlemanly a man as can possibly be, and a very good lawyer. 13081. Mr. Lefroy.] He was brought to Longford by the Liberal party? — Yes ; and acted for them. 13082. Chairman.] And since that period he has been promoted by the present Government ?— He has been promoted by the present Government. 13083. No doubt he had communication with the other counsel for the Liberal party?— I cannot say at all. 13084. If they had any complaint to make of your conduct, you do not suppose Mr. Berwick would have volunteered in giving that testimony ?— I should suppose not; it was quite unnecessary. 13085. If they had any cause of complaint, you take for granted they would have communicated it to him?— I should suppose so. I suppose they com- plained in the memorial ; perhaps they thought that was the only proper mode of complaining. 13086. It is stated no sort of intimidation was used on the Liberal side ; had you any opportunity of knowing how that matter was ?— I cannot speak to any intimidation out of doors : I saw persons 011 the Liberal side of the court, and I saw a good many Roman- catholic clergymen attending, but I cannot say more. 13087. Did they appear to you to be very active agents in bringing up the claimants on one side?— I cannot say that; the claimants on the Liberal side were brought forward by some one. Mr. Flood was there, who I understand is a Liberal. I saw him when he was giving his evidence. 13088. Did there appear to you, in the discharge of your duty, to be any dexterity or address used, with a view to get upon the registry persons who really were not qualified ?— Yes, I think there was a great deal of dexterity used ; they felt their way ; one person, for instance, was brought up whose vote I rejected, and then in three or four days after that; first, after that rejection, they went to another part of the county, and they brought up claimants from that, and then they returned to the old place, thinking 1 should forget all the circumstances of the townland to which it related ; I remember several instances of that kind. There were two or three curious instances of how they shaped their evidence : a man was brought up from a particular place to swear he had a house, that the house was 40 feet long; for I always examined them as to the state of the premises when they got them, and the state of the premises at that time, whether they had laid out any money upon them ; he swore to his qualification and I admitted him ; and the next witness when I examined him swore just the same ; he swore his house was 40 feet long, and swore exactly in the same way. Another instance was this : a person came to register, and he produced to me a piece of paper, which he said was a certificate of the clerk of the peace that he had planted so many trees. I thought that was very strong evidence of his being an industrious man and of good habits; he produced the paper, and 1 saw it was entered, and I registered 11m." rlhe next day, another man said, " I have planted so many trees," and he produced me a piece of waste paper as the certificate of the clerk of the peace,