V 320 M I N U T E S OF E V I D E N C E T A K E N B E F O R E T HE <;. Batierslnj, Esq. and therefore if there was anything fraudulent, there would have been no — opportunity of detecting it. 26 June 1838. 13983. But that disadvantage was common to both sides.-— That dis- advantage is perfectly alike to both, if it is a disadvantage; but the effect is very different in the midland counties of Ireland, for this reason : in all the midland counties, if the barrister wishes, or perhaps I am wrong in say- ing wishes, but if he acts upon the rule of withholding from the opposing counsel the opportunity of making objections, it has the effect of opening the door very wide to a great number of persons, and it operates to give the lire- dominance to the Liberal interest, as a majority of the small freeholders belong to the Liberal interest. 13984. That is, an increase in the number registered gives a preponderance to the Liberal interest ?— Yes. 13985. 1 believe, as far as you know practically, the three provinces of Ire- land, Minister, Leinster, and Connaught, in towns and in the counties, it would have the same effect ?— In the counties, certainly; there are some of the towns, Dublin for instance, in which, I believe, it would not. 13986. What; the increase of the constituency?— I believe not; it is better known to other persons, but 1 have heard complaints of freemen being admitted, and so on. 13987. If the freemen were not an exclusive class, if all trades were admitted to their freedom, would it not be so ?— Very possibly; I am not sufficiently acquainted with Dublin. 13988. But you do not at all, as I understand you, intend to impeach the integrity of Mr. Gibson; what you say is, that you think him erroneous in point of law ?— I do not mean to impute anything to Mr. Gibson one way or the other; I have been brought here to give evidence, and I give it as I am asked; but I did not intend to impute motives to any gentleman. 13989. And have you not?— I have not intentionally. 13990. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.) Do you conceive if this person, James Gill, stated that he was 10 years in possession of this farm, and he was the only child of his mother, that would give him a legal right to be registered ?— No, I think not; I should say even 16 01* ] 7 could give him no sort of title against the creditors of his mother, or the personal representative, whoever he might be. Suppose it was 17 or 18, or 19 years, I do not think it would; clearly not. 13991. I wish now to know upon whose side it was that the question first arose as to the right or claim to inspect the instrument under which the claimant proposed to register ?— I first made the claim, and the matter was decided on my making that claim, and it was not afterwards agitated. 13992. Then it was upon your part, your resisting the claim of what you have called a person 011 the Liberal side, the question first arose as to the right of the counsel insisting to inspect the instrument ?— It was upon my claim that the question was decided. 13993- Did it arise early in the registering sessions?— Probably the second person brought up, I am not certain ; I think Mr. Burke, the barrister, was the first, and that was the second. 13994. Mr. 0" Connelly It was early in the registry?— Yes; the very first opportunity there was of raising the question, it was raised. ] 3995- Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Did the counsel 011 the other side, in any case, raise the question, and desire to have the inspection of the leases or instru- ments of claimants to register on the other side ?— No. 1399^- Then there was no such rule pronounced in any other case by Mr. Gibson ?— No ; there was the one rule, and we both abided by that rule through- out. 13997- You stated that you did not wish to impute motives to any gentle- man ?— Certainly not. 13998. Is Mr. Gibson of what you call exceedingly liberal politics ?— I can- not say; I know nothing of Mr. Gibson's politics, except from common rumour, which is a very uncertain thing. 13999- Tliat is as much as you know of anybody's politics, I suppose?— He is said to be a person of very liberal principles. 14000. Has he any peculiar views with regard to the extension of the elective franchise ?— I know nothing of his views, except from this particular registration at