\ 28 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE T. Courtenay, Esq. satisfied to take that; and upon the man's saying that he was, Mr. Tighe cautioned — — him, and said, " Recollect it is upon your oath," and the man has been admitted. 27 March 1838. ~ 00i. Mr. Hogg.] If Mr. Tighe considers himself bound by the opinion of the individual, does it not appear that it would be idle to take the opinion of anybody else, because, whatever their opinion might be, he would be bound to take the opinion of the individual claimant, according to that principle ?— Yes, and according to that principle now we do not offer any evidence in opposition to the claim, and for that reason we think it useless. 7002. Mr. Lefroy.] But you did formerly ?— We did, and found that the evi- dence was heard, and rejected. 7003. Mr. O'Connell.] You mean that the evidence was not believed ?— It was disregarded ; it was heard, but not acted 011; and therefore it is that we do not offer evidence now, as to whether the man has a claim or not; we cross- examine him. 7004. Mr. French.] No evidence could affcct the principle laid down by Mr. Tighe, for the tenant himself must be the best judge of what value it is to him ?— So he held. 7005. Mr. Lefroy.] In those very words ?— Yes, he said that in his opinion the poor man himself was the best judge of what his land was worth. 7006. Mr. French.] Is he not, in your opinion?— I think he should be. 7007. Mr. Lefroy.] Is he the most impartial judge?— No, he is not the least prejudiced witness that could come up. 7008. Mr. French.] Do you think the people are much given to over- state the value of their holdings ?— When they are claiming the franchise I think they are. 7009. Do not they subject themselves to have an increase of rent demanded at the termination of their leases, when they put others in possession of the value of their land ?— They do not always think of that, I believe, when they are claiming to register. 7010. Mr. Curry J] According to your view of the present qualification under the Reform Act, must not a man's farm, in point of fact, in his own judgment, be worth at least 201, a year to him, to entitle him to register?— That depends entirely upon the stretch of his own conscience, or his own swearing. 7011. Putting his conscience out of the question, must it not, in point of fact, be worth at least 20/. a year to enable him to register under the Reform Act; will he get any solvent tenant to give him 10/. a year for his interest, unless the beneficial interest be worth at least 201, a year?— I should say he would get a solvent tenant to give it if it is worth it. 7012. Then would that solvent tenant agree to take it without making any profit whatever from it?— No, I should think he would not. 7013. How much profit will the solvent tenant, in the case of the 10/. a year rent, expect to derive ?— He would expect to derive 101, a year if he gives 10/. a year. 7014. Then, in point of fact, it comes to this, that the tenant who comes for- ward to register must have, in the sense in which I understand it, a beneficial interest of 201, a year ?— One man will swear that his farm is worth 1 0/. a year, when another man will not ; it depends entirely upon the value that the man himself will put upon it. 7015. The question relates to the construction you put upon the words " beneficial interest," in the Reform Act; and assuming that construction to be right, must not a person have, in point of fact, a beneficial interest according to my view of it, of at least 20/. a year, to entitle him to come forward conscien- tiously to vote?— I do not see how that is. 7016. Would a solvent tenant give him 10/. a year, unless he expected to make 10/. a year more from it ?— I should think he would not; he must expect to make something beyond the 10/. a year. 7017. Then, if he pays him 10/. a year, and expects to make 10/. a year more, those two sums, amounting to 20/., must not the interest of the tenant be worth 20/. to enable him to come forward and register, according to your con- struction r— If he stipulates for the exact sum of 10/. a year, ovefand above the 10/. he has to pay as profit, it would be. 7018. Suppose he makes more, or that he makes less ?— If he buvs his interest at 10/. a year, he expects to make something. 7019. Mr.