84" MrNUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Appendix a„ reeci upon, that the proof that they had brought forward should be laid before ( A.) eminent counsel for their opinion, whether those proofs were sufficient, and that the —^ ' earjjest day after that opinion was had, they would be informed of it; and if it was , hn Wallace, consi, jereci that the proofs were sufficient, and according to the usages of other places, that they would be admitted. << 10 July,) Did those a( jmissions take place subsequently to the appointment of the present Committee?— Yes, I believe this Committee was sitting; it was the Monday after the 24th of June, the usual day for the common council to meet, to choose public officers. Tl> at was after Mr. Parker, the corporate officer, had set off for London, for the purpose of attending this Committee ?— Certainly, for we had not the books; and the proceedings were taken down on a separate sheet of pa. per. Then, previously to the appointment of this Committee, you are not aware of one single admission of any freeman, in right of birth, service, or marriage?— Not of admission; but I am quite aware, that long previous to this Committee, months previous to it, the petitions laid before the common council were referred by them to a committee of their body, for the purpose of receiving the proofs and the evidences, and on the following council day to give their report of what evidences they had received. Can you inform the Committee what are the charter days of the corporation ?—• The Monday after the 24th of June is one in order to choose the municipal officers for the year, and the Monday after the 29th of September, when they are sworn in. Did you ever know persons admitted to the freedom of the city of Limerick, oti any other days than those two?— I believe I have, certainly. Have you been present in council, when such admissions have taken place?— I dare say I have ; I must beg to observe, that since I became a member of the corporation, probably the Utmost number of the councils I have attended is not more than four or five; and whether those were upon other days, I do not exactly remem- ber; but I believe they were not. 4 Can you inform the Committee at whose suggestion persons are made free of the city of Limerick; who proposes persons as corporate officers and as freemen in council?— In council they are generally proposed by Lord Gort; suggestions,' I know, have been made to him to propose persons for their freedom. Lord Gort generally proposes them ?— Generally he does. Have you ever known a proposition negatived by the council which was made by Lord Gort?— I am not aware of such a thing during the short time that I men- tioned I have belonged to the council. Are you aware of the burgesses oath ?— Yes, I rather think so. Do you conceive that that oath imposes any difficulty upon you in giving your evidence when required to do so by a court of justice or a competent authority ? — I would not willingly; and I would, under protection, refuse to answer several questions that might be put to me; not that I am aware of any question to- day which might not be answered consistently with that oath. The appointments to corporate offices take place in the same way that you have stated with regard to the admissions of freemen, upon the proposition of Lord Gort, acceded to by the council?— Yes, they do, You are paymaster of the city of Limerick militia ?— I am. Where are the arms and accoutrements of the city of Limerick militia at present deposited ?— The arms of the disembodied part of the regiment were lodged in the ordnance depdt of Limerick; the accoutrements for. the regiment are in the store appointed by government for the accommodation of the stores of the regiment, and' for the accoutrements and arms of the remaining parts of the staff not immediately in employ, which they now are. Where is that depdt?— In William- street. . Can you inform the Committee what rent is paid for that house? One hundred a year. To whom is that rent paid?— Just now, I believe, the. property is vested in Mr. Gabbett, who purchased it at the sale of Messrs. Mansell and Company, late bankers; the agreement was originally made between government and a Mr. John Worrail; the house was intended, by the Act of Parliament, for the accommodation' of the staff officers and the accoutrements and stores of the regiment. Do any of the staff officers reside in that house ?— None " reside in it so far as living there; but it is in the necessary occupation of some of them that cannot do without