no minutes of Evidence before select committee Appendix Were those the first admissions, as of right, that had ever taken place within your ( A.) knowledge?— I do n6t' know any thing further of it; I believe some before were v ' admitted by mandamus. Mr. i} ut in Vour acquaintance with the corporation, those were the only admissions William Gibson. by rigirf?_ Those are all that I know. ( 12 July.) Db you mean to say, that the friends of Lord Gort were anxious to admit them, and that the others who objected were not friends to Lord Gort?— I never saw greater liberality manifested by any persons than by the friends of Lord Gort. Do you not know that many persons have been for years petitioners to be ad- mitted to the freedom of the city:— I know nothing of it but by common rumour; on the last day there were three or four petitions read by the mayor, and they were given to the committee to investigate. Were you never present when petitions were read to the council before ?— Not to my knowledge ; it might have been done, and I not have noticed it; but not to my knowledge. The Committee have a return before them, stating that petitions have been pre- sented ; do you entertain the slightest doubt, that if Lord Gort and his friends had wished it, that they would have been admitted ?— If I am to judge from the hostility evinced last Monday week, I think not. Do you imagine that Lord Gort could not prevail upon the council to receive them ?— I cannot take upon myself to say that. Was that council the first that was held, since the petitions grounded upon the decision of the House of Commons were submitted to the council?— I can only speak to it from hearsay; I heard the mayor say they were presented to him in October, and that he submitted them to the council, who ordered an investigation of them to take place before a committee, who were to report; and accordingly there was a report made last Monday week, being the ist of July. That was the first time in which the common council had a power of considering those petitions since the decision of the Committee of this House on the right of voting?— The petitions were presented to the mayor, and he submitted them to the council; then the council appointed part of their own body to investigate them, and to report to the council, which they did at the first meeting that took place. This was the first council which had been held since those petitions were pre- sented?— I believe so. Previous to the decision of the Committee of this House, the corporation did not admit the right of birth, servitude and marriage ?— I only know that they admitted three by mandamus. But it was a right which they contested ?— It was always a disputed right; there is one part of my evidence which I should wish to have read again, as I fear some- thing which I stated about the hostility that existed may not be intelligible. Who attended the council to which you have alluded ?—' The mayor, the honour- able Major Vereker, Mr. John Vereker, Mr. James O'Grady, Captain Wallace, Mr. Ormsby, Alderman Watson, Alderman Mahony, Alderman Westropp, Mr. O'Grady, Alderman Wilkinson, Mr. Jackson. By Mr. Jackson, do you mean the late sheriff?— Yes; he did not remain the whole time; I cannot recollect the others; Mr. Morony was there. Do you mean Mr. Morony the late treasurer ?— Yes. In the former part of your evidence, you distinguished the council into two classes, those who were the friends of Lord Gort, and those who were hostile ?— I did not mean to convey that idea; I said that there was opposition to the admission of the freemen. Who do you consider to be Lord Gort's friends ?— I consider his brother, Major Yereker, and Mr. John Vereker. Who might be considered to represent Lord Gort there ?— His son, I should conceive. Do you consider Mr. James O'Grady as one of his friends?— He was not on that occasion. Do you consider Captain Wallace to be one of Lord Gort's friends ?— He voted for admitting them. Do you consider Mr. Ormsby as a friend of Lord Gort, or not ?— He voted for the admission of them. Do you consider Mr. Alderman Watson ?— The most decided enemy he had. Mr. Mahony, on which side was he?— He was for admitting them. Do you recollect any others who were present ?— Mr. Gabbett was also present. Alderman