Appendix ( A.)': John Mark, Esq. ( 3 June.) 24 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE many of them, men of respectability, but there may be some exceptions, both as to respectability as well as property. ' They are pretty nearly exclusively taken from the corporation, are they not ?— Entirely. . . . __ Are you acquainted with the collection of toll and customs in Limerick ?— Yes. Do you recollect the time of the building of the new market- house ?— I do. Do you recollect any occurrences at that time with reference to the tolls and cus- toms of Limerick?— Yes; after the new market- house was built, there was a custom or toll demanded that was not usual before, and which a few individuals resisted. Did you make any calculation as to the amount of such custom ?— As well as I recollect, from the quantity exported that year, there must have been, according to the rate imposed, about 4,000/. Were any legal proceedings taken against them at that time?— Yes, I undertook legal proceedings against them. What was the result of those actions ?— I laid a venue in the county of Cork; and when we were going to trial, Lord Kiltarton sent for me, and proposed an accom- modation. What were the circumstances of that accommodation ?— The payment of 8001. for the expense of costs, and the value of the corn actually distrained from me for the levy. Do you consider that he did you justice?— He satisfied me by relinquishing the claim in future. He relinquished the claim, and remunerated you for the expense you were at ?— Yes. In short you were quite satisfied by the atonement made to you?— On its being given up in future. Martis, 18' die Junii, 1822. THOMAS SPRING RICE ESQUIRE, IN THE CHAIR. J. N. Russell, Esq. ( 18 June.) John Norris Russell, Esquire; Called in, and Examined. YOU reside in the city of Limerick ?— I do. Have you resided there long?— I have resided in the city of Limerick from my earliest recollection. Are you a member of the chamber of commerce ?— I am. Have you acted as president of that corporation ?—- I have. Are you a freeman of the city of Limerick ?— I am not; but I consider myself entitled to the freedom of the city, from my father having been a burgess, and having served the office of sheriff about forty- two years ago. Since you have been acquainted with the city of Limerick, have you ever known any courts of D'Oyer hundred or general court held for the city ?— Not within my memory. You have never heard within your memory of any leases of the corporation estates being submitted to the court of D'Oyer for their approval?— Never. Are you aware of any estates possessed by the corporation of the city of Limerick? — Yes, I am, for I am a tenant of some myself. Are those estates of any considerable extent ?— Some of them are. Are you acquainted with any other revenues belonging to the corporation of the city of Limerick?— I am. From whence are they derived ?— The chamber of commerce has paid, since 1809, 1,500/. per annum for the tolls upon potatoes and grain, in order to avoid the gross abuse of the power which the corporation officers had exercised previously. The latter part of your observation applies more particularly to the total of po- tatoes ?— Yes, more particularly to potatoes; but it also applies to corn. Since the chamber of commerce have been tenants to the corporation for tolls, no toll has been demanded on potatoes ?— No. Therefore the interposition of the chamber of commerce has relieved the citizens at large from the vexations and oppressions connected with that toll ?— It was to remove the toll upon potatoes that induced the chamber of commerce to become tenants