ON PETITIONS RELATING TO LIMERICK TAXATION. 31. [ The following extract, from the report of the Select Committee, in the appeal case of Limerick, in the year 1821, was read:] " That the eldest sons of freemen, and persons who have married the daughters of freemen, and persons who have served seven years apprenticeship to freemen of the said city, are entitled to the freedom of the said city, and to vote at the elections for the same." Who are entitled to the freedom of the corporation of the city of Limerick by right ?— The eldest sons of freemen, the apprentices of freemen, and persons mar- ried to the daughters of freemen, which has been decided by the late decisions in the House of Commons, and by repeated judgments in courts of law. Are you aware of the application of any person so entitled having been made to the corporation of the city of Limerick ?— Repeatedly ; I have done it myself. Have you made such applications since the decision of the House of Commons in 1821?— I have. To whom did you apply ?— To the mayor. Did you apply by petition ?— I did. Have you known of other individuals so applying?— I have. How long is it since you applied ?— I think my last application was in the month of January, this year. When was the first application you made after the decision of the House of Commons?— I do not exactly recollect the date. In what year ?— Last year; I should rather think, from the circumstance of it being about the time my son left London, it must have been in the month of September— September or October. Was any person present at the time when that application was made?— Several persons were present; the chairman of the committee was one of them. Were you admitted to the freedom of Limerick in consequence of that applica- tion ?— I was not. Did you offer evidence of being the son of a burgess?— I required them to pro- duce the council books, to show that my father had formerly served the office of sheriff, and they refused; that circumstance having happened forty- two years ago, I said, that owing to the length of time which had elapsed, it would be difficult at the moment to procure any person living to establish that fact. Were you ultimately admitted ?— I was not. Have you subsequently applied?— I have. More than once ?— More than once. Can you give the Committee the particulars of any of those applications ?— The last application I made was the latter end of January, or very early in the month of February last; I hold in my hand a letter that was directed to me by the present chief magistrate, under his seal, purporting to be an answer to my application; this letter was addressed to a variety of persons, who with me demanded their freedom, as of right. Will you have the goodness to state to the Committee, the names of any of those individuals ?— They are as follows : J. N. Russell, esquire, Mr. James O'Sullivan, John Boyce, esquire, Mr. Thomas G. Bodkin, Mr. Thomas Locke, James MeMahon, esquire, Mr. William Glover, Mr. Thomas Quin, Mr. William Franklin, Mr. James Bodkin ; I think there were more, but these are the names of those I have with me. Mr. James M'Mahon is the son of a burgess of the city of Limerick, is he not?— I remember his father serving the office of sheriff. Did his father accompany him when he went to make this demand ?— He did. Did they allege any reason for refusing to admit you ?— The mayor refused to give an answer; he said he could give no answer till he considered of it; I waited upon the chief magistrate, the mayor, with a number of these claimants, and pre- sented my petition, and requested an answer as to the application I made for my freedom; each gentleman made the same request. Did you tender any legal fees ?— As much money as they pleased in His Majesty's currency. What answer was made to that offer?— He told us that he would consider of it, and give an answer in a day or two, or a few days, that he would let us know when he could give us an answer; some little difference took place between the chief ma- gistrate and one of the gentlemen making application, which gave rise to a few hasty and angry expressions on both sides, but without any intention of giving personal 617. offence; Appendix ( A.) J. N. Russell, Esq. ( 18 June.)