J? ON PETITIONS RELATING TO LIMERICK TAXATION. 43. You state, that there are some small tolls; do you consider them worth 5001. a year ?— I must beg leave to mention, on consideration of the answer I gave as to the 500/. on my last examination, that on consulting with a friend of mine, I was perfectly right, in the first instance, as to the 500/.; but in consequence of very gross abuses, an agreement was made to lessen the rent paid by the rentor to 400/. taking off some of those small tolls; I do it in justice to the corporation; they agreed to it; I did not recollect it then. Who was the lessee of the tolls ?— Thomas Stewart. And it was, while it was under his authority, that the abuses occurred?— It was, and gross ones; for women had been known to have a rude rough fellow put his hand in their bosoms, to see if they had articles concealed there. Previous to the change of the tolls by the Chamber of Commerce ?— Yes. Are the tolls collected upon a fixed rate?— The tolls formerly were of undefined amount; it was a certain measure to be taken out of each bag of corn in the market; it was some measure, which I do not know; it was unascertained. An unascertained measure?— It was; an ale quart was the quantity to be taken out, but what it is, I believe they could not ascertain. The rate was described by an ale quart?— From each sack, I think it was, from my recollection ; but it is so long since. Was the toll on each article regulated by any description ?— There was a printed schedule. Had Lord Gort's family any thing to do with the corporation in 1761?— I have no recollection of it; it is beyond my time. You never heard it?— I have heard Lord Gort's family came in after the Roches. Do you not know as a matter of history, that, in 1761, the Roche family were the prominent family in the corporation ?— I do not know ; I cannot say to my know- ledge ; it may be the case, but I cannot state it; I am very well informed on any matter which occurred within the last 20 years, when I got more into public life; but I am uncertain whether I sat in Limerick then. Who is the present weighing master ?— John Vereker, brother to the cham- berlain. What is the income he derives from that situation, to the best of your knowledge? — I have no knowledge; but I have heard it is upwards of 800/. a year. That is merely on hearsay ?— Merely on hearsay; I can have no other data, except by calculation. In what part of Limerick do you reside?— George- street. Is that in the New Town ?— In the New Town. Do you know a place called the Limerick Plot ?— Not by that name. Do you know the new market house?— Is it the meat market, or the corn market? What is called the new market ?— If the Committee mean the corn market, I can tell; I know both ; I know the new corn market, and the new meat market; which does the Committee mean ? This is built on a plot of land leased to Lord Gort, by the corporation ?— If the Committee will ask me the question, I will answer; I rather think not. Did you ever hear that Mr. Vincent gave evidence before the Committee, that a plot of land, taken by Lord Gort, was worth 500/. a year?— I don't know, really; I have not read the evidence ; I never heard it. Do you know the Limerick plot ?— No, I do not. [ The evidence of Arthur Vincent was read over to the witness from the printed report.] Witness.— As to the corn market, it is not the property of the corporation, but of John Ormsby Vandeleur; I know it, for he served us with an ejectment for rent he ought to have been paid; three years and a half rent was due. Pray, do you know this plot of ground so described by Mr. Vincent?— If the Committee mean the plot of ground, waste ground behind the corn market, I will tell them; there is a variety of ground claimed by the corporation about there, covering a good space. Pray, is there any part of that let to the Chamber of Commerce ?— There has been a spot let to the Chamber of Commerce, at a nominal rent, on which the Chamber of Commerce erected a linen hall. Pray, what rent do they pay for it ?— A nominal rent, I believe. 617. with ' o> 0 Appendix ( A.) \ N. Russell, Esq. ( 21 June.)