48 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Appendix a list of freemen, according to the statute, for which a penalty of 100/. was sought ( A.) to be recovered. y . J Was Taylor a member of the jury impannelled to try the record?— Yes, he J. N. Russell, was. Esq. What were the circumstances that occurred at the time?— The trial excited ( 2+ June.) a great deal of interest; I was summoned as a juror, and challenged by Parker's counsel, as a person who was hostile. What verdict did the jury give?— The jury remained in one night and part of the ensuing day; upon it were" two near relatives, both of whom I knew to be men of delicate health; and I had an affidavit drawn, and sworn, that if they were kept for another night, it would be attended with risk to their lives ; in consequence of which a juror was agreed to be withdrawn. One of the jurors was Mr. William Russell?— Yes, who is since dead. What was the cause of no verdict being given in that action, according to the declaration of Mr. William Russell, who is dead?— I heard him mention that the jury, with the exception of one person, were agreed, to find a verdict against the defendant. Was it Mr. Taylor who stood out against the opinion of the eleven?— So I heard from Mr. Russell, who is dead. How long did the jury remain in the jury room?— One night, and part of the ensuing day. Did" Mr. William Russell make to you any further communications with regard to the conduct of Mr. Taylor?— He complained that they could not get even a glass of water into the jury room; that the bailiff would not even give them their coats, sent by their families; and that this single juror, who held out against them, had op- portunities of getting refreshment, and they were not allowed any, That gentleman is now sheriff of the city of Limerick, is he not ?— He is. [ The following Resolution of the Corporation of the City of Limerick, dated i st of July 1813, was read:] " Resolved unanimously— That in consequence of the virtuous and upright con- duct of William Taylor, esquire, as a juror at the last Spring Assizes, he be elected a freeman at large of this city, and that the freedom be presented to him by Mr. Mayor, in a silver box." You have stated that the Chamber of Commerce did advance a certain sum of money towards the maintenance of a petition in this House ?— Towards the petition which has been now read. Did you petition ?— It was neither an election petition, nor a petition upon that election, and upon that principle the Chamber of Commerce came forward. What was the sum of money that was so advanced by the Chamber of Com- merce?— Without hesitation, I could say the expense amounted to 15 or 1,600/. Eighteen hundred pounds?— I cannot say. Something between ?•— Between fifteen and sixteen hundred pounds; I must also state, that the election took place whilst I was president of the Chamber of Commerce ; and last October I had a communication with my Lord Gort, when he waited on the directors about agreeing for the tolls for that year, in which I stated to him, that however anxious I was to have forwarded the election, and the petition that suc- ceeded, that I should not as president of the Chamber of Commerce, have considered it any thing else but a sacrifice of the funds to support the interest of any individual, or to have called for a payment of one shilling for such a purpose. This sum of money was advanced out of the funds of the Chamber of Com- merce ?— Yes. Was it the unanimous decision of the Chamber of Commerce that such money should be so advanced ?— When large payments are called for from the general funds, though the directors have, under the charter, a full power of disposal, they think it would be indelicate in them to apply them without the general concurrence ; for which purpose a meeting of the body at large was convened, to take into considera- tion the necessity or the propriety of supporting the petition that was sent to the Honourable House of Commons ; and the decision was unanimous, I believe I may say, for I do not recollect there was a dissentient voice upon the subject of supporting the petition; but the sum was not declared, because it was not ascertained. You are quite certain, that there were not ten or twelve dissentient voices ?— Posi- tively, to the best of my belief, there were not ten or twelve present dissentient voices, and there was no division, as I can remember. You