ON PETITIONS RELATING TO LIMERICK TAXATION. 49. You were president, were you not?— No, Mr. John McNamara; I was not even one of the directors that year. [ The witness produced the following Paper.'] ( Copy.) 26th April 1821. Resolution of a General Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held this day. Resolved unanimously, That the president and directors be empowered to pay such sums of money as may appear to them to be necessary, towards forwarding the object of our late petition to Parliament, on the right of election. Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this body be given to the president and directors, for the manner in which they have taken up this important subject, and that we highly approve of the petition they have forwarded to the House of Com- mons. ( Signed) J. M'Namara, Chairman. What are the funds of the Chamber of Commerce entrusted to them for ?— They are entrusted to them for the support of trade, and the preservation of the rights of the individuals belonging to the body. Did you consider, that it fell exactly within the limits of their charter, to support petitions upon election rights to this House ?— We considered so, we might have been mistaken; we applied it, and there was a vote of thanks for having done so, on closing the accounts last October or September. Was that vote of thanks unanimous ? — I do not know of any dissentient, I rather think it was unanimous; some things the committee did, I was going to move a vote of censure for, but I went away. From whence do the funds arise of the Chamber of Commerce ?— A contribution from the trade according to the extent, so much for every hundred barrels of corn exported, so much for every cask of butter, for a tierce of pork, so much for a bale of bacon, and so much upon imports, besides the gain which they have upon the transaction with the corporation. To what extent is that gain ?— I believe it varies from 4501, a year upward. Four hundred and fifty pounds was the minimum ?— Yes. What was the maximum ?— I believe one year it might have amounted to 1,500/. I will state, though it may be considered irrrelevant, the application by the directors of some of the funds they raised in one year of very great scarcity, 1816, our body gave 1,500/. to relieve the distress of the poor; they have expended up- wards of 3,000/. in supporting the linen trade, by building scutch mills, linen hall, and bounties, also improving our port; and this year we gave 200/. to the relief of the poor. How do they become members ?— Persons in trade, of a certain extent, are ad^ mitted by ballot. The funds arise from the contribution of members of the Chamber of Commerce, who agree to pay a certain sum in proportion to their share of export and import trade ?— Yes. Is it a corporation?— It is. By Act of Parliament ?— By charter. Then they do not arise from any duty levied?— It is voluntary; individuals have contributed so much as 40/. or 50/. a year ; we may retire when we please. How much do you suppose the value of the toll on wheat is, that you rent from the corporation ?— We agree to stop pro rata from the farmers, which enables us to pay the rent; it has never excited the smallest difference between the seller and the buyer. It is as a sort of compromise between you ?— Yes, precisely so. Appendix J. N. Russell, Etq. ( 24 June.) Mercurii, 26° die Junii, 1822. THOMAS SPRING RICE, ESQUIRE, IN THE CHAIR. Mr. Joseph Massey Hervey; Called in, and Examined. WHERE do you reside ?— I am a merchant at Limerick. Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce ?— I am one of the directors. 617. N ^ Have Mr. J. M^ Hertey. ( 26 June.)