Appendix ' ( A.) Mr. Edward Parker. ( 27 June.) 108 M I N U T E S O F E V I D E N C E B E F O R E S E L E C T C O M M I T T EE Murphy told you?— He knew of it; they came into the possession of Murphy, when the mayor went out of office; and all the papers in the desk were put into the bag, and he brought them to me subsequently. You got them last October?— It was immediately before that committee sat for investigating the claims of freemen, as I best recollect. How long was it before that, that the mayor had gone out of office, who had pos- session of them ?— Nearly four years. Who was the mayor that went out of office immediately before?— Sir Christopher Marett. Who preceded him?— Mr. Gabbit. Who preceded him?— I can let you know by referring to this book; [ The witness referred to the book.] Mr. Vereker. Who before him ?— He was mayor for three years. What are the dates of those petitions ?— They appear to be dated during the time that Mr. Vereker was in office, 1816, 1817, and 1818. When did you get possession of them ?— October last, as I believe. When was it that the corporation received the decision of the committee of this House with regard to the eligibility of those claimants, by birth, servitude, and mar- riage ?— I do not know, except by the public papers. When did the committee sit here?— I declare I do not now recollect. Were not you examined ?— Yes, I was; but I do not recollect the time. In what year?— In 1820. Then, after 1820, you considered that the corporation were informed of the de- cision of this House, that such persons were eligible to be admitted as freemen ?— I do not know that they had any information, except what appeared in the papers. During the years 1816, 1817, and 1818, was there any right admitted ?—- No, cer- tainly not; on the contrary, the corporation denied it. How soon, after the decision was known, did the first committee sit to investigate the claims of freemen ?— I believe the first committee sat to investigate the claims in November 1821. There were twelve petitions you state?— Yes; thirteen, I think. Presented at that time ?— Yes. How many of those petitions have been allowed ?— Here are all the minutes of the evidence taken before the committee, they were to report to the next council. Has the council sat ?— No council has sat since. That is merely the minutes of evidence they had ?— Yes. When did the last council sit?— There has no council sat since; next Monday they will sit. There were only thirteen petitions laid before that committee?— That was all. Had those petitions you now produce upon the table, been in the possession of the mayor, would they not have been laid before that committee, together with the thir- teen ?— I am sure they would. Do you recollect at what time of the year the committee of this House sat, that pronounced that censure upon Mr. D'Esterre, which afterwards had him removed from his office?— In 1820. What time of the year ?— Something about this time of the year, the latter end of June or beginning of July. When is the corporation day for chusing the mayor ?— The first Monday after the 24th June, that is the charter day for the election of officers. Was Mr. D'Esterre in Limerick at the time he was re- elected ?— No. Where was he at that time?— Here. In England?— Yes. At what period did the committee sit and report on these thirteen petitions ?— The last day was on the 8th November 1821. When did those other petitions come into your possession?— Immediately before the committee first sat, as I believe. Are you, as town clerk, the proper custos of records belonging to the corpora- tion ?— Yes, of some of the records. You are the officer in whose hands they are ?— Yes. Have you ever known any of those petitions brought before the common council by any mayor at any time ?— I have known the mayor to bring them into the council room. They were tendered by the mayor ?— Yes; but not received. You are perfectly aware that the claim of birth, service and marriage were brought before the common council of the city, prior to the appointment of the committee of reference ?— Yes. And