ON PETITIONS RELATING TO LIMERICK TAXATION. 73 / What were the subsequent proceedings ?— There was a plea of the charter, and I believe the plea was allowed in the Rolls court. Were there very considerable expenses incurred in the course of those proceed- ings?— Very heavy; there were nine or ten counsel employed on each side. You were asked respecting the constitution of the grand juries in the city of Li- merick ; who are the individuals who generally sit upon those grand juries?— They are, with very few exceptions, of the corporation party. Do you consider the grand juries, so constituted, to be a fair representation of the city of Limerick, its property and intelligence ?— By no means ; there is not an indi- vidual in Limerick would assert it. Do you conceive it would be acceptable to the great majority of the people of Limerick, to give to the grand juries of the city of Limerick, any addition to their power of taxation?— As the grand jury at present exists, by no means. Are not the gentlemen who usually compose the grand juries of the city of Limerick, generally speaking, gentlemen of fortune, and of independent character ?—• Without explaining, I cannot answer that question ; there are gentlemen of fortune and independent character, that support Lord Gort on the grand jury; but there is scarcely a gentleman of independent character, that opposes him, ever put on the grand jury. Are not the gentlemen usually composing the grand juries of the city of Limerick, generally speaking, gentlemen of independent fortune and character?— Certainly not; there may be four or five gentlemen on the grand jury, who are, but the greater number are not so, and I will give the Committee a list of the grand juries for the last ten years, which I have, and I will name those that are respectable, and those that are not. Have you known instances, in which several individuals of the same family have been summoned to serve upon the grand jury ?— Certainly ; I believe the very last grand jury had a father and one or two sons upon it; it is notorious, that they are nominated by Lord Gort. Do you not consider, that an equalization of the taxation of the city of Limerick would be a great relief to the Old Town ?— I think it would be very hard for any thing to relieve it at present; if the funds were properly applied, it would be a relief, but not as they are at present. You conceive, that if a fair tribunal could be constituted, representing the wealth and intelligence of the city equally, in that case an equal administration of the re- venues would be productive of great public satisfaction?— Most assuredly. Have you ever known any of the corporation funds applied for the maintenance of the roads?— Never. Appendix ( A.) Mr. M. Harrington. ( 2 July.) Mr. Edward Parker, again Called in; and further Examined. IN your examination of the 28th June, you were asked, " Do you conceive the grand jury of the city of Limerick, as at present constituted, to be a fair and equal representation of the property and intelligence of the city of Limerick;" to which you answered, " I do not;" you have since altered that answer to, " Yes, I do;" you have made that alteration, have not you ?— Yes. The answer, as it at present stands, is diametrically reverse to the answer which you gave to the Committee ?— Yes. Then how do you account for your giving an answer diametrically reverse to- day ? •— On recollection, I thought it was a very erroneous answer, and I thought I was at liberty to alter it. Have you had any conversation with any person on the subject of that answer ?— I have had conversation certainly. With whom have you had that conversation ?— Lord Gort remonstrated with me on the absurdity of the observation I made; he said, I might let it stay as it was, if I liked, but he" recommended me to consider the circumstance, and I put down this note here, of the absurdity of the observation I made; it was certainly Lord Gort su(" Tested to me that it was an erroneous reply, and that it was contrary to the oa fact. came Had you any conversation prior to your examination here, at any time since you : ne to town, with respect to your examination here ?— I have had many conversa- tions with Lord Gort; he is a very intimate friend of mine. Since vou have been in attendance upon this Committee?— Yes, certainly. 617. Y Have Mr. Edward Parker.