ON PETITIONS RELATING TO LIMERICK TAXATION. $ 9 tive rights; I wish the Committee to understand this was a corporation as well by prescription as by charter. You have alluded to four old books that you have once seen, and have not been able to see since; do you know any man now living who has seen any of those books except yourself?— I do, several; the attorney to the corporation, Mr. Furlong, is one of those; he was often with me, and sat in the office with the clerk of the crown as one of his clerks, while I was examining the books; and Mr. Burton, the officer of the King's Bench, is living; I saw him before I left Dublin, very lately; the books were in his custody, and while they were in his custody, I was permitted to examine them ; there was also Mr. Maddox; Mr. Casey, who is living, was with me when I examined them, or several of them; I could mention more, if it were necessary. And those are the books which have been since suppressed ?— No question of it. And you have never seen them since ?— Since the time they were ordered out of the court of King's Bench I have not. Since that time you have never seen them?— I have never seen them since that time. How long ago ?— As well as I recollect, they were ordered to be delivered out of the court of King's Bench, shortly before the general election took place in the year 1797; that is a period which can be very easily ascertained, for I recollect evidence was given of the document itself, as signed by Mr. Furlong, and signed by the opposite attorney, Mr. Dwyer, consenting that these books should be given out; and I recollect, upon a former examination before a committee, as to the rights of the citizens, that that document was produced. Had you any intimation from any person, direct or indirect, by letter or by con- versation, of the line of examination that you were likely to be subjected to ?— I was entirely ignorant of it until I came before the Committee, though I endeavoured to find out to what point I was to be examined ; I did not know; a few minutes ago, for the first time since my arrival, I had the pleasure of seeing the honourable Chairman of this Committee; I asked him to what I was to be examined, and I got no answer; then I felt it was improper in ine to ask the question; I regret that I had not been apprized of the points to which I was to be examined, as my evidence may be detective in some points, for want of a more perfect recollection. Mr. Bryan McMahon, Called in; and Examined. WHERE do you reside?— In the city of Limerick. What office do you hold there ?— I am register of the united diocese of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe. Are you a freeman of the city of Limerick ?— I am. Are you also a member of the common council?— I am. Have you served any, and what, corporate offices in that city?— I served the office of sheriff of the city of Limerick at two intervals. Have you attended at the meetings of the common council of the city of Limerick ? -— Frequently. Does the common council consist of any definite number of burgesses, or is it unlimited in number?— Unlimited, as far as I know. Are the members of the common council chosen for life, or are they chosen annually ?— They are chosen for life. How are they chosen ?— After having served the office of sheriff, it is generally supposed to be a matter of course that they become burgesses; other persons are elected burgesses by being proposed, and that proposition assented to. How are the sheriffs chosen ?—- They have been always to my recollection nomi- nated by the uncle of the present Lord Gort, and by the present Lord Gort, they have proposed them in council, and no discussion has taken place; they have always been appointed. Nominated out of the citizens ?— Nominated out of the citizens at large, by Lord Gort. Is there any qualification of property, or of land, considered necessary to enable a person to discharge the office of sheriff?— No. Who proposes members to the common council for their election as burgesses ?• I have never known a proposal from anyone, except from the present Lord Go and his late uncle, the late Lord Gort. • . . , Have you ever known of a proposal so made, negatived or resisted by the common council ?— Never, nor even discussed. • » _; 617. Z Do i,? r— iort, ' 6 Appendix ( A.) II. I). Grail,/, Esq. ( 5 July.) Mr. Bryan M' Mahon.