ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 187 The coal- meters are obliged to stand on the deck, and to attend the admeasure- ment of coals out of ships tor eight months in the year, from six o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock at night, and for the four winter months from seven o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the evening, except durin^ the hours appointed for breakfast and dinner. The coals are measured out to the public as in London, in the presence of a sworn meter, in half- barrel tubs, ( sixteen of which make a ton) provided by the • water- bailiffs, who are officers appointed by the Corporation of Dublin. The size of the tub or half- barrel is regulated by an Act of Parliament passed in the first year of the reign of His Majesty King George the ad, ( 1727) and each tub is sealed by the clerk of the market, as directed by the statute. The inspectors duty is to visit each ship, to see that the meters do their duty correctly, and if any complaint, be made to report it to the Coal Committee appointed by the Guild of Merchants, who sit for the purpose of hearing and redressing any such complaints. Quay- officers have been appointed by the Commissioners of Customs over the coal- ships, to prevent the discharge of coals during the breakfast and dinner- hours of the coal- meters. Richard Oulton, Book- keeper to the Coal- meters Establishment, appointed by the Guild of Merchants, Dublin. Coal- meters Office, Dublin, April 1823. An Account of the respective Periods at which the Dues, Charges or Fees of the Coal Meters in Dublin were first levied, and at what periods respectively they have been increased, until they reach the specific Sums they now stand. The time when those wages were first levied is too remote to be now ascertained, but it may have been long prior to the year 1451. The first regulation that can be found for ascertaining the same is by authority of an entry in an ancient journal of the Guild Merchants, dated Midsummer, 30th Henry 6, 1451, which fixed the wages for measuring every twelve gallons of coals at the price of ( not now easily intelligible, but supposed to be) one farthing, which would amount to much more than the present wages. This bye- law of the Guild was confirmed by a charter from King Henry the 6th, also by a charter from Queen Elizabeth, both by authority of Parliament, which gave the Guild full power to make such new bye- laws as to them should seem expedient. The coal- meters wages fixed at id. per ton by authority of the Guild, by a bye- law, dated 14th January 1677. The wages were raised to three pence per ton by authority of the Guild on the 13th January 1794, and this was necessarily done, in order to afford remuneration to an increased number of fifteen new coal- meters, then found indispensable to be appointed to attend the coal- shipping, in order to do justice to the public, and to prevent delays in the delivery of coals to purchasers. The meters wages were increased to fourpence per ton by authority of the Guild, on the 16th of April, 1798, which the Guild was induced to allow on account of the inadequacy of the wages of 3 d. per ton to support them and their families, and in consequence of the increased hours of their attendance. The last increase to sixpence per ton, being the present rate, ( and which is far less than the rate allowed in 1451,) was allowed by authority of the said Guild of Merchants on the 12th of July 1802, being upwards of twenty years ago, upon consideration of the benefit that would arise to their fellow citizens from giving the coal- meters such remuneration as would prevent any collusion between them and the captains and masters of coal- ships, by making them more indepen- dent of those captains and masters, and also in consideration of the additional labour then put on the coal- meters, in keeping an exact tally in writing of the dis- charge of every cargo. The consequence of this increase has been, that a more respectable class of citizens now fill the situation of coal- meters; strict justice is done to the public by their constant attention to the admeasurement of coals, and His Majesty's revenue, and the Wide Street duties thereon, have been increased at least 12,0001. per annum. Timothy and John Allen, Clerks of the Guild of Merchants, Dublin. Witness.— I can state particularly the amount of my income and Mr. Howards. Mr. Howard's for the year 1819, was 445/. 16s. $ hd., and mine was 302/. 95. 4d. 549. MR. 0, Mr. Richard. Oulton. j \/ { 16 May)