12 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Mr. commissioners by the householders of Dublin, in the same manner as the loca John McMullen, taxation of some other towns in Ireland is already managed. ^ Which, for instance?— Belfast. ( 2 May.) yOU aWare of any improprieties that at present take place in the collection of parish cess by the churchwardens in the city of Dublin ?— I am not aware of it. Have you heard within the last two years of any defaulting churchwardens in the city of Dublin ?— I have not; it may have been the case, but I am ignorant of it. Have you looked over the names of the persons to whom presentments are made ?— Yes. Amongst them there is Mr. Montgomery ; is he any immediate connexion of any of the gentlemen who are in the habit ot serving upon those grand juries ?— I be- lieve he is son- in- law to Alderman Exsbaw. The public accountant is Mr. Daniel Hutton; are you aware whether he has any immediate connexion with any of the gentlemen belonging to the corporation ?— He is brother to the late Alderman Hutton. Mr. Frederick Bourne, the keeper of Newgate; has he any immediate connexion with any gentlemen accustomed to serve on grand juries?— I believe he is brother- in- law to Alderman Archer, or in some other way very closely connected with him by marriage. Mr. Purdon appears to be governor of bridewell; is he any immediate con- nexion of any gentleman accustomed to serve on the grand juries ?— He is Alder- man Archer's son- in- law. Mart is, 6° die Maii, 1823. SIR ROBERT SHAW, BARONET, IN THE CHAIR. Mr. John McMullen, again called in ; and Examined. C6 M v) CAN you inform the Committee what sum was expended on the present city ^ bridewell?— About 56,000/. How much of that was expended under the orders of government previous to the management of the gaol being handed over to the grand jury ?— I believe about 28,700/.; there was a further presentment of 13,980/. to certain members of the grand jury as commissioners for completing the building; another presentment also to members of the grand jury of 5,000/. for enclosing gardens, for procuring a clock for the prison, and for various other purposes. The three latter sums were presentments ?— Yes; and there have been frequent and large presentments since, for alterations and other works, amounting altogether to about 56,000 /. Do you know how they were executed or contracted for?— One item has been stated to ine; the Alderman Warner was one of the commissioners, he furnished a clock, for which, I am informed, his brother commissioners paid him so large a sum as 370/. How do you know, or in what way are you informed, that Mr. Warner received that sum ?— I do not, of my own knowledge, know the fact; but I am convinced that it will appear in the accounts of the commissioners. Have you seen that item in the accounts ?— No, I have not seen the accounts. Who are the commissioners ?— The commissioners were the leading members of the grand jury. Do you know anything of the penitentiary at Grange Gorman Lane?— I do. What was the expense of it ?— The expense incurred in building the penitentiary at Grange Gorman, was about 70,000/. IIow many will it hold ?— It is calculated to contain 600 convicts. How many will the city bridewell hold?— Three hundred ; but the Grange Gor- man penitentiary is, in every respect, a vastly superior prison. Is it better built ?— It is built on the newest and most approved principle and plan. Have you visited any of the London gaols since you were last examined before the Committee ?— I have. Can you give the Committee any information as to any part of their expenses?— I inquired