I ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 55 quantity consumed appears to be about 450 or from that to 500 tons ; in 1821 the quantity would appear to be about 850 tons, amounting to 1,033/. 1 s. id. Do you know what was the whole expense of white- washing the prisons in any one year?— In 1815, it cost 182/. Does that include all the gaols?— I believe all the gaols; there are two items in the presentments for Michaelmas term 1815, the first is 136/. 10s; and the second 45/. 10s. making in all 182/.; in 1816, it cost 109/. 11s. 6d.; and in 1817, 107/. 17s. 4d. Who is the contractor?— The presentments for 1S15, are to Mr. Charles Thorp. Are they all to him?— 1 do not think they are ; in 1 816 there is one presentment to him for 80 /. and another to William M'Cornick for 29 /. 11 s. 6d. the rest are to him. Was Mr. Thorp upon the grand jury at that period ?— I believe not. How do you think he got the contract ?— I am not aware how he got the con- tract, but I observe the name of his uncle, Alderman Charles Thorp, upon the list of the grand jury for Michaelmas 1815. Are you sure that he got any contract at all for white washing ?— I do not know that it was done by contract, but he obtained a presentment for it as I have stated. Does the expense of cleansing the gaol of Newgate appear in any of the pre- sentments?— It uniformly appears on the presentments, but it is almost always mixed up with other charges, and I cannot show the exact sum to the Committee; at Michaelmas 1814 it is stated separately, and amounted to 74/. 19 s. 1 d. Was that in one year?— In one term, in one half year. Is there any charge for washing at any of the hospitals of the prisons which could be done in any other way ?— Uniformly a charge for washing; I think it amounts to from 25 /. to 30 /. a year; it ought to be done by the convicts in the bridewell. Can you give any information to the Committee as to any of the presentments for work done at the gaols ?— I have looked attentively into the printed presentments with reference to this subject, and I find that a large proportion of the works done at the gaols, if not actually contracted for by members of the grand jury, are uni- formly executed by them, and that very large sums have always passed through their hands in this way; in Easter term 1816 there is a presentment to Aldermen Darley, Read, Thorp and others, to make sundry repairs and alterations in Newgate, 945/. 3 s.; Alderman Thorp was a builder, Alderman Darley a stone cutter, and Alderman Read a plumber; in the next term, at page 71, there is another presentment to the same individuals, and for the same purposes, amounting to 794/. 9 s. 6 d. it states the particulars of the work to be done, the largest pro- portion of it is stone cutters and plasterers work; in Easter term 1820, there is a presentment to Alderman Darley and Matthew O'Brien, for stone cutters work at Richmond bridewell; Alderman Darley served upon the grand jury, who made the presentments, and Matthew O'Brien, as I am informed, is his foreman at his manufactory; at the same term 1820, there is a presentment to Alderman Darley and H. C. Sirr for carpenters work; a third to Alderman Darley and Francis Johnstone for ironmongery, and a fourth to Matthew O'Brien, Alderman Darley's foreman, for stone cutters work, amounting altogether to 603/. 13 s. You have stated, that large sums are presented to the inspector of gaols for necessaries, clothing, bedding, and so forth ; can you give any instance of any par- ticular sum ?— I can ; at Easter term 1815, there are two presentments for him to provide blankets, rugs, shirts, ticks, and other necessaries, amounting to 759 1. lis. ; at the succeeding term, another presentment for the like purposes; at Easter term 1816, another to provide bedding and clothes, 182 I. os. 4 d.; at Michaelmas 1817, another, expressly to purchase shirts, rugs, ticks, & c. which are usually sup- plied by contract; at Michaelmas term 1818, another to provide necessaries, 650/.; at Michaelmas 1819, another to provide clothes and necessaries, 245/.; and at Easter term 1820, to provide necessaries for Newgate, 684/. 11 d. There are similar presentments to the dissenting chaplain for providing similar necessaries, also to a very large amount, in some instances as much as 800 /. or 900 /. in one term. In Michaelmas sessions 1815, there is one presentment of 700 /. Are you aware of the reason why those large sums are presented to the inspector and dissenting minister for supplying necessaries and other articles for the prisons?— I am not aware of any particular reason. Are you aware, that it is because the offers for the contracts, that have been pub- lished in the papers, have not been taken ?— I am not aware of the circumstance. If that were the case, would not that account for the large sums at the disposal 549. of Mr. John McMullen. ( 6 May.)