12 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE nature of the. constitution of the corporation of the city of Dublin were altered, liobert Shau. that a better description of persons would be likely to be presented by the sheriffs J under that constitution, than under the present?— It is very difficult for me to ( 8 May.) answer, exactly, but I am quite sure it would give great satisfaction to the citizens of Dublin, if there was some regulation made, by which the corporation should not always have a majority. Have you ever " heard of any complaint in the counties of Ireland, of the exclusive power which is given to the sheriffs of nominating the grand jury ?— I do not recollect hearing any thing about it. Having - been asked with regard to the constitution of grand juries in counties, as proceeding from the sheriff, do you not conceive that the predominance of the mem- bers of the corporation on the city of Dublin presenting grand juries, arises out of the circumstance of the sheriff being a corporate officer, appointed by the individuals whom he in turn nominates upon the grand jury ?— I do. Do you conceive, if there was a sheriff in Dublin appointed by the crown, that the selection of presenting grand juries would be the same, or different from what it now is?— I should suppose, if the sheriff Was appointed by the crown, he would look to the property of the city, more than to corporate rank. Have you heard a very general complaint amongst the citizens of Dublin, of the exclusive manner in which the nomination of grand juries is maintained?— I have heard the citizens complain very much, that respectable individuals not connected with the corporation, are entirely excluded from the grand juries. Do they not complain, that they are taxed in a very serious manner, without having any thing to do with the nomination of those persons who tax them ?— They do certainly. Does your experience as a grand juror, enable you to give much information to the Committee, with respect to the manner in which business is transacted by the grand juries?— I have not attended more than two or three times on the city grand juries. Then you are not prepared to give very specific information as to the mode of examining the accounts?— No, I am not. Has it ever happened to you to attend the grand jury, when any office in the gift of the grand jury has been vacant?— I do not recollect that it has. Have you ever heard a canvass going on in the grand jury room?— Never when I was attending. Are you acquainted with the names of the officers of the grand jury, and the individuals receiving presentments from the grand jury?— Yes, I am. Are many of those individuals either grand jurors or immediate connections with grand jurors ?— They are, certainly. Mr. Richard Purdy, again called in ; and Examined. ^ Richard Purdy. ^ ARE there any circumstances which you wish to explain in your former evidence, ^ if there are, will you have the goodness to state them shortly to the Committee?— 1 was anxious to explain to the Committee, that I find a number of presentments to the inspector for the supply of necessaries in the several terms : in Easter term 1816, for blankets, & c. 182/. o s. 4 d.; in Michaelmas 1817, for ticks, sheets and rugs, 60 I.; in Michaelmas 1818, for providing provisions & c. 650/. ; in Easter 1819, for furniture, looms, & c. 784/. 3- y.; in Michaelmas 1819, for necessaries, 245/.; and in Easter 1820, for necessaries, 684/. 11 s. 11 d.; 1 also find various presentments to the treasurer for necessaries; in Michaelmas 1817, 760/.; in Easter 1818, 7501.; in Easter term 1819, 888/. 16s. 9d.; and in Michaelmas 1820, 283 /. 2 s. 11 d.; in Michaelmas term 1 821, the contract was made with Mr. Dalton, for 335/. and Alderman Nugent was one of the jury; and in Easter 1822, there were two presentments, making together 157/. 2 s. 8' d. to Charles Thorp, one of 96/. 19 A. 11 d. the other of 58/. 5 s. 8 d.; upon that occasion, Charles Thorp appears to be upon the jury; and in Easter Term 1822, there is a presentment for potatoes to Richardson, to which I have referred, sixty tons of potatoes at 6 I. per ton, 360 I. Is there anything else?— In Michaelmas 1822, there are five presentments to Charles Thorp the sheriff, making 148/. 2 s. 11 d. and one to the inspector, for necessaries, 60/. I wish also to state, that Richard Ellis, a collector of grand jury cess, appears to have been a defaulter, in Easter term 1816, and I have heard that the