12 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE not enter on the subject as a professional man, but as a man of business, devoting Richard Purdy. such time as I could spare from my own concerns; I conceived that the conduct of . J tjie orand jury, and of the officers under them, was what came before me. ( 29^' priL) Do you happen to know the cause of passing that Act of Parliament, by which the power of taxation was vested in the grand juries?— I do not. Are you aware, that the power of taxing was vested in those very parishes, and in the vestries, previous to that Act ?— I have understood that all levies, as supplies for local purposes, were vested in the parishes previous to that Act. Then you have heard, that, previous to that Act, the power of raising the local supplies was vested in the parishes in vestry assembled ?-— I think I have. Then the plan which you propose, of giving the power of taxation to the parishes in vestry assembled, is not a new plan, but has been already tried ?— I do not pretend to be informed on the subject, my attention being more directed to another branch of the Local Taxation of Dublin. In point of fact, the plan of vesting the power of taxation in the parish vestries of the city of Dublin has been already tried?— I have not investigated the matter so as to be able to say that that plan has been tried. Have not you said, and is it not the fact, that previous to the Act of 1793, the parishes in vestries assembled had the power, and the sole power, of taxing the city of Dublin ?— I have understood that the parishes had a control over the paving depart- ment, and I have understood of others; but 1 have already said, that I have not investigated that matter; it was committed to the gentleman who assisted me. Who was that gentleman ?— Mr. Mc Mullen. Then, with respect to whether the parishes exercised any, and if any, what power of taxation, previous to the Act of 1793, you are not informed ?— No. Are there any powers of taxation now at this moment left with the parishes at vestry r— The parish cess, I think, is the only one. That is still left with the vestries ?— Yes. Have you heard, and do you believe, that any abuses exist in the levying of that tax at present by the churchwardens and parishes in vestry assembled?— I have not. Have you not heard of any defaulting churchwardens, within the last two years?—• I have not. Do you believe any such do exist?— I do not. Have you heard, or do you believe, that the Act of 1793 was passed in conse- quence of the enormous abuses existing in the taxation by the local vestries ?— I have not heard that it was. Have you heard, that the first effect of the Act of 1793 was to lay an extra levy of 40,000/. upon the citizens of Dublin, to cover the defalcations of the parish vestries ?— I have not; the arrear stated in the preamble of the Act was 1,400/.; and the arrear at present exceeds 5,0001. You have stated, that one of the causes of the increase of the grand jury cess arises from the Police Act?— I have. How did that Police Act produce a rise in the taxation of Dublin ?— By extending the jurisdiction of the recorder. What increased expense does that bring upon the city of Dublin ?— The prose- cution of offences committed in that part of the city and suburbs, which is comprised in the increased jurisdiction. What is the increased expense of those criminals?— Their support, maintenance* prosecution, and carrying the sentences into execution ; the building gaols to con- fine them is, perhaps, the heaviest item of the grievance. Did you happen to ascertain, in the course of your investigations, what has been the increase in the number of committals to Dublin prison since the passing of the Police Act?— I cannot state it from memory ; as well as I can recollect, the num- ber of committals has been nearly doubled within the time; but I understand that the gaol deliveries by the recorder, have latterly been held weekly, instead of once a fortnight as formerly; and I conceive, that should considerably lessen the increase of expense, taking into consideration the relative number of prisoners. Can you take upon you to say, what was the number of committals for the year 1822, in the Dublin prisons?— About 2,100. You have stated the Police Act to be one of the causes of the increase of the city taxation, are you aware of any other Act of Parliament having the same tendency ?— The Paving Act has the same tendency. Do you mean to say, that the Paving Act has had the effect of increasing the grand jury assessments ?— No; I speak of the local taxation generally; I considered the question a general one. Do