kio' ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUELIN. 73 committed to Newgate, that if some effort was not made on the part of the public to provide them with clothing, that they could provide themselves. with clothing?— I only speak from a general knowledge of the circumstance of the prisoners of the city of Dublin always going out of the gaol well clad, and I do not think I could recollect more than two or three instances of the contrary being the case. Are the prisoners committed to the gaol of Newgate, in many instances, of the lowest and poorest part of the community ?— There are a great many of the prisoners committed who are of the poorest and lowest class. How do you account for prisoners of that description being able to provide themselves with clothing?— I will tell the Committee exactly my opinion; I think the parish of St. Michan furnishes to the gaol of Newgate two- thirds of the city committals; in that parish there is a place known by the name of Mary's lane, which is notorious for being the depot of the Dublin thieves, and likewise notorious for the purchase of all stolen articles of clothes; under these circumstances I do con- clude that the prisoners who go from St. Michan's parish into Newgate are able, being related to those persons, to furnish themselves with clothes in all instances. You have known cases in which prisoners have continued in Nev/ gate for a very considerable length of time ?— I have. Is there any such provision made as to allow the employment of prisoners during the time of their imprisonment, so as to admit of their earning clothing for themselves?— Not in the gaol of Newgate, except among the females. In those cases of long imprisonment, unless the public interfered and gave some assistance in the way of clothing, how could the prisoners alluded to, be supplied with clothing towards the close of their long imprisonment?— I have known many instances of persons confined for long periods having good clothes, and I have known a few instances of long confinement in which it was necessary to give them clothing. You have known instances in which it has been necessary to give them clothing in cases of long confinement ?— I have known some instances. But very few in Dublin?— Very few. Who is Mr. Graham the contractor for clothing ?— He is a merchant on the quay. Has he ever served upon grand juries ?— I declare 1 cannot answer that question decidedly. Is he a common- councilman ?— I believe he is a corporation man lately. What is the expense of the contract?— 19$. 6d. Do you know the expense of the former contract ?— The expense of the former contract I think was 22 s. Who was the former contractor ?— Robert Dalton. Can you account for the difference of the price ?— Yes, I can ; the fall of cloth was the cause of the difference ; I was told so, and I went to a merchant in Dublin, a wholesale clothier. Who ?— Mr. Redman's in Bridge- street. Do you know Mr. Dalton's situation in life ?— Yes I do, I know he has a con- nection in a woollen warehouse in Parliament- street. Do you know whether he has been in the employment of Alderman Nugent ?— I do, he had been shopman to Alderman Nugent for twenty years. How long has that connection ceased ?— About two years. You do not conceive there is any connection between him and Alderman Nugent at the present moment?— If any credit is to be given to a gentleman's word, I can positively say no, for Aldermen Nugent directly assured me that there was no connection. Can you state the date of the earliest contract that you know Dalton had ?— Not from my memory. Are you aware he had contracts prior to Easter 1822 ?— I believe he had. Had he in the year 1821 ?— I think he had. Do you conceive he had a contract in any part of the year 1820 ?— I do not think he had, but I cannot say positively. Or in any prior year?— 1 think not; I cannot say decidedly. Then according to the best of your recollection, Michaelmas 1820 was the first contract ?— To the best of my recollection. At that time do you conceive he was shopman to Alderman Nugent ?—- I will tell the Committee how the circumstance was; Alderman Nugent was leaving oft' business and closing his accounts; and he did leave off business directly after Michaclmas 1821. 549. At Rev. P. R. Gamble. ( 9 May.)