2/ J ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN7.3 rj 137 perambulation, poundage, roads, & c.; but the new causes which specially raised the presentments for this third period, were, that three new bridges were built, the expense of which amounted to 13,772'. There was a greater allowance of food, the statute requiring five- pence per day as the minimum expenditure on each pri- soner, and more if necessary; there was also a gradual increase of prisoners; there was an additional officer, an inspector of accounts, appointed ; and in this period, during the progress of the war, there was a considerable depreciation in the value of money, and a consequent rise in the necessaries of life. The total extras of this period amount to about 30,0001. The fourth period, however, is that which comes under the most serious consideration of the Committee, because it includes a period extending from the year 1811 to the year 1822, and because the expenditure, as I have stated already, amounting to about 250,000/. is nearly double the expenditure of the second or third period; the causes why the expenditure in this fourth period is so heavy are, that in the very first year of it the erection of the Richmond bride- well commenced ; the sums paid for the mere erection of that prison, amounting in this period to 25,150/.; there was the Pigeon House road repaired at an ex- pense of 1,447/.; there were new officers appointed ; the chaplains, formerly there had been only the Protestant chaplain, now there is also a Presbyterian and a Roman catholic chaplain ; there were also nurses, which had not been allowed before ; there was a census of the population, at an expense of 1,000/.; there was an immense increase in the number of prisoners, and the expense for additional accommodation ; there was besides, during a period of nearly three years, a high rate of provisions, such as has not been known in Ireland during the memory of any person living, so that when, in the year 1815, the total expense for the main- tenance of prisoners amounted to 2,762/. the expenditure for the same objects, for food and necessaries, amounted, in 1816, to 3,935/.; in 1817, to 5,283/. ; and in 1818, to 4,410/.; these being years of great distress in Ireland; the total expense of food and necessaries during the last eight years, amounts to 36,377/. making an annual average of 4,542 /.; the great increase of expense on this head may be estimated by the fact, that on the average of the year 1800, the total expenses for the same purposes, amounted to about 1,500/. being a difference of 3,000/. annually, between the expense at that time, and during the last eight years; during the same period of distress from famine, there was also great sickness in all the prisons; hence a frequent removal of convicts to Kilmainham, and heavy expenses attendant thereon. There was also, in the years 1818 and 1810, an immense increase of expenditure from the furnishing of Richmond bridewell, and from the alterations requisite in it, amounting to the sum of 16,940/. There was also the opening and the furnishing of another prison, the Smithfield penitentiary ; there was considerable expense also, in providing employment for prisoners, which had never been done previously; and there was a further annual expense of near 2,000/. for the additional officers and servants, necessary for these new prisons; also for clothing the prisoners; and a further great increase of expense from pro- secuting the immensely increased number of prisoners; the difference in the expense of prosecuting prisoners, may be estimated from this fact, that in 1822, the sessional presentments for the fees to clerks of the peace, to gaolers, to the sheriff, and to the crier, amounted to 2,801/. and in 1816 ( even when the number of prisoners had considerably increased), the same expenses amounted to about 1,700/. making a difference of more than 1,000/. in the year; so that there was a total extra expenditure in this period in new presentments of 50,000 /. and in increased presentments from the increase of prisoners, prisons and officers, from feeding, prosecuting, clothing, accommodating and employing the increased number of prisoners, there was an additional extra expenditure of upwards of 60,000 /. making the total extra expenditure of this fourth period 110,000/. beyond any former period. The Committee may further judge of the immense pressure within the last twelve years, from this single fact, that the cost of the Richmond bridewell, for the last four years, during which it has been opened, including the expense for building and re- paying sums advanced by government, amounted, in 1819, to 7,783/.; in 1820, to 8,909/.; in 1821, to 9,311/-; and in 1822, to 7.214/- making an average in four years of 8,384 /• ( exclusive of savings and profits on labour to the amount of 2,500 I.) an annual expense far exceeding the sum total of former annual assessments , so that, for the Richmond bridewell alone, erected and occu- pied during this period, the expenditure exceeds the total annual presentments made so lately as the year 1805 ; and besides Richmond bridewell, there was a second prison, the Smithfidd penitentiary, to be furnished and supported. 549. C c Dr. William Harty. ( 12 May.) Do