268 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr. Henry Barry. 8 March 18.38. 5919. Both par ?— Yes. 5920. the 40 s. freeholders and the poor freemen, you put them upon a BS Mr Serjeant Jackson.] The great body of the freemen of the city oi Cork are a class equally respectable with the country farmers ?— They are. .' 021 Are not they rather abetter class in point of education, and station, and property?— Generally speaking, if you come to subdivide them, they may be. mil. The question refers to the body of freemen resident in the city of Cork, not classified as poor freemen ?— They may be better educated and / ery great population inhabiting within the liberties ?— I sup- ^ 922. who are better informed. a . r ; 5923. Is not that class of freemen a very respectable portion of the consti- tuency?— I should hold them as such. 5924. Do you think there is a good deal of difficulty in checking at the regis- try persons that come forward, that may not really have bondjidevalue ?— As to coming up to register, I think there are so many persons on both sides to examine the qualification of the voter, or the person coming to register, that it was rather difficult for a man to pass that had not the qualification. I do not attend much to the registration of the city, my knowledge goes more to the country. 5925. You do not think there is at present, as the law stands, any difficulty in checking persons who may not have a bond fide qualification ?— I do not think there is. 5926. You are aware that there is a very large area of upwards of 40,000 acres within the liberties of Cork?— I cannot speak to the number of acres; I know it is very extensive. 5927. And a v( pose so. 5028. It would require a very minute and a very extensive knowledge, upon the part of any two, or three, or ten people of the locality of the place, to enable them to check persons that come forward ?— I believe that; but from the activity of parties on both sides, I should think it is not probable that a man could now register who was not fully qualified ; that is my opinion. .5929. You say you have not paid much attention to the subject of registration in the city ?— No ; more to the country. 5930. Chairman.] You were registered in 1832?— I was. 5931. In what quality, as a 10/. householder, or as a freeman?— As a 10/. householder. 5932. Excepting the natural respect that you would have for the oatli that might be tendered to you, is there anything to prevent your voting at this time ? — I am now disqualified, because I do not reside within the limits. 5933. Is there anything, except the regard that you would have for the oath that would be tendered to you, to prevent your voting at this time ?— I believe I could vote, but then a prosecution might follow. 5934. Is there anything to prevent your voting, except your regard to the solemn observance of your oath ?— I do not know that there is. Although you have ceased for about three years to live in the city of 5935- ^ ' — — — J — VV — - ' v ^^ v/ ViVJ VJ. CorK, your name still appears upon the register, and the only check is, the oath that may be administered to you at the time of voting ?_ I believe that is the only check. 5936. And with respect to any name that appears upon the registry, there is no means of getting rid of it, except through the medium of a Committee of the House of Commons ?— I am not up to the technicalities how to get rid of it. 5937- Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Are you not aware that if you went to the assessor at the election with a certificate in your hand, and professed a readiness to take the oath, and you did take it, that he must have received your vote ?— 1 think so. J 5938- Mr. Beamish.] Do you think he would have permitted you to be placed upon the poll, if any person came up to tender evidence of your not having resided withm the limits ?- l think he would pause before he would do so. 5939- Would he not, if the evidence were that of a respectable person, be likely to reject you upon such evidence ?— I do not know, but I believe if a man takes the oath, he cannot be rejected. 5940. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Suppose a man was bold enough to comfe up and take the oath, could his vote be rejected, his name being upon the register?— I believe there is nothing to prevent his vote being token, except the taking a false oath. 0 H except the fear of