/ •/ SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 9p had two acres and a half of meadow, and he had something near five acres and Mr. Patrick Flood. a half under grazing. 8733. And in that way, after paying his rent, and paying for the labour and 11 Ma>' seed and manure, and every thing else necessary for the management of a farm, and after paying taxes, he had a beneficial interest of between 30/. and 40/. a year ?— Decidedly. 8734. You do not state that as matter of opinion, but"" as matter of fact?— I state it as matter of fact. I have known people in my own neighbourhood that have 20 acres of ground with an interest of 50/. a year. 8735. You state of your own knowledge that the farmer makes that ?— I believe the man makes that. 8736. From what you know of the farm can you state that ?— From the way in which he manages it; he is a comfortable man; he has a very good stock ; he has six good horned cattle; he had a very excellent mare; he had a second horse ; but he told me that he would sell that. 8737. This map purports to describe " five holdings on the lands of Friskill, sketched by order of Thomas Nesbitt, Esq., October 1837." Who is Thomas Nesbitt ?— He is a gentleman living in the county of Leitrim. 8738. How came he to give any directions about the sketching of these farms?— He was employed to value and give testimony here upon the late petition, in order that they would not run away to disfranchise the men by swearing that they had no buildings, and that the land was not worth so much ; and he gave orders for a surveyor to go out and measure those lands, and take a map. 8739. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.~\ Is Mr. Nesbitt a surveyor ?— No, he is a large landowner. 8740. You say he was employed?— He was employed himself, and employed others. 8741. Who employed him?— The Messrs. Whites, or at least Mr. White's agent, Mr. Welsh of Drumsna. 8742. Do you mean that he was hired and paid ?— I do not know whether he was paid or not; he was a friend of the Messrs. Whites. 8743. Mr. Lefroy.] You say that he lives in the county of Leitrim ; could no person acquainted with the lands be got to value them without the necessity of bringing a gentleman from the county of Leitrim ?— There were several applied to and refused. I refused myself to value the lands ; I was applied to to value three baronies, and I refused acting. 8744. Why so?— I did not wish to give myself labour in that season of the year; and I received a letter from Colonel White, begging 1 would go and assist the valuators. 874/ 5 Is this holding in your own county ?— Just in my own neighbourhood. 8746. Why did you refuse to value?— I was requested to value three baronies; 1 would not take upon myself to value any; and then Colonel White wrote a letter, requesting me to assist the valuators. 8747. Did not they know that you had valued before?— Yes they did ; I valued as little as I could. 8748. But you had valued before ?— I had valued 40 or 50 before. 8749. And this amongst the rest?— This farm 1 valued in the year 1833. 8750. And they knew that?— I suppose they did. 8751. Then why did they think it necessary to send a gentleman from the county of Leitrim ?— They wished me to go out with the valuators as I knew the freeholders, and by that means the freeholders would produce their leases and show them the lands. 8752. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] You are very generally known in that country? — 1 am. 8753. And it was thought that you would have more influence than a stranger ? — The freeholders all knew me. 8754. Is that gentleman, Mr. Nesbitt, a professional valuator?— No; he valued a great deal of land under the tithe composition : I understand he gave testimony here in 1837- 8755. Mr. French.] Mr. Welsh, Mr. White's agent, lives in the county of Leitrim ?— That is Mr. James White's agent. 8756. And so does Mr. Nesbitt?— Yes. 02 8757. Then,