\ 22 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE T. Courtenay, Esq. 6736. Was the impression left by the determination, that he would not act upon — the testimony of any witnesses, however respectable, against the oath of the 23 March 1838. claimant?— So much so, that we never think of offering a witness; we conceive it perfectly useless. 6737. And that you do upon the experience of the course that was pursued heretofore ?— We do. 6738. Chairman.'] Was there ever a case in which evidence was offered against a claimant, in which the barrister decided against the claimant, where the claimant himself adhered to his original statement of value ?— I am not aware of Mr. Tighe's ever having done so. 6739. How many persons had been registered under Mr. Tighe's superintendence ? — I cannot exactly say at this moment; I can prepare myself to answer that question. 6740. Mr. Lefroy.] What did he avow upon the bench and state to be his test of the qualification?— He said in some instances where he admitted the claimant, that were he to take the solvent tenant test, he conceived he could not put them upon the register, but that that was not his test of value under the Reform Act. C741. Chairman.] Can you state to the Committee what he declared to be his opinion as to the intention of the Reform Bill, as to what was necessary to give a voter— From the questions asked by Mr. Tighe himself, it would strike me, that he conceived it was what the tenant himself could make of it. 6742. Mr. O'Connell.] Beneficial interest ?— Yes; not what a solvent tenant would pay if it were in the market for letting. 6743. Do you know who suggested the words " beneficial interest" in the Reform Act ?— I have heard that it was Mr. Lefroy. 6744. Mr. Lefroy.] You have no doubt that he did not mean it in that sense ?— Knowing Mr. Lefroy, I think he did not mean it in that sense. 6745. Notwithstanding the very extensive registry that has taken place in the county, do there still continue to be notices to a large amount served at every suc- ceeding registry ?-— Not every succeeding registry ; at the busy season of the year they do not generally serve so many notices as at the idle season. 6746. LTp to this time, does there seem to be any relaxation in the extent to which notices are served ?— No, they seem to be going on with it. 6747. Then this very wide principle of qualification seems to encourage persons to come forward with an insufficient qualification ?— Yes ; I conceive that persons give notice to register now, since Mr. Tighe's mind has been known upon the sub- ject, who would not before have given notice to claim. 6748. Mr. O'Connell.] Is that favourable to the interest which you support in the county, or not?— It is adverse. 6749. So that, as it is going on, you are losing the county completely?— At the present rate we are, by an accumulation of those votes, of course ; but, without reference to the county being lost to one party or the other, I state that without the slightest fear of contradiction. 6750. Mr. Lefroy.) Do you think that the bond fide voters, who have a real qualification, are injured by this system?— Of course they must think less of themselves. 6751. Mr. O'Connell.] They could not sell themselves so well, if there was a price for votes ?— I do not think there is much of that in the county of Longford amongst the respectable real constituency there. C752. Had you any bribery at all going on there ?— There might be some: but I cannot give you any cases. 6753- Did you ever know of any?— I have heard that the Mr. Whites were returned by the purchase of votes. 6754. Do you know of any; did you ever know of a voter being bought? I have heard of their being bought. 6755. Do you know of any being bought ?— I would not wish to criminate others. 675C. Then you could criminate others ?— When I say I would not wish to cri- minate others, it might happen that I could, but I am not saying which party they belong to. 6757. Mr. Lefroy.] Was there any other opportunity besides the one you have already referred to, of inquiring into the constituency of the county of Longford, besides the inquiry before the former Committee ?— Yes, there was a petition against Mr. White's return decided on in May last. 6758. That came before the Committee, and they opened the register ? — They did. 6759. How