4 SELECT COMMITTEE OX FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 43 7362. Did you prepare the leases upon Mr. Lefroy's estate ?— I did, all the T. Courtenay, Esq. leases. 7363. Are there special and restrictive covenants in those leases ?— There is a 27 March l838- special covenant in some of the leases. I remember the barrister who came down upon the part of the Liberal side, as we call it, taking hold of the lease of a tenant belonging to Mr. Lefroy, and saying, that he was instructed there was a covenant prejudicial to the man's right to register. It was not the practice then for either party to see the lease, and I said, of course there could be no possible objection to his reading it; and I got the lease and handed it across the table, and I forget the gentleman's name, but I think it was a Mr. O'Connell, who attended there, a young man, and upon reading the lease he gave up at once; lie said there was nothing in it prejudicial to the man's right to register. That was very lately. There may be covenants in Mr. Lefroy's leases making it compulsory upon tenants to do certain tilings. 7364. You were understood to state the other day, that though not having anything to do with bribery yourself, there was bribery at the late elections for the county of Longford ; was not there bribery at the last election ?— I think there was. 7365. On your side?— Perhaps there might be some on our side, and on the other side. 7366. IIow many votes do you think you got by bribery upon your side?-^- Very few. 7367. About how many ?— That is assuming that there were some, and I have not said that there were of my own knowledge. 7368. But as you heard and understood ?— At every election of course there are a few poor fellows who would be glad to get something. 7369. How many of those poor fellows did you bribe on your side?— I cannot form an exact calculation when I do not know it went on. 7370. But you have heard it, and believe it?— I have not paid anything for it. 7371. Do you think you got 30 by bribery on your side, at the last election? — No. 7372. Twenty ?— I should think not. 7373. Fifteen?— It is impossible to tell; it is mere guess work. 7374. Making the best guess you can, how many did you get by bribery?— Indeed I do not think there was bribery to any extent. 7375. But how many do you think; you were conducting agent, and you can form some guess how many you got by bribery ?— I kept out of the way of anything of that sort; if it did go on, it was quite without my knowledge or consent. 7376. Can you form any estimate how many you got on your side by bribery ? — I heard that there might have been a few pounds lent to two or three poor fellows. 7377. Not to be returned?— Of course if it was lent, it was to be returned. 7378. Do you mean to say, seriously giving evidence here, that this bribery money was to be returned ?— I suppose it has not been returned ; and as to whether it ever will or not is another question. 7379. Have you any doubt that it never will?— I think it would be a shabby thing to ask it back. 7380. What was the highest sum that you heard was given on your side for a vote at the last election?— I heard of a man getting the price of a pair of gates that were smashed, because he promised Mr. Lefroy; going along the road his gates were smashed, and I heard of his getting the price of the gates again. 7381. What was the highest sum that you heard of being given as a bribe at the iast election ?— I do not know; a good deal might have arisen in that kind of way; men coming and stating that they were injured ; a few such things occurred. 7382. You have already stated that some were bribed, as you heard?— 1 heard there were some small sums of money lent to a few poor fellows. 7383. And some given ?— Unless it is asked back, it is given, of course. 7384. What was the highest sum that you heard was given or lent to men, for voting?— Not 20 I. 7385. There were not 20 bribed with 20 I. at the highest ?— No, I am con- vinced that there were not 20 that got money for the damage or injury they represented. 643. G 2 73st)- rhe