V 76 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Thos. Courtenay, Esq. 3 April 1838. Si80, Upon the successful occasions you drew what are called good Com- mittees, did not you ?— What I called very fair Committees. 8181. Upon the occasion when you were defeated, do you call that a fair Committee?— I think any Committee that refused to inquire into the merits of our case would not exactly be entitled to that appellation ; because they refused to hear my case, I do not consider they were very fair. 8182. Those that decided for you, you considered fair ?— I did ; because they went into the merits of my case. 8183. And those that decided against you, you considered unfair?— I have o- iven the explanation. I consider that, inasmuch as they did not entertain the case, it was unfair to send us away without listening to what we had to tell them. 8184. If they opened the register and examined in London the value of land in Ireland, you consider that fair?— I do, inasmuch as they heard witnesses. 8185. Examined in London ?— In London. 8186. How many Tories were there upon the first Committee that decided for you ?— I believe the majority were what we called Whigs at that day. 8187. Upon the first Committee ?— Upon the Committee of 1833 ; my impres- sion is that the majority upon that Committee were Whigs. 8188. Upon the last Committee you had the luck of having the casting vote of the chairman ?— They were equally balanced, I believe. 8189. And it was discovered that the chairman had two votes?— Yes; but it was discovered as well that the Mr. Whites were obliged to give up some of the votes upon their poll as not being supportable. Mortis, 8° die Mali, 1838. MEMBERS PRESENT. Mr. Serjeant Ball. Mr. Beamish. Mr. Curry. Mr. French. Mr. Milnes Gaskell. Mr. Hogg. Mr. Serjeant Jackson. Mr. M. O'Connell. Lord Granville Somerset. LORD GRANVILLE SOMERSET, IN THE CHAIR. Mr. Putricle Flood. 8 May 1838. Mr. Patrick Flood, called in; and Examined. 8190. Chairman.] WHAT are you?— I live rather privately in the country. 8191. Where do you live ?— At Springfield, in the county of Westmeatli; the post- town of Granard is near adjoining. 8192. Mr. Curry.] Did you attend the first general registry that was held in Longford, in the year 1832, after the passing of the Reform Bill ?— I did. 8193. Did you attend it regularly ?— I attended it every day but four, during the 40 odd days that we had. 8194. Generally speaking, so far as you know, were there any persons 011 the part of the Liberal side registered, who had not a due qualification in point of law ?— I am quite satisfied that there were not. 8195. Are you able to state, in the same general way, whether any persons were registered on the Conservative side, who had not " a proper qualification in point of law ?— I am able to state that they had not half the value that we had, and they were able to obtain the franchise from the barrister when the Liberal interest could not obtain it. 8196. Are you able to state, from your own knowledge of the value of their holdings, whether or not they had sufficient grounds in point of law ?— I did not go to view the lands; I went past them frequently. Their holdings were very small, from six to eight acres, and they were admitted to the franchise when we had freeholders that were rejected, holding from 15 to 20, and some a great deal more. 8197. Then your evidence is this: that, generally speaking, persons were admitted to be registered as voters 011 the Conservative side, having, to your