§ Mr. Cramptonpresented a Petition from the Merchants, Traders, Citizens, and other Inhabitants of Dublin, for the continuance of the Coal Meters' Establishment.
§ Mr. Henry Grattansaid, the Coal Meters' Establishment had increased the 1028 price of coals in Dublin, and the meters themselves were under the power of political partizans, who often treated them with great severity if they dared to exercise their franchise independently.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, the Coal Meters were to be left to make out their own claim, if they had any, which he believed they had not, but this subject was in some degree connected with the Court of Conscience in Dublin, which it was necessary to restrain from pronouncing on those rights. This Court was an intolerable abuse. One Alderman of the city pocketed 1,500l. a-year out of the two-penny summonses of that Court, and there was no appeal from its decisions but to the Court of King's Bench.
§ Mr. Cramptonsaid, the Coal Meters Establishment had existed 300 years, and had been recognized by various Acts of Parliament. Their claim for compensation arose from ancient privileges, and he had been assured their exertions had produced a revenue of 8.000l. or 9.000l. to the public. If this was the case, they were entitled to some remuneration.
Mr. O'Connellsaid, if these persons had any claim for by-gone labour, their cases ought to be considered, but the mere fact of their being no longer employed, gave them no right to remuneration.
§ Petition to be printed.