REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS. 15 



discretion appear necessary, but that they were positively 

 required to do so ; the Heads of Inquiry being merely for 

 the purpose of putting them, previously to their going out, 

 in possession of all points of the subject, as far as they 

 were known. 



In order that the evidence might be at once full and 

 impartial, and be collected and registered in a manner 

 perfectly satisfactory, the Assistant Commissioners were 

 desired to adopt the following course : 



1st. To request the attendance of persons of each grade 

 in society, of each of the various religious persuasions, 

 and of each party in politics ; to give to the testimony of 

 each class an equal degree of attention, and to make the 

 examinations in the presence of all; in fact, in open court. 

 Not to allow any person to join in conducting the exami- 

 nation, and to state at the opening of the proceedings, 

 that any statement made by an individual, and not im- 

 pugned by any person present, would be considered to be 

 acknowledged as at least probable by all. 



2ndly. To note down, at the time of examination, the 

 replies given, or the remarks which occurred to him ; to 

 register, as nearly as might be possible in the words of 

 each witness, the statements which might be made ; to 

 register the names of all the persons who attended the 

 examination ; and, before proceeding to examine another 

 district, to send the minutes of the previous examination 

 to the office of the Commissioners in Dublin, signed by 

 both the Assistant Commissioners. 



By the first of these directions, it was hoped that, as 

 none are so conversant with those matters which pecu- 

 liarly or chiefly belong to any class as the members of 

 that class, by receiving their evidence, the Assistant Com- 



