Hamilton manuscripts

Corporation Commissioners' Report on Killileagh Borough. Ixxi
pensed with by the 21 Geo. II. c. 10, s. 8. The power of filling vacancies is vested in the provost and
remaining free burgesses, or the greater part of them. The provost and free burgesses, before the
Union, returned two members to the Parliament of Ireland.
None of the Acts conferring local powers on the provost and free burgesses (as to appointing a
weighmaster of butter, supplying pipe- water, &c.) appear to have been called into action in this cor-
poration. The free burgesses do not now perform any duties except those of occasionally attending
meetings for the election of officers, &c. There are no emoluments of any kind attached to the office.
Seven of them are non-residem.
The present number of Freemen is supposed not to exceed 12. They do not attend any of the
meetings of the corporation. The charter went to incorporate all the inhabitants in the usual form of
the charters of the same date, but the right of admission has not been insisted upon, at least in
modem times. All admissions into the corporation appear to have taken place by special favour, and
usually without the application of the person elected.
We are disposed to infer here, from the existence of such an institution as the " Corporation Jury,"
which we shall presently notice, that the right of freedom by inhabitancy formerly prevailed.
The appointment of a Town Clerk has lately been entered on the corporation proceedings, but no
duties appear to be attached to the office, nor are any emoluments derived from it.
Two Sergeants-at-Mace are named in the charter, but none are now appointed. The appoint-
ment of these and of other inferior officers is vested in the whole body of the corporation.
The Provost, from the earliest period(i76i) to which the books produced to us refer, has been,
almost without exception, either the land agent or a member of the Blackwood family ; the head of
which (Lord Dufferin) received the compensation of ,£15,000 for the extinction of the elective fran-
chise at the time of the Union. He continues to exercise a predominant control over all the acts of
the corporation, and admissions to freedom are in fact made at his nomination, though, in form, the
act of the provost and free burgesses. '
The election of members of the corporation appears to take place without having a legal number
present. This appears a natural result from the election of free burgesses and freemen being made
without reference to residence as a necessary qualification, and from the inutility of the corporation as
at present constituted.
No Roman Catholics have been admitted in this corporation since 1793, when they were rendered
eligible. One Protestant Dissenter has been elected a free bm-gess.
The Borough Court of Record has long been disused.
The corporation district is comprised within the manor of Killileagh and Killinchy. Archibald
Hamilton Rowan, Esq., as lord of the manor, appoints the seneschal, who holds a Court Leet once in
the year, at which a market jury, petty constables to collect the county cess within the manor, and
appraisers, are appointed. The seneschal also holds a Court of Record from three weeks to three
weeks, with jurisdiction to the amount of ,£10 Irish. Upon goods being attached the debt is usually
settled. Bail is taken before the bailiff of the court, as well as before the seneschal. The court has
been usually held in a room in a public house in the town.
The only place of confinement in the town is called "the Black Hole," which is said to be under
the care of the provost for the time being.
The county magistrates commit to this prison, but only as a place of temporary confinement, and
not for a longer period than one night. It is stated to be a "wretched and unwholesome place."
A party of the county constabulary stationed in the town form the only Police force within the
district.
The streets and roads are repaired by presentment of the County of Down grand juries at assizes.
There is no provision made for lighting or watching the town.
The " Corporation Jury" which we have mentioned, is constituted of a foreman and 12 other jurors,
who are named by the provost, and, when once sworn, are jurors for life, unless removed for
misbehaviour by the provost, who considers that his power of removal is discretionary. They are
selected from the householders who have been resident seven years within the borough. The present
foreman (who is Lord Dufferin's steward), is a freeman. This jury appoints annually the following
officers : — Two Prizers and a Thirdsman ; Constable ; Pound keeper and Town Sergeant ; Crane-
master ; also, the Herdsman of the Commons. The principal business of the jurors consists in the
regulation of weights and measures, and of grazing of the Commons.
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