5351. Viscount _Courtenay_.] Are those fees fixed by a scale settled by the court?--The fees were fixed by a regular scale, that has been drawn up on the model of the schedule of fees paid in the Vice-Admiralty Courts, which was approved of by Dr. Lushington and two other gentlemen connected with the Admiralty Court in England, and which schedule was sent out to all the Vice-Admiralty Courts of our colonies, as the rule by which they were to be guided. In many cases our charges were less; but in no case, I believe, were they more than directed in that schedule. 5352. _Chairman._] Since those heavy charges which are alluded to by Dr. Madden have been incurred, the duties, which are one principal source of expense, have been modified according to your recommendation?--They have. 5353. What would have been the result of the reduction in that case of the Firmeza, where the duties appear to have been 775_l._?--The reduction would have been very great indeed. Without knowing on what articles the duty was imposed, I cannot say; but the duty was changed from a fixed to an _ad valorem_ duty; and in the case of the tobacco and spirits of that vessel, the reduction would have been very great; probably it would have struck off 500_l._ at least of the 775_l._ 5354. That evil, therefore, is met to a considerable degree?--The evil is met as much as can be expected; indeed, I do not think that there is any thing whatever now that the captors have to complain of. 5355. It cannot be expected that the goods should be sold for the benefit of the captor, free of duty, in a colony where other articles imported pay duty?--No, certainly not. 5356. Viscount _Courtenay_.] Is it in the power of the proctors to make additional charges upon those parties?--The arrangement between the proctor and the captor is left to themselves; the court attempted once to interfere with the charges of the proctors, but they were instructed that it was a matter which they had no control over. 5357. Is that settled by a certain rule of etiquette?--It is settled by practice; there is a certain charge that is made for every vessel now, whether she is troublesome or not; but it is a matter over which the court can have no control whatever. 5358. Are the proctors Europeans?--There have seldom been more than three or four at one time practising. 5359. _Chairman._] Are they men of education?--Yes; the Queen’s advocate is generally one, and the one who gets the most practice; and there are others who are practising attornies in the other courts, who act as proctors in the Mixed Commission Court. 5360. Are they universally Europeans, educated in England?--I believe every one has been educated in England, and is an European; there is one of them that was born in the West Indies, I believe, but educated in England. 5361. Mr. _Forster_.] Have the officers of the Mixed Commission the patronage of any of the appointments on the spot?--Of all.