§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he rose to call the attention of the Government to the present condition of the Royal Irish Academy, owing to the operations of the Irish Board of Works. There were three different operations carried on under one Department in Ireland, and the result was mismanagement, confusion, and expense.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe threefold operations just named have been brought to a termination.
§ MR. GREGORYsaid, he was extremely glad to receive this assurance. The Royal Irish Academy possesses the most remarkable collection of Scandinavian—he meant Celtic antiquities; and this vast collection is shut up in boxes scattered here, there, and everywhere. He wished to know, Whether anything is going to be done to enable the Royal Irish Academy to exhibit 1201 its Museum to the public? Large sums have been contributed by the public, and the collection ought to be open to the public.
§ MR. DISRAELIsaid, he would remind the hon. Gentleman that there was a Commission appointed to inquire into all the Art Institutions in Ireland, and he hoped the result of their labours would be to terminate the abuses to which the hon. Gentleman referred.
§ Motion, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair," agreed to.