§ MR. SEXTONasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in the event of the purchase by the State of the Ashburnham Manuscripts, the Government will be disposed to consider the propriety of depositing in some public institution 937 in Dublin the Irish Manuscripts comprised in the Collection, so as to render them of easy and inexpensive access to students of Irish History and Literature, the great majority of such students being resident in Ireland?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)Sir, the hon. Member only put his Notice on the Paper last night, and I could not very well answer it to-day. But I am under the impression that, according to the present law, all purchases, not being duplicates, made by the British Museum must be for and remain in the Museum building, and could not be disposed of or divided between the Museum and any other Institution. However, if the hon. Member will repeat his Question after Easter, I may be able to answer it more fully.
§ MR. SEXTONI will do so.