§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with regard to the will of the late Mr. Matthew O'Reilly Dease, under which a sum of between £40,000 and £50,000 has been brought into the Public Exchequer, and in view of the fact that Mr. Dease approved of a memorial in the Meath Hospital and County Dublin Infirmary, to the memory of his father and grandfather, surgeons of that Institution, and paid two sums of £100 each 455 in part payment of the cost of the memorial, also considering the evidence of Dr. Lambert Ormsby, that Mr. Dease undertook to defray the whole cost of the memorial, Whether, in compliance with the Memorial of the Standing Committee of the Hospital, a grant to discharge the balance of the cost will be made out of the assets of the deceased; and, whether any statement can now be made as to the Petition of Mr. O'Reilly's nieces for a provision of the means of subsistence?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)I have already informed the House that I have no power whatever to make grants out of the assets of Mr. O'Reilly Dease, who devised his estate to me as his executor for a certain purpose, from which I cannot deviate. But I have called for a Report upon all the claims which have been made with regard to Mr. Dease's estate; and when it is before me I shall be prepared to consider whether any, and what, Vote should be submitted to Parliament to meet the case of any parties who may appear to have had any strong moral claim on Mr. Dease.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman be able to make a statement to the House, especially with regard to the second paragraph of the Question, before the end of the Session?
§ MR. GOSCHENNo, Sir. It is a very delicate matter to examine the various relationships and claims and to decide upon them; and I could not undertake to make any statement at present.