HC Deb 28 July 1868 vol 193 cc1901-2
MR. BENTINCK

said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will lay upon the Table the Correspondence relative to the recent restoration of certain State Papers to the British Government by the Library Committee of Philadelphia, in the United States of America, and whether any and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to mark their sense of the liberality of the Library Committee?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH,

in reply, said, he would be very happy to lay upon the table the Correspondence to which the lion. Member had alluded. A set, as far as published, of the Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Calendars of State Papers, with fac-similes in photozincography of the Domesday Book and other national manuscripts, being in all 156 volumes, uniformly bound, was sent to the Philadelphia Library Committee by the Lords of the Treasury in grateful acknowledgment of the honourable and disinterested feelings which prompted their gift. The Directors have returned thanks to Her Majesty's Government for this munificent donation.

MR. M'CULLAGH TORRENS

said, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, If he will lay upon the Table any official acknowledgment of "the discernment and judicious course of action" whereby, as stated by the Master of the Rolls, five valuable volumes of original State Papers, tempore James I., were recovered by Mr. Hepworth Dixon for the benefit of the nation?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH

said, he had inquired into the subject, but could not find that there had been any Correspondence or communication between Mr. Hepworth Dixon and the Lords of the Treasury with reference to this matter. The remark of the hon. Member was correct that the Master of the Rolls in his; published Report had stated that it was entirely owing to the zealous activity of Mr. Hepworth Dixon that these valuable muniments had been restored to the British nation.

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