§ SIR FREDERICK W. HEYGATEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he would have any objection to lay upon the Table of the House, a Copy of the Charter and Statutes of Queen Elizabeth, and of the other Charters and Statutes by which the University of Dublin and Trinity College are now regulated?
MR. GLADSTONE,in reply, said, the hon. Member was, no doubt, aware that the Government were not in official possession of the charters or statutes mentioned in his Question. He had every reason to think that, so far as it was necessary for the convenience of the House, copies of them might be procured. It had never, he might add, been usual to furnish the statutes of Universities or Colleges. They were of great length, and it would take a considerable time to have them printed and corrected. The charters were not, he believed, of great length, and his noble Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland would endeavour to procure copies of the more material charters, such as those of Queen Elizabeth, James I., and the letters patent of Charles I. He might further observe that, although not in possession officially of the statutes, the Government would have no difficulty in obtaining copies of them, which might be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament for more convenient reference.