MR. SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he will be able to fulfil the hope held out by him early in the Session, that the recently suspended yearly grant towards the expenses of translating important Gaelic Manuscripts in Ireland might be resumed?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, he had directed communications to be made to the Master of the Rolls in Ireland and several leading Irish scholars on the subject, and he found that although they recommended that the Annals of Ulster should be the next matter for consideration, yet the general opinion was that as a preliminary 977 to any further translation, the compilation of a dictionary was the proper work to be undertaken. He had not as yet received replies to all the communications, especially not from one gentleman whose opinion was of great value, and who was absent in India, but when he had done so, he would have great pleasure in submitting the matter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who would give the proposal his best attention.