MR. SULLIVANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to include in the Estimates to be laid this year before Parliament an appropriation for continuing the translation of important Irish manuscripts commenced and partly carried out, in compliance with the Treasury Minute of 1857?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have been in communication during the Recess with several distinguished Irish scholars upon the subject of the hon. Member's Question, with the view 838 of arriving at a decision as to the best mode in which the work could be carried out. The result was that I addressed a communication to the Royal Irish Academy, informing them that the Irish Government were desirous of resuming the publication of these important manuscripts, commencing with the Annals of Ulster, and asking if they would consent to undertake this work. In reply, the Council of the Academy have expressed their readiness to do so, and have undertaken to furnish with all convenient despatch a detailed estimate of the expense which the publication will involve. That estimate will, of course, be laid before the Treasury.