§ MR. COCHRAN-PATRICKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether there is any truth in the report that the Prussian Government have bought the Hamilton Collection of MSS.; and, if not, whether there is any ground to hope that the whole, or any part, of such an invaluable collection could be secured for the Nation?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, nothing is known at the Treasury about this rumoured sale, nor, so far as I am aware, at the British Museum. No communication from the Trustees of that institution has been received on the subject of the Hamilton manuscripts; and I cannot learn that any offer of them was made to the Trustees.