§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, How many plates have appeared in each of the volumes of the facsimiles of Irish MSS.; whether the preface and appendix in the last volume do not far exceed in length those which have appeared in previous volumes; whether this additional length of mere printed matter has largely tended to increase the price; and, whether the next volume will complete the series?
§ MR. COURTNEYSir, the number of volumes is four, and the numbers of the plates in the volumes published are 45, 49, 70, and 47; but mere numbers are no criterion of cost, as those in the last volume are in divers colours, and very much more elaborate than the others, some two or three of them involving, I am told, upwards of 20 printings. The preface and appendix to the new volume are much longer than in former cases; but the two together probably did not make 10s. difference in the price. The next volume will complete the series.