§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Reliquary of St. Lachteen has been bought for the Nation at the Fountaine sale; and, if so, considering the deep interest taken in this Irish work of the twelfth century by all classes in Ireland, it is to be deposited in the Royal Irish Academy, where works of a similar character purchased by the Nation are at present preserved?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)In reply to my hon. Friend I have to say that as soon as I saw that the reliquary of St. Lachteen was to be included in the sale of the Fountaine collection, I conferred with my right hon. Friend the Vice President of the Council with the view of securing it, if possible, for the nation, and depositing it in one of the Irish collec- 1097 tions. I am happy to say that we succeeded in purchasing it at a reasonable price, and we are now considering in which of the Irish collections it had better be placed.