§ MR. KENNYasked the First Commissioner of Works, If he can state for what reason the public notice attached to the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey has been altered, by the omission of all reference to the legend hitherto generally admitted and recognized, viz. that the Coronation Stone (in Irish, Lia Fail) was first used for the coronation of the Irish Kings, and was only carried to Scotland by Fergus, the Irish King who subdued that Country; and, if he will cause the notice embodying the ancient legend to be substituted for the present incomplete statement?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI must disclaim altogether any responsibility for the internal arrangements of Westminster Abbey. They are entirely under the control of the Dean of Westminster under the Statute of Queen Elizabeth. The Dean has written me a long and interesting statement in reply to the hon. Member's Question, which I do not think I should be justified in reading to the House. If the hon. Member wishes to see it, I shall let him have it, and he can make any use he wishes of it. The Dean states that most patriotic Irishmen entirely deny the theory referred to in the hon. Member's Question, and say that "Lia Fail" is still to be found upon the Hill of Tara.
§ MR. KENNYMight I inform the right hon. Gentleman that all the Irish authorities except one, Dr. Petrie, say that the stone in Westminster Abbey is the real "Lia Fail?"