MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (Londonderry City)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is a fact that the late Mr. O'Reilly Dease, of St. James's Square, London, and of Dee Farm, in the County of Louth, who died in the month of August, 1887, bequeathed the whole of his estate, amounting to upwards of £50,000 (subject to legacies to his solicitor and steward) to the Treasury, to be applied towards the reduction of the National Debt; whether a Memorial has been presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury by two maiden ladies, who are the daughters of the only sister of Mr. Dease, and in ill-health, and wholly without means, asking that some provision may be made for them during their lives out of this fund; and, whether it is in the power of the Lords Commissioners to make such concession, as is frequently done in the somewhat analogous case of escheats to the Crown?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)It is a fact that the late Mr. O'Reilly Dease bequeathed the bulk of his estate—the exact amount of which is not yet known—to be applied to the reduction of the National Debt. He did not, however, make his bequest to the Treasury, but to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whom he appointed with the Solicitor to the Treasury as his executor. Many applications have been made for grants from the estate, and among them a Memorial from the two ladies, as nieces of the deceased. The Treasury is advised that it has no power 608 to divert any part of the estate from the purposes for which it was bequeathed. The case is not analogous to that of escheats, which are the absolute property of the Crown and unfettered by any obligations.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)Seeing that the Public Exchequer is about to benefit to the extent of £50,000 by the generosity of Mr. Dease, while these two helpless ladies are starving, will the right hon. Gentleman propose any amendment of the law to get rid of this shocking state of things?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe fault must lie with the testator, and not with Her Majesty's Government. I cannot propose a law under which, if anyone leave their money to the Treasury, it can be given to people to whom the testator had not willed it. Suppose a later will were found, and the Treasury had, without power, given certain grants, the later will could not then be carried out. It is to be regretted that the will was made in this way if it bear cruelly on relatives. But it is not certain that these ladies would have received anything from the estate if it had been otherwise willed.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have any difficulty in giving to these ladies a small portion of the money made from the sale of certain premises?
§ MR. GOSCHENI am advised that we have no power to divert any portion of the money from the purpose for which it was left. I will, however, make further inquiries. I regret it is not in our power to make a grant out of this estate.
§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)Do the Treasury maintain that it is out of their power to have a Vote of this House?
§ MR. GOSCHENNo; if the Vote were proposed. But I do not see how a Vote is to be proposed, and how indemnity can be given should a later will be found. Nor do I see how we could select particular applicants to whom the special Vote should be given. I will, however, give the matter further consideration, as I am entirely in sympathy with the ladies interested in this case.
§ MR. SEXTONI shall push home the case on the Estimates.