§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary 1251 to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing there is no picture by Raphael in the National Gallery in Dublin, he will advise the Treasury to purchase the Colonna Raphael, now offered for sale to the authorities of the British National Gallery, for the National Gallery of Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI will communicate with my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury on this subject, but I am ignorant at the present moment as to whether the authorities of the English National Gallery are in treaty for the purchase of this particular picture, or as to the amount at which it has been offered for sale.