HC Deb 29 June 1899 vol 73 cc982-3
MR. TUITE (Westmeath, N)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury can he state the amount paid by the Government for the publication of the History and Ordnance Survey of the County of Londonderry in the year 1837, and on what grounds was the continuation of the work for the remaining thirty-one counties abandoned; and is he aware that the manuscripts of the other counties at present in the Museum, Dublin, are becoming obliterated, and will be lost to the nation if not re-written or published very soon.

MR. HANBURY

"The Memoir on Londonderry" dealt only with a single parish—the City and North Western Liberties of Londonderry, Parish of Templemore—and not with the whole county. Its cost amounted to £1,705, but, in addition, considerable labour was expended on its preparation by the officers and men of the Ordnance Survey. The work was not continued partly on the ground of expense, and partly because it dealt with many subjects unconnected with the Ordnance Survey—such as geology, botany, zoology, antiquities, history, education and commerce. There is no foundation for the statement in the last paragraph of the question. On the contrary, the manuscripts (which are kept by the Royal Irish Academy and not in the Museum) are reported to be in excellent preservation and order.