§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland where and in whose custody are preserved the MSS. of the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland; whether, seeing that the only volume printed by the Government was Volume I., relating to the city of Londonderry and parish of Temple more, the Irish Government will consider the advisability of preserving these memoirs by having them printed; or, if the County Councils undertook the same, whether the Government would afford facilities there for and give a grant in aid thereof.
† See (4) Debates, cviii., 1110.1113 (Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The MSS. referred to are in the custody of the Royal Irish Academy. The publication, at the expense of the State, of the single volume mentioned, which dealt with one parish only, cost £1,705. The publication of the remaining MSS., of which there are a large number, was not continued, mainly on the ground of expense. I understand they are in excellent preservation and order, are freely accessible to the public, and have been largely utilised in various works bearing on the history and antiquities of Ireland. Any proposals by County Councils in the direction suggested, if made, would be considered by Government.