§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if, in view of the mass of records and historical manuscripts at home and abroad relating to Ireland, which are unpublished and of the desirability of initiating their publication, he will arrange an opportunity of discussing the question before the end of the present session.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) An opportunity of discussing this question will, 594 I take it, be afforded whenever the Estimates for the Irish Record Office may come under discussion. Those Estimates, however, do not belong to Irish Supply. I may remind the hon. Baronet that in recent years considerable progress has been made in the publication of historical manuscripts relating to Ireland. The Annals of Ulster and the Brehon Laws have been edited and published, and the publication in eight volumes of a calendar of the Justiciary Rolls of Ireland up to the 18th year of Richard II. has been authorised, as well as the publication of a volume containing the statutes and ordinances of the early Parliaments and great councils of Ireland. The Historical Manuscripts Commission and the English Record Office are each also engaged upon the publication of manuscripts relating to Ireland. I shall, however, be glad to receive any suggestions on the subject and to do my best to secure the proper editing and publication of these valuable records.