394 Royal Irish Academy. 



acquisition and retention of objects of antiquarian and historic 

 interest, say in the first paragraph of page vi of their report : — 



" If, therefore, the hoard found near Limavady be Treasure 

 Trove it ought, according to law, to have been delivered up to 

 the Police or the Grovemment of Ii'eland, and it would in that 

 case, no doubt, have been handed over to the Academy to be 

 kept under their charge in the National Museum of Ireland." 



Against this strong claim of right the only practical answer offered was 

 that the British Museum was precluded by the Statutes, which govern 

 that institution, from parting with such objects when once acquired; but 

 the circumstances of the find, as disclosed in the evidence laid before 

 the Committee would seem to show that the objects were wrongfully 

 offered to the British Museum, in which case the disenabling Statutes 

 should not be made to apply. 



The Committee of inquiry appointed by the Treasury did not 

 express any opinion on this point, as they held that the terms of their 

 Lordships' reference did not invite them to do so. They, however, 

 recommend that the necessary steps should be taken for the purpose of 

 relaxing, under special circumstances, the statutory provisions which 

 prevent the British Museum from parting with objects which it has 

 acquired. 



The Council were glad to learn from the reply of the Fii'st Lord of 

 the Treasury to Mr. P. O'Brien (for Mr. W. Eedmond) that the Govern- 

 ment were taking steps to carry out the recommendations of the Com- 

 mittee ; but, as that reply was given in the House of Commons on the 

 12th of May, the Council would be grateful to His Excellency if he 

 could intimate to them what further progress has been made in the 

 matter. 



lam, 



Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



HoBERT Atkinson, 



Secretary of Council. 



The TJndee Seceetaet, 

 Dublin Casile. 



