400 Royal Irish Academy. 



Council, SOtti May, 1901. 



Eead tlie following letter : — 



^N'o. 8775. Chief Seceetaet's Opeice, 



Dublin Casiie, 



lOth May, 1901. 



SlE, 



With reference to yom- letter of tlie 9tli ultimo asking for furtlier 

 infoiTQation bearing on a statement made by the late Chief Secretary 

 in the House of Commons, on the 6th August, on the question of the 

 Celtic Gold Ornaments, I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to 

 acquaint you, for the information of the Council of the Eoyal Irish 

 Academy, that the Law Oiflcers' opinion on which the statement was 

 based was that the general words in the Charters of James I. and 

 Charles II. following the grant of lands beginning, " We have also 

 granted and confii-med all and singular our messuages, mills," &c., &c., 

 are capable of conveying to the Irish Society the Hight of the Crown 

 to treasiu'e trove ; and that the general words in the grant by the 

 Iiish Society to the Fishmongers' Company, of 24th October, 1618, 

 commencing with "all and every rents, suits," &c., are sufficient to 

 carry the same rights to the Fishmongers' Company. 



The Law Officers have, however, since explained that, in usiag the 

 words " capable of conveying," they did not imply that the question 

 was beyond argument. It has been ascertained that the Fishmongers' 

 Company are not prepared to move in the matter; and this being so it 

 has again become a question for the Irish Government to consider, in 

 communication with the Treasury, whether the Crown ought to move. 

 In these circumstances it is hoped that the Royal Irish Academy will 

 take no further action for the present. The final result of the 

 fui'ther consideration would be communicated to the Council as 

 soon as possible. 



I am. Sir, 



Youi- obedient servant, 



D. Haeeel. 



The President, 



Royal Ieish Acadeiiy. 



