( clxix ) 



Their Excellencies received the Deputation very gracionsly, and 

 conveyed to those present the impression that the views submitted 

 were looked upon favourably by their Excellencies. 



About this stage of the negotiations a sum of £500, portion of 

 the £2000 voted to the Academy by Parliament (in addition to £500 

 already received through the usual channel) was placed, unasked for, 

 to the credit of the Academy by the Paymaster-General, and sub- 

 sequently we received an intimation that it had been issued by the 

 Science and Art Department. 



]!^o reply to our communications, however, was received for some 

 months, and the Council became apprehensive that it would be neces- 

 sary for them, in order to meet the urgent requirements of the 

 Academy, to have recourse to its funded capital, under the authority 

 received from the Academy, authorizing them, if necessary, to sell a por- 

 tion of its invested property. Before, however, taking so serious a step, 

 it was thought advisable to apply to the Bank of Ireland for permission 

 to overdraw to the extent of £500. The Council think it right to 

 acknowledge the prompt and liberal manner in which this request 

 was granted by the Governor'of the Bank. ^ 



An intimation having been received from the Chief Secretary, that 

 he desired a conference on the subject at issue between the Govern- 

 ment and the Academy, the Secretary of Council had interviews 

 with him, which resulted in the adoption by the Council, on the 4th 

 of December, 1876, of the following Eesolution : — 



' ' That the Council is prepared to re-open negotiations for the 

 transfer of its Museum to the new establishment in Dublin, contem- 

 plated by the Government, on the following basis, viz. : — That after 

 such transfer, if it should be agreed upon, the part of the Academy's 

 grant given for the care and maintenance of the Museum shall be ac- 

 counted for by the Department of Science and Art, the Academy 

 retaining the same amount of control over the management of its 

 collection as is enjoyed in a similar case by the Scottish Society 

 of Antiquaries, and due provision being made for its preservation 

 in its integrity as a National collection in Dublin, whilst the rest of 

 the Academy's grant shall remain on its present footing, and shall 

 continue to be accounted for as heretofore by the Chief Secretary for 

 Ireland." 



On the appearance of the Civil Service Estimates for 1877-8, early 



