CALENDAR OF PATENT AND CLOSE ROLLS (IRELAND).
RETURN to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons,
dated 16 February 1865;—for,
COPY " of the Report of Messrs. Brewer and Hardy, laid before the Treasury
by the Master of the Rolls, in reference to the Publication of the Calendar
of the Patent and Close Rolls of Ireland."
Treasury Chambers,
17 February 1865.
Sir, Rolls House, 4 October ] 864.
In conformity with your instructions, we left London on Thursday the 28th of
July, On our arrival at Dublin the next day, we proceeded at once to the Rolls
Office. We informed Mr. Morrin of the purpose of our visit, and requested him
to furnish us with the documents necessary for the due prosecution of our
inquiry.
We were informed by Mr. Morrin that he had already f)een apprised by the
Master of the Rolls in Ireland of our intended visit, and had received instructions
to remain in Dublin during the investigation, in order that he might afford any
explanation or assistance we should require. The Master of the Rolls in Ireland
also directed Mr. Morrin to produce before us all the original documents con¬
nected with his calendaz's, and to remain in the office during the whole time we
were there, even after the termination of the regular official hours.
We are bound to state that not only the Master of the Rolls and his Deputy
Keeper, Mr. Reilly, but even Mr. Morrin, appeared equally anxious for the fullest
investigation of the charges adduced against the Irish Calendars. We had no
obstacle to complain of; we were allowed the most unrestricted liberty in
examining the office and its arrangements', in consulting and taking down the
records contained in it, all of which we found in excellent order; and, as the
labour of our examination was very considerable, and necessarily occupied many
hours of the day beyond the usual official attendance, we had to trespass on much
of the leisure time both of Mr. Morrin and the Deputy Keeper for several weeks
successively: and in the case of Mr. Morrin particularly, to keep him con¬
stantly employed in producing the documents we required, necessarily very
numerous, considering how wide and various was the extent of our inquiry.
We feel it incumbent on us to state, that Mr. Morrin's assistance in these
respects was most readily conceded to us, as was that of every other gentleman
connected either with the Rolls Office or any other Record Office in Dublin which
we had occasion to visit, as your Honor will see in the sequel, for the adequate
execution of our task.
We were specially instructed to inquire into the accuracy of certain allegations
contained in a pamphlet, entitled " Record Revelations,"* in which the Irish
Calendar of Mr. Morrin is severely criticised for its inaccuracies, omissions, and
mistakes. These charges are numerous; they are characterised by great ability,
and have evidently been drawn up by an author acquainted with bis subject.
In fact we do not remember to have seen, in England or in Ireland, any work of
the same nature in which so much critical knowledge of this kind has been
displayed, or w'hich indicates a greater familiarity with archseological studies.
The ability with which this pamphlet has been written, the deep interest it has
excited
• Published 1863.
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