DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5278#0178
142
other individual applied for it to the same extent, nor had
indeed the same unlimited means for carrying such an under-
taking into execution. The expression of one of the most
intelligent and distinguished of the British travellers, who
visited Athens about the same period, appears to your Com-
mittee to convey as correct a judgement as can be formed
upon this question, which is incapable of being satisfactorily
separated, and must be taken in the aggregate.
The Earl of Aberdeen, in answer to an inquiry, whether the
authority and influence of a public situation was in his opi-
nion necessary for accomplishing the removal of these Mar-
bles, answered, that he did not think a private individual
could have accomplished the removal of the remains which
Lord Elgin obtained: and Doctor Hunt, who had better op-
portunities of information upon this point than any other
person who has been examined, gave it as his decided opinion,
that " a British subject not in the situation of ambassador,
could not have been able to obtain from the Turkish govern-
ment a fermaun of such extensive powers."
It may not be unworthy of remark, that the only other
piece of sculpture which was ever removed from its place for
the purpose of export was taken by Mr. Choiseul Gouffier,
when he was ambassador from France to the Porte ; but whe-
ther he did it by express permission, or in some less osten-
sible way, no means of ascertaining are within the reach of
your Committee. It was undoubtedly at various times an
object with the French government to obtain possession of
some of these valuable remains ; and it is probable, according
to the testimony of Lord Aberdeen and others, that at no
great distance of time they might have been removed by that
government from their original site, if they had not been
taken away, and secured for this country, by Lord Elgin.
other individual applied for it to the same extent, nor had
indeed the same unlimited means for carrying such an under-
taking into execution. The expression of one of the most
intelligent and distinguished of the British travellers, who
visited Athens about the same period, appears to your Com-
mittee to convey as correct a judgement as can be formed
upon this question, which is incapable of being satisfactorily
separated, and must be taken in the aggregate.
The Earl of Aberdeen, in answer to an inquiry, whether the
authority and influence of a public situation was in his opi-
nion necessary for accomplishing the removal of these Mar-
bles, answered, that he did not think a private individual
could have accomplished the removal of the remains which
Lord Elgin obtained: and Doctor Hunt, who had better op-
portunities of information upon this point than any other
person who has been examined, gave it as his decided opinion,
that " a British subject not in the situation of ambassador,
could not have been able to obtain from the Turkish govern-
ment a fermaun of such extensive powers."
It may not be unworthy of remark, that the only other
piece of sculpture which was ever removed from its place for
the purpose of export was taken by Mr. Choiseul Gouffier,
when he was ambassador from France to the Porte ; but whe-
ther he did it by express permission, or in some less osten-
sible way, no means of ascertaining are within the reach of
your Committee. It was undoubtedly at various times an
object with the French government to obtain possession of
some of these valuable remains ; and it is probable, according
to the testimony of Lord Aberdeen and others, that at no
great distance of time they might have been removed by that
government from their original site, if they had not been
taken away, and secured for this country, by Lord Elgin.