The Elgin marbles from the Temple of Minerva at Athens, on sixty-one selected from "Stuart's and Revett's Antiquities of Athens" (London, 1816)

ON THE EARL OF ELGIN'S COLLECTION OF MARBLES, &c. 21

that Mr. Perceval would be disposed to recommend the sum of £ 30,000 to be given for the Collection The

as it then stood. Earl of Elgin.

, What passed in consequence of that offer ? — I believe it is mentioned in the memorandum which
I have given in, accounting for the delay — paper marked No. 3 — and which exactly states the
grounds on which I declined the offer: it follows immediately after the extract from the Dilettanti
publication, in these words:—"So that when Mr. Perceval, in 1811, proposed to purchase this
Collection, not by proceeding to settle the price, upon a private examination into its merits and value,
but by offering at once a specific sum for it; I declined the proposal as one which, under the above
impressions, would be in the highest degree unsatisfactory to the Public, as well as wholly inadequate
either in compensation of the outlay occasioned in procuring the Collection, or in reference to (what has
since been established beyond all doubt) the excellence of the sculpture, and its authenticity as the
work of the ablest artists of the age of Pericles.

Mr. Vansittart never made any specific offer on the part of the Public ? — No, never, except in
what passed last year, which was afterwards dropped.

What further has passed relating to the transfer of those Marbles to the Public, since 1811?
— In the spring of 1815, Burlington House having been sold, Lord George Cavendish intimated a
desire that I should remove the Marbles from thence in consequence. I applied to the Trustees of
the British Museum to take them in deposit, considering that the circumstances of the times might not
make it convenient for the Public to enter upon the transfer. In reply, the British Museum
rejected my proposal, as not being consistent with their usual mode of proceedings, and they appointed
three of their Members to enter into negociation with me for the transfer; which nomination, after
some discussion, led to the Petition which I presented to Parliament in the month of June following.

Is there any price, in your Lordship's estimation of these Marbles, lower than which you would
not wish to part with them ? — No; there is no standard fixed in my mind at all.

Are there any persons by whom this Collection has been valued?— Not any one, to my knowledge.

Are the gentlemen mentioned in the list you have delivered in, designed on your Lordship's part
to be examined as to the value of the Collection? — I gave in that list as thinking them proper persons,
without consulting them on the occasion; they are the individuals best acquainted with the subject;
and I fancy it would be satisfactory to the Public that they should be examined.

Are there any and what additional articles now offered that were not included in the offer to
Mr. Perceval in 1811? — To the best of my knowledge about eighty additional cases of Architecture
and Sculpture have been added, and also a collection of Medals.

The Right Honourable Charles Long (a Member of the Committee) Examined.

You having been referred to in Lord Elgin's evidence, do you recollect what passed on that occa- night Hon.
sion ? — Early in the year 18111 was desired by Mr. Perceval to endeavour to ascertain, as far as I c'"'rles ltng-
could, the value of Lord Elgin's Collection. I consulted various persons upon this subject; and after »
having done so, Mr. Perceval asked me, Whether I was satisfied that the Collection was worth
^£.30,000? I told him I had no doubt it was worth that and more, from the testimony of those whom
I had consulted: upon which he authorized me to state to Lord Elgin, that he was willing to propose
that sum to Parliament for the purchase of the Collection, provided he made out, to the satisfaction of
a Committee of the House of Commons, that he had expended a sum equal to that amount in obtain-
ing the Collection and transporting it to this country. Upon my interview with Lord Elgin, his
Lordship stated an account of his expenses amounting to double that sum, and declined the offer of
Mr. Perceval.