DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5179#0009
Vlll PREFACE.
obtained; and certainly with regard to Govern-
ment, it would look more generous and more
just, were it to have lent its aid before the
discovery of marbles, rather than content itself
with sending out vessels to secure them ; were it
to assist in investigating questions of topography
and science, of art and antiquity; in measuring
the architectural and other remains, in repre-
senting and publishing the works of sculpture,
rather than in prizing only the marbles, and
leaving the rest to the chance of individual enter-
prise. The Elgin marbles were purchased by our
Government at a considerable loss to the noble
earl who brought them to this country; the
Phigalian marbles were obtained, after their dis-
covery by Mr. Cockerell and his fellow-travellers,
but the JEgmetan lost, in consequence of our
Government not having been sufficiently early in
proffering its assistance.
It is true that what the State has not afforded,
our Dilettanti Society has on several occasions sup-
plied; and its " Ionian Antiquities," its " Inedited
Antiquities of Attica," in earlier days; and in our
obtained; and certainly with regard to Govern-
ment, it would look more generous and more
just, were it to have lent its aid before the
discovery of marbles, rather than content itself
with sending out vessels to secure them ; were it
to assist in investigating questions of topography
and science, of art and antiquity; in measuring
the architectural and other remains, in repre-
senting and publishing the works of sculpture,
rather than in prizing only the marbles, and
leaving the rest to the chance of individual enter-
prise. The Elgin marbles were purchased by our
Government at a considerable loss to the noble
earl who brought them to this country; the
Phigalian marbles were obtained, after their dis-
covery by Mr. Cockerell and his fellow-travellers,
but the JEgmetan lost, in consequence of our
Government not having been sufficiently early in
proffering its assistance.
It is true that what the State has not afforded,
our Dilettanti Society has on several occasions sup-
plied; and its " Ionian Antiquities," its " Inedited
Antiquities of Attica," in earlier days; and in our