§ MR. J. O'CONNELLbegged to ask if Her Majesty's Government would permit the importation into this country (for the purpose of sale or delivery to customers) of works of art sold or about to be sold by the Provisional Government at Rome? The Government of Rome was not recognised by any European Power—and would Her Majesty's Government allow or sanction the sale in this country of those works of art, which, by the decree of the Government of Rome, were directed to be sold, and which had been already offered for sale to, and honourably refused by, the British Museum?
§ LORD J. RUSSELLwas not aware that there was any law that would enable the Government to prevent the importation into this country of works of art of the description and for the purposes to which the hon. and learned Gentleman referred. It would be necessary to propose an alteration in the law for the purpose; and that alteration the Government were not inclined to propose. The hon. and learned Gentleman had asked if the Government would give any sanction to the sale of those works of art; he could tell him that no sanction had been given.