§ MR. GRAYasked the Vice President of the Council, Why the prices of modern British pottery, at present exhibited in the Bethnal Green Museum, have been carefully erased from the labels affixed to them, whilst the prices of modern Foreign pottery have been allowed to remain; and if he will state the date of the Order of the Committee of Council on Education sanctioning such erasures?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Minute sanctioning the withdrawal of the prices upon modern examples of British pottery and porcelain at present exhibited at Bethnal Green Branch Museum is dated March 23, 1865, at the time when Lord Aberdare was Vice President of the Committee of Council and Sir Henry Cole was Director of the Museum. These examples were, for the most part, purchased at International Exhibitions at greatly reduced prices, and, at the special representation of English manufacturers concerned, the prices were expunged from the labels, complaints being made that Museum prices were quoted to the trade by customers at a 1059 much lower rate than the goods could be supplied at. The examples of foreign manufactures having been acquired at the usual prices, the labels were maintained, showing the cost.