§ SIR EDWARD WATKINasked the Vice President of the Council, What has become of the collection illustrative of mining, metallurgy, and mineralogy which was exhibited in the Zollverein Department of the International Exhibition (London 1862), and was presented to the Department of Science and Art on the express condition, as alleged at the time, that it should be kept together and permanently exhibited at South Kensington?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I have inquired into the matter referred to in the Question of the hon. Member, and I am informed that the Collection of Minerals was presented by the Zollverein Commission of the 1862 International Exhibition to the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, no pledge, I am told, having been given as to exhibiting it in the South Kensington Museum. The late Sir Roderick Murchison having, as Director of the Royal School of Mines, a full knowledge of the Collec- 1653 tion, expressed himself unable to place it in the Jermyn Street Museum. An officer of the School of Mines, upon careful examination, found that it contained so many duplicates and unnecessarily large specimens that, without impairing its value, several smaller Collections could be formed with advantage to all concerned. This was done by presenting Collections to several large Provincial towns, besides giving the main Collection to King's College, London.