MR. CYRIL FLOWERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, now the High Court of Chancery has given its consent to the sale of some portion of the Blenheim Gallery, What proposals the Government have received and are prepared to recommend for the acquisition by the nation of a select portion of these pictures; and, whether the Government are sanguine that their negotiations will be carried to a successful issue?
MR. GLADSTONEHer Majesty's Government are by no means indisposed to entertain the subject of the purchase of a portion of the Blenheim pictures; but we have not made any real progress in that matter, because no offer has yet been made to them which they think they would be justified in entertaining.