§ MR. COOPEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that a remarkable and highly-valuable collection of old Wedgwood ware, at present exhibited at the Nottingham Castle Museum, was offered on loan to the authorities of the South Kensington Museum, and refused by them on the plea of "want of space;" whether at that time many of the cases in the Loan Department were filled, and still are so, with objects of little value or artistic merit; whether a collection of old specimen Sèvres plates, formerly the property of the Director of that Royal Manufactory, was also similarly offered, firstly accepted, and then refused; and, whether the Government is prepared to take such steps as will prevent the recurrence of similar refusals?
§ MR. MUNDELLA (for Mr. GLADSTONE)I have inquired into both these cases of proffered loans, and find that neither of them are of recent date. Mr. Josephs's collection of Wedgwood ware was courteously declined in 1876 owing to the want of space which has been increasingly felt up to the present time. No communication has been received on the subject during the last eight years. The Sèvres plates were offered on loan about five years ago, and the Department agreed to exhibit them; but before they were sent to South Kensington they were sold to the proprietor of a West End business, who offered to leave them on loan for six months only, whereupon the Department declined, to receive them. Owing to the stoppage of building at South Kensington, there is great pressure upon the space at the command of the Museum authorities, and loans have constantly to be declined. In all cases great care is exercised that loans made with a view to subsequent sale are not accepted.