§ EARL CADOGANasked the Lord President of the Council, Whether his attention had been called to an advertisement, which appeared in some of the daily papers on Friday, the 6th of this month, containing a detailed description of a diadem, composed of precious stones, on view at the South Kensington Museum, and whether it was considered in accordance with the objects of that institution and the regulations under which it was managed that articles should be exposed for exhibition there for the purpose of promoting their sale? The advertisement, after describing the diadem, added—"For further particulars apply to a certain locality between the hours of 12 and 2." Now, though there was some ambiguity about this intimation, yet there could be no doubt that the object was to attract the attention of persons who might be disposed to purchase the diadem. If that were so, it was not a fit object to be in the Kensington Museum. He was as fully aware as any of their Lordships could be of the advantage to the country in forming such an institution, and he was perfectly conscious of the great benefit it conferred upon the middle classes—especially in the work of education—by the facilities it afforded for giving instruction in the various processes of manufactured goods. 625 But just because of the importance of this institution he thought an impression should not get abroad that the Museum was diverted from its proper and legitimate objects to minister to the personal advantage of individuals. He was certain that his noble Friend (Earl Granville) would spare no pains to have this matter cleared up, and he hoped that he would be able to corroborate on authority the explanation that had appeared in the newspapers a few days ago. The explanation was to the effect that the loan of the diadem had been conditionally accepted by the Government, one of the conditions being that it must remain in the Museum for six months; and that on the owners asking if they might advertise it, they were distinctly and emphatically told that an advertisement could not be allowed. When the advertisement did appear the owners were told to remove it at once, and that was done accordingly. All who wished well to the Museum must hope that this was a correct statement. The institution was supported by a largo grant of public money, and it ought not to be diverted from its public purposes to minister to the gain of individuals.
EARL DE GREY AND RIPONthanked his noble Friend for having given him an opportunity to set the public mind right upon this matter. He had great satisfaction in hearing those expressions from his noble Friend as to the utility and importance of the South Kensington Museum, and he agreed with his noble Friend that it would tend to weaken its usefulness if it were to become a means of advertising the goods and facilitating the sale of merchandise of private individuals. But he was happy to say that on this occasion the rules of the Museum had been strictly adhered to. Those rules were, that the institution should be devoted to the purposes of Art—that nothing was to be exhibited for sale. The diadem in question was accepted on the usual terms of a loan. It was received into the Museum on the 28th of last month; the attention of the authorities was called to the advertisement on the 3rd of May; and on that very day the diadem was taken down and removed, and a letter was written to the owner informing him that he had violated the rules of the Museum, and that the diadem must be taken away; and that was accordingly done on the 626 following day. His noble Friend would thus see that the rules of the Museum had been strictly carried out; and he was glad that by thus calling attention to the matter he had an opportunity of showing that the authorities at the Museum had not failed in their their duty.