§ Mr. Markhamasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Elgin marbles have now been safely transferred to their new gallery at the British Museum; and whether any have suffered by removal or any cleaning process?
§ Captain CrookshankThe marbles are in process of transference to the new gallery, but none of those so far transferred have suffered in any way by the removal. So far as cleaning is concerned, I am informed by the trustees of the British Museum that there has been some unauthorised cleaning of some of the marbles, but that it is not yet possible to determine precisely what the effect has been. I am assured, however, that the effects are imperceptible to anyone but an expert, and I think it follows that the intrinsic beauty of the marbles has not been impaired.