British Museum Act 1816

The British Museum Act 1816 or the Elgin Marbles Act (56 Geo. 3. c. 99) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The act authorised the Treasury to provide £35,000 to buy the Elgin Marbles for the British Museum, and enacted two other conditions imposed by Lord Elgin: that he and his successors would be appointed as trustees of the British Museum, and that the collection would be kept together and named 'The Elgin Collection'.

[...] Whereas the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Elgin hath with great Knowledge, Judgment and Care, and at a great Expence, made a most valuable Collection of ancient Marbles and Sculpture, and is willing that the same should be possessed by the Public: And Whereas the said Earl hath agreed to sell the same for the Sum of Thirty five thousand Pounds, on Condition that the whole of the said Collection should be kept together in the British Museum, and open to inspection, and called by the Name of The Elgin Marbles [...]

[...] be it further enacted, That on Payment of the said Sum of Thirty five thousand Pounds, the said Collection shall be vested in the Trustees for the time being of the said British Museum, and their Successors, in perpetuity, for the Purposes of the said Act of the Twenty sixth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second.

And be it hereby further enacted, That the said Collection shall be preserved and kept together in the said British Museum whole and entire, and distinguished by the Name or Appellation of "The Elgin Collection."