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"Now from all parts the swelling kennels flow,
And bear their trophies with them as they go:
Filth of all hues and odours seem to tell
What street they sail'd from, by their sight and smell ...
Sweepings from butchers' stalls, dung, guts, and blood,
Drown'd puppies, shaking sprats, all drenched in mud,
Dead cats, and turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood."
-- Jonathan Swift (describing the Fleet River)
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The British Government have always been more than willing to look a gift horse in the mouth. They did it with Tate when he offered them a new gallery for English Art - well, I suppose he WAS in Trade, sugar you know. However, by then they had had some practice. In the early 19th century they were offered sixteen important paintings to form the nucleus of a national art collection - and they sniffed. The King pointed out that this was a good idea and that they should also consider purchasing an even bigger collection soon to come on the market. They sniffed even more at that - it had been collected by a Russian merchant. Support for their stand came from the artistic world which was apparently afraid of foreign competition. In the end, George IV twisted enough arms and the deed was finally done. It is now one of the greatest art collections in the world and this is a brief synopsis of its story so far.
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