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 i
 
 THE LIFE Of mi A.NTn»L\Y TAMZZl, K.C.B. 
 
 VOJL. I.
 
 PUBLISHERS' NOTE. 
 
 The third volume by Mr. Henry Stevens, mentioned 
 on the title-page, is in preparation, and zuill probably be 
 issned some ti^nc this year. It will be sold separately or 
 xvitli the tivo volumes of Mr. Fag an, as purchasers may 
 desire.
 
 /«i 
 
 j£tat (SS
 
 THE- 
 
 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 OF 
 
 Sir ANTHONY PANIZZI kcb 
 
 LATE PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM 
 SENATOR OF ITALY ETC 
 
 By Louis Pagan 
 
 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PRINTS AND DRAWINGS BRITISH MUSEUM 
 
 In Two Volumes 
 AUTHORISED AMERICAN EDITION 
 
 TO WHICH IS APPENDED A THIRD VOLUME CONTAINING 
 
 TWENTY YEARS PERSONAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES OF 
 
 PANIZZI AND THE BRITISH MUSEUM 
 
 1S45-1S65 
 
 By Henry Stevens of Vermont Fsa Ma etc 
 
 Bibhoj^raphy The Tree of Knowled^'e 
 
 Volume I 
 
 BOSTON : HOUGHTON MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 
 RIVERSIDE CAMBRIDGE & ASTOR PLACl 
 
 MdcccLxxxi 
 
 COMPANY IT 
 CE NEW-VOrIV
 
 1 
 
 The Reminiscences Copyright i88l 
 by Henry Stevens of Vermont 
 
 A// rights reserved
 
 s^^^s 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI KCB 

 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 To 
 
 THE 
 
 A 
 
 MERICAN 
 
 E 
 
 DITION 
 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 Reform Club, Pall Mall, bw 
 London, I5th October, 1880 
 
 ELL knowing that Sir Anthony Panizzi 
 entrusted most of his literary articles 
 and reviews to you for re-publication 
 in America under your editorship; and 
 aware that he gladly availed himself of 
 your co-operation in adding to the store of American history 
 and literature in the British Museum, I feel that your assist- 
 ance will be of great advantage in promoting an American 
 edition of ray work. 
 
 The addition of your ' Twenty years personal and biblio- 
 graphical Reminiscences of Panizzi and the British Museum ' 
 cannot but add interest to the new edition, hence 1 heartily
 
 ADVEKTISEMENT 
 coincide with and approve the suggestion, in full expectation 
 that your long experience and special opportunities will have 
 enabled you to throw still more light on the labours of a 
 life and the merits of an institution which cannot be too 
 well-known everywhere. 
 
 Trusting that our combined work will be as cordially re- 
 ceived in your country as Americans always were by Panizzi 
 at the British Museum, 
 
 I remain, my dear Sir, yours very truly, 
 
 LoDis Fagan 
 To Henry Stevens, Esquire of Vermont, f s a etc 
 4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London.
 
 P R E F A C E 
 
 THE first chapter of these Volumes discloses the 
 reasons which induced me to undertake the 
 present Biography — a task amounting to a labour of 
 love, owing to the personal interest I have felt in it 
 from beginning to end. How far, however, I may 
 succeed in satisfying my Readers — fully conscious 
 as I am of mv own demerits and the manv defects to 
 be met with — I leave them to decide, trusting to 
 their kind indulgence not to be hypercritical in their 
 verdict on my faithful endeavour to perform my duty 
 both to them and to the subject of these memoirs. 
 
 Some delay has arisen in the completion of the 
 work, to be attributed to three causes : the interrup- 
 tion occasioned by my official duties, the variety and 
 complicated nature of the subject, and the numerous 
 translations recpiired for the full development of the 
 life I desired to treat with justice in every respect. 
 
 Grateful acknowledcments are due for the valu- 
 able assistance received from ]\Ir. Charles CA^'^■ox of 
 the Foreign Office. Mr. Eiciiakd Gar>'ett of the
 
 PKEFACE 
 
 British Museum, Mr. C. E. Fagan and from Mr. 
 C. M. Tyxdall, to whom I am deeply indebted. 
 Certainly in no less degree must I record, with 
 sincere thanks, the cheerful and graceful aid rendered 
 me by Madame Aediti, who has, throughout my 
 labours, proved a most encouraging and able coadju- 
 trix. 
 
 The respectful expression of my gratitude to the 
 Duke D'AuMALE and to the Right Honourable W. E. 
 Gladstone is an honourable duty, since to them as 
 well as to Mrs. Feanklin, Sir Gilbeet Leavis, Sir 
 James Lacaita, Mr. C. T. Nkwtox, Mr. Andeew 
 RuTiiEEFUED and the late Mr. Edwaed Ellice I am 
 indebted for the loan of letters, etc., without which 
 my work could never have attained the degree of 
 completeness of which it may fairly boast. Finally, 
 in the list should also be named those who have helped 
 me to present these volumes in their finished state — 
 MM. DuEAAD, PiLOTELL, Sem and F. GusMAN, to whose 
 courtesy I owe six of the portraits interspersed within 
 these pages. 
 
 To men of letters throuohout the civilized world 
 I can scarcely doubt that a biography of one so w^ell- 
 known in his particular and important sphere as was 
 the earnest worker of whom I have written should be 
 otherwise than acceptable. Nevertheless, it is with 
 some anxiety that I lay my venture before the public,
 
 PREFACE 
 
 though trustmg at the same time that no serious 
 
 drawback in the accomplishment of my labours may 
 
 prevent a just appreciation of them by all considerate 
 
 readers. 
 
 Louis Fagax. 
 
 2a, Graxville Place, 
 PoKTMAX Square, W. 
 Sejytember, 1880.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introduction — History of Brescello — Birtli -- 
 Parentasre — Education — Carbonaro — Piedmon- 
 tese and Neapolitan Revolutions, 1820 — " I 
 Process! di Kubiera " ... ... ... ... 3 to 38. 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 Fb'o^ht — Luojano — Arrival in London — Santa-Rosa — 
 Sentence of Death — At Liverpool — Eoscoc — 
 Shepherd — Haywood — Linati — Pecchio — 
 Letter to the Tax-Gatherer and Inspector of 
 Finances — Miss ]Martin — Lectures ... ... 39 to 62, 
 
 CHAPTEH HI. 
 
 Foscolo — At Holkham — First Article — Departure 
 from Liverpool — Brougham — -Nliss Turner — 
 London University — Botta — Lady Dacre — 
 " Orlando Innamorato " — W. S. Eose — Keight- 
 ley — Moore's Verses — Correspondence "with INIr. 
 Grenville — Appointed to the British Museum G3 to lOL 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The British Museum — Appointment Discussed — 
 First Duties — The Koyal Society — Promotion — 
 Gary— Hallam's Letter— OfTielal Residence... 102 to 141.
 
 iJO^s TEXTS 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Sir Heniy Ellis — Parliamentary Committee, 1835-6 — 
 Keepersliip— Kemoval of tlie Library from 
 ]\Iontague House — " Temporary Assistants •' — 
 ►Superintendence of Catalogue — Rev. E. Gar- 
 nett — J. Winter Jones— Thomas Watts— J. H. 
 Parry — -Additions to library, 1838, and Defi- 
 ciencies- — Annual (Irant ... ... ... 142 to 17 J. 
 
 « 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Bridport Election — Desire to Msit 31odcna — ^^lazzini 
 — Post Office Espionage — Piographer's Personal 
 Reminiscences— Portland A'ase— Psalter, 1457 — 
 Interview \Yitli Francis IV. — Libri ... 17G to 198. 
 
 CIIAPTEPt VII. 
 
 Tliicrs — '• Spanish Marriages" — Downfall of Lord 
 JMelbourne's Administration — Corn Laws — 
 Coolness between Panizzi and Thiers ... lUU to 254. 
 
 CHAPTJvU VHL 
 
 The Royal Commission, 1847-49 255 to 2Go. 
 
 CIIAPTEU IX. 
 
 'My. Grenville — Ikquest — A Portrait by Manzini— 
 Chartist Demonstration — Copyright Act — Mr. 
 Bohu 26Gto293. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Lord Vernon'e Dante — Sir (i. Cornewall Lewis 
 on Milton and Dante — "Chi era Francesco da 
 Bologna?"— John Harris 294 to 312.
 
 ('O.VTEXTS 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Minor Incidents — Holland House — .'Sydney Smith — • 
 Ecclesiastical Commission Act (1836) — Joseph 
 Parkes — Count d'Orsay — Lord ^Melbourne — 
 ]\[rs. Norton — l)r, Hampden's Case — Watt's 
 Portrait of Panizzi — Lord Holland — Sir T. D. 
 Hardy's Life of Lord Langdale ... ... 313 to 329. 
 
 CHAPTER XH. 
 
 Panizzi and Austria — Policy of Lord Palmerston 
 Discussed — Mr. E. Ellice — Scotch Sabbath — • 
 Mr. Gladstone on Tasso — Panizzi and Thomas 
 Carlyle 330 to 337* 
 
 CHAPTER Xin. 
 
 The New Eeading-Room — Sir C. Barry's Plans — 
 Completion and Breakfast — Mr. Hosking's Plans 
 — Contro^"ersy — Bust by Baron jMarochetti — 
 Austria applies for Plans of l\eading-Rooni...338 to 390. 
 
 f*^:lS^^i^
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I. 
 
 Sir a. Panizzi (an Etching), Fkoxti 
 
 Ariosto 
 
 Banks (Sir Joseph) 
 
 Brougham (Lord) 
 
 Clarendon (Lord) 
 
 Dante 
 
 Ellice (The Eight Hon. Edward) 
 Ellis (Sir Henry) ... 
 
 FOSCOLO (U(iO) 
 
 "Francia" (F- Eaibolini) 
 Grenville (The Right Hon. Thom 
 Guizot (F. p. G.) ... 
 Hallam (Henry) 
 
 HaYVvOOD (Fj{ANCI.'^) ... 
 
 Lewis (Sir G. Cohnkwall) 
 Mazzini (Giusp:ppe) ... 
 EoGERS (Samuel) 
 EoscoE (William) 
 Sloane (Sir Hans) ... 
 Smith (Sydney) 
 Thiers (Adolphe) 
 Vernon (Lord) 
 
 >PIECE. 
 
 ) 
 
 Page 
 
 4 
 
 79 
 
 111 
 
 72 
 
 200 
 295 
 333 
 142 
 64 
 306 
 266 
 
 223 
 
 139 
 
 54 
 
 302 
 
 182 
 
 73 
 
 49 
 
 102 
 
 314 
 
 199 
 
 297 
 
 Aldus and Pickering's Pevicks 
 
 83
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 CHAPTEE I 
 
 Jnirodxiciion ; Jlidory of Brescello ; Birth; Parentage ; Education 
 Carhonaro ; Piedmontese and Neapolitan Revolutions, 1820-1; 
 / Processi di Ruhicra. 
 
 HE LABOUR ATTACHED TO THE 
 
 biographer's task depends on the 
 amonnt and quality of incident in 
 the career, as well as the peculiar 
 characteristics of the person whose 
 life is portrayed, provided there be a sufficiency of 
 salient jjoints in these respects to have made him 
 •conspicuous in the eyes of the world. It would 
 be difficult, both to writer and reader, to follow 
 the career of a conventional country gentleman or 
 clergyman, however diligently and conscientiously 
 either might have discharged the duties alloted to 
 him in his particular sphere. The life of the Cure 
 of Ars, however, although in reality as much hidden 
 from the public eye as that of the most ordhiary 
 squire or parson, must ever be reckoned, if only for 
 the psychological study it jn-esents, amongst the most 
 interesting and, from certain points of view, the 
 most instructive of biographies. 
 
 B
 
 4 THE LIFE OP SIK AXTPIOXY PAXIZZI 
 
 The subject of the following " Memoirs," so far as 
 regards the two points above mentioned, would seem 
 to offer most favourable conditions for the pen of the 
 biographer; nevertheless, the writer confesses that 
 the very facility presented has caused difficulties to 
 spring up in his way. Though utterly a novice in 
 such work, an ardent longing has possessed him to 
 write of one with whom he lived for twenty years on 
 terms of the most intimate friendship, little, if at all, 
 inferior in warmth to consanguineous affection. He 
 has deemed it his duty, after duly weighing the many 
 communications received from his friend in hours of 
 confidential intercourse, and regarding them as illus- 
 trative not only of the life of the man himself, but in 
 their wider sense as pertaining to contemporary history, 
 and elucidating the opinions of the great statesmen 
 and other notable individuals with Avhom the subject 
 of this memoir was in daily intercourse — to show 
 forth his life to the world, calling to aid personal 
 memories of the events recorded, original documents 
 in the writer's own possession or those he could obtain 
 from others, besides information given orally by friends. 
 
 That life, chequered even at the outset by struggle 
 and adventure, devoted to incessant activity, and 
 bound up, as it were, with all the stirring public 
 events of the most active period of our age, being of 
 necessity gathered from documents so voluminous as 
 to constitute a veritable " emharras de richesses " — 
 a plethora of material — the mere task of condensation 
 and selection has proved a formidable one ; whilst the 
 arrangement of facts following closely on one another 
 has presented at times considerable difficulty.
 
 INTRODUCTION O' 
 
 Other causes have stimulated the biographer in his. 
 work, inasmuch as he himself was not unconcerned 
 in some of the more important and exciting events of 
 the life which he records. The struggles of oppressed 
 nationalities, the numerous revolutions and changes 
 of dynasty, the intrigues of politicians throughout 
 Europe, the face of which may be said to have been 
 changed during the middle of this century, the varied 
 events at home, and the vicissitudes of the country 
 which his friend had adopted for his own, and for 
 which he evinced unswerving aiiection and fidelity,, 
 have supplied matter which must be treated at somo 
 length in order to depict his life in its true light, and 
 to represent adequately the motive power which 
 prompted his ways and actions. 
 
 These matters may be but feebly and imperfectly 
 shadowed forth here, and scant justice may possibly 
 have been done to the varied details ; nevertheless, 
 these pages will be recognised as an earnest endeavour 
 to sketch the life of a meritorious, able, and — it might 
 without exaggeration be added — in his way a great man. 
 
 ^Vhere events follow their forerunners with extreme 
 rapidity, where it is sometimes necessary to record 
 circumstances which are simultaneous, it requires 
 the greatest care and discrimination to avoid con- 
 fusion, and to present the subject clearly to the 
 reader's mind. The utmost pains have been taken 
 in these volumes to maintain correct chronological 
 order : dates are almost always given, so that 
 no doubt shall arise and no uncertainty exist 
 as to the time of action. Should quotations 
 appear at any time too copious or prolix, the author
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 asks the indulgent reader to impute tliis to his idea 
 of the importance of perspicuity in dealing with an 
 uitricate subject. 
 
 With these remarks we enter upon our arduous 
 but pleasant task, with a profoundly sincere hope 
 that from a life of so much energy and perseverance, 
 our readers may extract for themselves an example 
 worthy of admiration and imitation. 
 
 Men have not lived in vain when, either by in- 
 domitable spirit they have left behind encouragement 
 for their fellow-men to enter as keenly as themselves 
 into the battle of life, or have proved in their own 
 persons how strict integrity and undeviating rectitude 
 finally bring their reward ; and such an example, we 
 venture to declare, was the subject of this memoir. 
 
 In the territory of Modena, on the right bank of 
 the River Po, stands an ancient town formerly called 
 Brixellum or Brexillum, hodie Brescello. Father 
 Bardetti (Lingua dei primi abitatori d'ltalia) informs 
 us that the name of " Brescello " is derived from the 
 remote Gallo-Germanic words Bng, a bridge, and 
 sella, to observe. With all due respect to the 
 learned father, to his skill in philology, and to his 
 knowledge of the Gallo-Germanic dialect, our 
 opinion is that the names Brixellimi and Brescello are 
 simply the common diminutives of BrLvicc and Brescia 
 respectively, a town not one hundred miles from 
 Brescello. 
 
 However that may be, it is certain that Brescello is 
 a place of most respectable antiquity, for according 
 to Pliny the younger it was a Koman colony, founded 
 during the period of the Republic. It is equally
 
 HISTORY OF BRESCELLO 7 
 
 certain that Brescello has, from the time of its foun- 
 dation, undergone as many of the vicissitudes of for- 
 tune, and suffered as much from the horrors of war, as 
 many towns of far greater size and importance in the 
 eyes of the world. A brief notice of its history will, 
 however, cause our readers to marvel, not so much at 
 the ruin and destruction which has fallen with such 
 jjersistent recurrence upon Brescello as at the almost 
 miraculous power possessed by this phoenix among 
 cities of straightway rising again from its own ashes. 
 
 The first event of local historical importance which 
 strikes us is the suicide (a.d. 69) of the Emperor Otho, 
 which took place while he was encamped here, on 
 receiving the news of the total defeat of his army by 
 Vitellius. A tomb erected in the town to the memory 
 of the unfortunate Emperor, for whom we have 
 always entertained a certain amount of sympathy, 
 possibly arising in a great measure from our contempt 
 of his rival, is mentioned by Plutarch as having been 
 seen by himself. 
 
 From A.D. 69 to a.d. 3SS nothing is kno\\^i of the 
 history of Brescello. This interval, however, seems 
 to have been one rather of obscurity than of quiet ; 
 for the name next occurs in a letter of St. Ambrose, 
 of the last-mentioned date, wherein he speaks of the 
 place as amongst one of the many ruined cities, and 
 ranks it with the equally oppressed towns of Bologna,. 
 Modena, Ileggio, and Piacenza. It may be conjec- 
 tured that by the year 452 Brescello must have been 
 wholly rebuilt ; for in a letter of Eusebius to Leo I. 
 (St. Leo), commencing " Cipyianus ^jMscofms Ecclesie 
 Brixellensis,'" it is stated that the tovvn not only gave
 
 S THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 name to a see, but was the dwelling place of a 
 bishop. 
 
 In the troubled times of the Longobardi it was 
 destroyed by King Autharis, circa, a.d. 585, but 
 even then gave promise of future vitality ; for again 
 it was rebuilt, and a monastery existed there in 
 the tenth century. In the year 1099, for the first 
 time, the Castle of Brescello comes to our know- 
 ledge, with the addition of fortifications to the 
 
 tO"SVll. 
 
 It is needless to follow the fortunes of Brescello 
 throu2:hout the wars between the Cremonese and 
 Parmese, of the many horrors of which, and notably 
 those which occurred in the year 1121, it was the 
 scene. The foUomng brief statement of facts -will 
 probably supply as much of the history of this much- 
 suffering place as may be desired. 
 
 In 1247, while Frederick II. Emperor of Germany 
 was besieging Parma, his ally Ezzellino IV., the 
 Tprmt, took possession of Brescello and Guastalla, in 
 order to deprive the inhabitants of Parma of all means 
 of subsistence, and thus reduce them to submission 
 by famine. During this campaign the first-named 
 town was partially destroyed; but Frederick and 
 Ezzellino made up to a considerable extent for the 
 damage inflicted on the Brescelleso by building for 
 them a bridge over the Po. 
 
 The Parmese, always the bitter foes of Frederick, 
 retook Brescello two vears later — i.e., in the vear 
 1249 — and erected important fortifications, which, 
 however, were destroyed in 1251 by the Cremonese, 
 under the leadership of Uberto Pallavicino.
 
 HISTORY OF ERESCELLO 9 
 
 Peace was declared two years afterwards, and the 
 conquered town became a portion of Parmese terri- 
 tory. A congress took place here between the Par- 
 mese and the Cremonese in 1295, and in 1303 Giber to 
 of Correggio was made Lord of Brescello. This 
 nobleman at once fortified his new possession so 
 strongly that the Cremonese, after a most furious 
 attack, were obliged to beat a hasty retreat. A second 
 bridge was constructed during the same year, but it 
 was soon destroyed by the strong currents of the 
 river. 
 
 Twelve months had hardly elapsed when the 
 Cremonese, undaunted by their previous defeat, again 
 attacked Brescello, and this time with such success 
 that the tovm was set on tire and utterly destroyed ; 
 only, however, to be rebuilt by the determined 
 citizens, who soon afterwards were under the dominion 
 of the Marquis Obizzo III., of Este, at whose 
 death, in 1352, the government of the toAvn passed 
 into the hands of the Visconti, and continued so up 
 to 1421. In 1425 the Venetians took possession of 
 Brescello, and held it until 1432, when it was captured 
 by the Duke of Milan, who, in the years 1442-3, gave 
 it to Erasmo Trivulzio. 
 
 In 1479 Brescello passed into the possession of the 
 Duke Galeazzo Maria, Ercole I., and in 1512 and 
 1551 was under the yoke of foreign troops. In 
 1552, Ercole II., re-fortified the town with very 
 strong forts, which were, however, totally destroyed 
 in 1704 by GaUispani. 
 
 Here, on the 16th September, 1797, was born the 
 subject of our memoir, Antonio Gcnesio Maria
 
 10 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOXY PAXIZZI 
 
 Panizzi ; a great portion of whose chequered life 
 seemed, in its changes and chances, to reflect the 
 early fortunes of his birth-place. 
 
 The similarity in the unsettled state of both is 
 striking, and it is a source of gratification to watch, 
 how, in progress of time, Panizzi was enabled to sur- 
 mount misfortune, and, freed from private as well as 
 political trouble, to end his life in assured peace and 
 security. His father, Luigi Panizzi, was the son of 
 Dottor Antonio Panizzi, a lawyer. His mother, Cate- 
 rina Gruppi, was descended from a respectable line of 
 ancestors, many of whom had earned for themselves 
 honourable distinction chiefly in the profession of the 
 law. 
 
 At an early age Antonio Panizzi was sent to a 
 school of the better class at Reggio, where he was 
 placed under the care of the Abbate Fratuzzi, Pro- 
 fessor of Rhetoric and Director of the Lyceum, mth 
 whom, as stated by a contemporary. Dr. Zatti, he 
 soon became a special favourite. Of this school 
 Panizzi seems always to have cherished happy 
 memories, and the author remembers hearing him 
 narrate a rather amusing incident of his school-days. 
 
 This anecdote is presented to our readers with 
 some apology, and with the recommendation, after 
 the manner of facetious novelists when about to intro- 
 duce a more than ordinarily racy chapter, to use their 
 own discretion as to its perusal. 
 
 It is the custom at schools in Italy, even at the 
 present day, for one of the pupils to be chosen to 
 serve at mass. For this office the Abbate Fratuzzi 
 on one occasion selected Panizzi. It so happened
 
 BIRTH AND EDUCATION 11 
 
 that the priest was administering the sacrament to a 
 man, whose head was of conspicuous uncleanliness, 
 and was uttering the usual sentence, " Corpus Domini 
 nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tiiam in vitam 
 ceternam.'" Young Antonio, interrupting the priest at 
 the word ^^ custodiat,'' murmured to himself ''■ loediculos 
 tuos," then looked at the priest, who omitting 
 the " animam,'' in a great hurry concluded the sen- 
 tence, perha23s unconsciously, " in vitam ceternam. 
 Amen." 
 
 Surely never yet had man and his tormentors in 
 combmation so rich a blessing invoked on them. 
 
 Having finished his first course of studies at the 
 Lyceum, early in the year 1814 Panizzi entered the 
 University of Parma, where he kept the terms neces- 
 sary to qualify him for the legal profession. In 
 August, 1818, he obtained the Baccalaureat, with the 
 title of " Dottor " Panizzi. The original certificate 
 conferring this degree was taken away from him 
 when subsequently he became involved in political 
 troubles ; but a second fully certified copy was sent 
 to him on the 22nd of May, 1827, most probably at 
 his own request, for about this period there was a 
 possibility of his appointment to the chair of Italian 
 professor at the London University. 
 
 As every detail is important to our subject, it may 
 be mentioned here that, within a month of his ob- 
 taining his degree, he was attacked so violently by 
 tj-phoid fever, that his life was for awhile despaired 
 
 Oi, 
 
 It Avas Panizzi's good fortune at this time to stand 
 on the best possible terms with the ruler of his State,.
 
 12 THE LIFE OF SIK ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Francis IV. Duke of Modena, who esteemed the 
 young man so highly as to appoint him, though still 
 a mere youth, to the office of Inspector of Public 
 Schools at Brescello. This office he seems to have 
 discharged with more than common industry and con- 
 scientiousness, bestowing on every detail, whether of 
 management or expenditure, the most careful super- 
 vision. For the favour with which the Duke resrarded 
 him, he was indebted to an intimacy existing between 
 Francis IV. and the Advocate Cocchi, with whom 
 Panizzi acted as a sort of legal partner, and whom 
 he constantly assisted in the various causes before 
 the Tribunal at Reggio, 
 
 One who knew Panizzi about that time, thus describes 
 his personal appearance : tail, thin, and of dark com- 
 plexion ; in temper somewhat hot and hasty, but of 
 calm and even judgment, which commanded respect 
 and caused him to be looked up to by all. He must 
 have been most diligent in his pursuit of knowledge, 
 losing no opportunity of study, for he is described as 
 •constantly engaged in reading, even while walking 
 from his house to the office. 
 
 As regards his professional reputation, he may be 
 said to have certainly occupied more than an average 
 position, both as counsel and as a legal authority. His 
 powers of eloquence were of no mean order ; they were 
 especially conspicuous in a law suit, in which he was 
 ■engaged for the defence, and was opposed by the cele- 
 brated advocate Tizioni, well-knoAvn as a most formid- 
 able, and (as was said) unscrupulous opponent. 
 
 It was about this period that the political condition 
 of Italy began to engage, and shortly afterwards to
 
 C.iEBONARO 13 
 
 absorb his attention ; and, in this place, it will be best 
 to notice a charge, openly brought against Panizzi, 
 that he was a Carbonaro. The truth of this assertion 
 must be at once and freely admitted ; for although no 
 one ever heard him confess it in England, nor is there 
 in his book "Processi diPubiera," of which more here- 
 after, any allusion to his having been of the Associa- 
 tion, yet it is indisputable that he was not only a 
 Carbonaro, but one of the most active members of 
 that Society. We have it on the evidence of Doctor 
 Minzi (one of his greatest friends), that in the month 
 of January, 1821, he. Dr. Minzi, and an ex-captain of 
 the Napoleonic army were admitted by Panizzi as 
 members of the Society, that such admission took 
 place in Panizzi's o-wii bedroom, and that he himself 
 had then been a member since the month of March, 
 1820. 
 
 In this country all secret Societies are apt to be 
 regarded — to use the mildest term — with disfavour. 
 It is true that ridicule attaches to the oreneral de- 
 nunciation of Freemasonry indulged in by the Roman 
 •Catholic Church ; for, except that the manner of 
 ■creating a Freemason, and the sacred signs by which 
 he may hereafter be kno-\vn, are kept in darkness 
 from the profane world, the Institution itself is about 
 ■as much a secret societv as a London club ; there is, 
 
 ^ 7 7 
 
 however, unfortunately, in a portion of these realms 
 a dark and dangerous organisation,* unjustifiable, we 
 conceive, as regards its purpose, and unscrupulous as 
 to the means which it employs to carry out its de- 
 
 * " Eibbonism" a society organised in Ireland about 1820, to retaliate on 
 landlords any injuries done to their tenants, not scrupling even at assassina- 
 tion. An Act was passed to suppress it, l(3th June, 1871.
 
 li THE LIFE OF SIR AXTHONY PAXIZZI 
 
 signs. From the condition of this conspiracy, and of 
 the country where it is carried on, we are doing an 
 injustice to other and widely different nations to 
 judge of the causes from which their societies spring 
 by the same standard ; for, let us frankly and im- 
 partially put ourselves in the place of some at least 
 of these, and we may possibly find a sort of exculpa- 
 tion if not a justification even of the Carbonaro. 
 
 Where the law is so weak that justice cannot be 
 obtained at its hands, some other organisation, will 
 naturally be resorted to for the protection of life and 
 property, and this organisation being beyond, and 
 therefore to a certain extent antagonistic to the law 
 as existing, or at least as administered at the time,, 
 must, if it would be effectual, be secret. No peaceful 
 and well-conducted inhabitants of certain cities in 
 the Far West, have yet, to our knowledge been 
 heard to complain of the existence or action of that, 
 most terrible of Vehmgerichte, the " Vigilance " 
 Committee. Where, on the other hand, despotism,, 
 uncontrolled by law, exercises an uncertain and 
 galling tyranny, or being acquiesced in by the ma- 
 jority, reduces sovereign and subjects to the lowest 
 moral and intellectual, and it might almost be added 
 physical level, whatever there is of life and spirit in a. 
 nation will be forced into some plan of action for the' 
 preservation both of itself and the country ; and this 
 action will of necessity be secret. 
 
 Conditions such as these existing, as will be here- 
 after seen, in Panizzi's own country, may fairly be 
 allesred as an excuse — if excuse be needed — for his 
 complicity with Carbonarism.
 
 CAEBOXAEO 15 
 
 It is not brought forward as a further justification, 
 but simply adduced as a fact, that such distinguished 
 and eminent men, as Silvio Pellico, and the Principe 
 della Cisterna, are known to have been deeply im- 
 bued with Carbonarism, and the late Emj)eror 
 Napoleon III. was among the number of those accused 
 of takins: an active interest in the doins^s of this 
 societv. 
 
 Into the condition of Italy at the time of which we 
 are writing it is unnecessary to enter as yet. Suffice 
 it to say that the restraints upon personal liberty and 
 the despotic conduct of the ruling powers aroused the 
 spirit of Panizzi, and he longed to liberate his 
 country ; ardent patriot as he was, it seemed to him 
 that freedom could only be secured by the expulsion, 
 in the first place, of certain persons whom he deemed 
 tyrants. With a vie^v of bringing about this result, 
 he thouo;ht it necessary to belono- to a sect, or secret 
 society, whose predominant ideas were — to free Italy, 
 to unite her several States, and to expel the 
 " Strang ei\'" 
 
 In order that the reader may not be misled in any 
 way in judging of the early political principles of 
 Antonio Panizzi, it will be well to give in this place 
 a short account of the source whence Carbonarism 
 sprung, of its original purpose, and of the more 
 ambitious aims which it in aftertimes developed. 
 Let it be first of all clearly understood that the Car- 
 bonari of 1820 had nothing in common with the Com- 
 munists of the present day. 
 
 The Italian society of Carbonari dates from the 
 period of the French Eevolution (1790) ; it's name was
 
 16 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 derived from that of a similar association which had 
 existed iii Germany from a very early period. The 
 necessity of affording aid to one another induced the 
 charcoal-burners who inhabited the vast forests of 
 Germany to unite against robbers and enemies. 
 
 By conventional signs, known only to themselves,, 
 they claimed and afforded mutual assistance. The 
 criminal attempt of Conrad de Kauffungen (executed 
 14th July, 1455), to carry off the Saxon princes, 
 failed through the intervention of the charcoal- 
 burners ; and, at a more recent period, a Duke of 
 Wurtemberg was compelled by them, under threat of 
 death, to abolish certain forest law^s, considered offen- 
 sive and cruel. This association gradually acquired 
 more consistency, and spread itself all over Germany, 
 France, and the Netherlands — the oath its members 
 took being called " the faith of colliers or charcoal- 
 burners." It is asserted that several members of the 
 French Parliaments were enrolled in its ranks in the 
 years 1770—1790, and it may be remarked, en 
 ■passant, that in France there had long existed, in the 
 department of the Jura, an association kno^vn as the 
 " Charhonniers " or " Bucheronsr and that amongst 
 its members it was kno^^^l as " Le Bon Cusinagey 
 This society was revived and brought into activity by the 
 Marquis de Champagne, in the reign of Napoleon I. 
 
 But it is Italy which claims our immediate atten- 
 tion, and in treating of the rise and progress of Car- 
 bonarism in that country a somewhat remarkable 
 personage must be introduced — no other, in fact, 
 than he to whom Carbonarism owed its existence. 
 This was one Ma<?hella, a Genoese of low extraction.
 
 CAEBONARISM IT 
 
 who had risen from the position of clerk in a count- 
 ing-house to that of minister of police in the Ligurian 
 Republic. He was m high favour with Murat, who- 
 had made his acquaintance during the French cam- 
 paign in Piedmont. 
 
 Shortly after Murat had succeeded Joseph Bona- 
 parte on the throne of Naples he sent for Maghella, 
 and in course of time made him minister of police. 
 It may be a matter of question whetlier or no the 
 king found in his newly appointed officer the best of 
 counsellors or the most faithful of friends. Maghella 
 was actuated by two feelings of equal intensity — 
 hatred of Napoleon and a desire for the independence^ 
 of Italy. With these views he took upon himself to 
 urge on Murat not only that he should refuse to join 
 in the campaign now (1812) projected by Bonaparte 
 against Russia, but should openly declare himself 
 against the Emperor. How Murat received this 
 advice, which, proffered from such a quarter to such 
 a man, appears to us now to betoken madness, there 
 is no record to show. As he shortly afterwards ap- 
 peared in the field as general of Napoleon's cavalry, 
 his proper sphere, it is pretty plain that he did not 
 adopt it. 
 
 The unfortunate termination of the Russian expedi- 
 tion, and the complete disaster which befel the French 
 army therein, gave fresh encouragement to Maghella 
 to carry out his patriotic schemes. Now, he con- 
 ceived, there was a golden opportunity for driving the 
 French troops out of Rome, Tuscany, and Genoa, and 
 for placing himself at the head of the insurrectionist 
 party. In this, as is well known, he signally failed.
 
 IS THE LIFE OF SIR ^VNTIIOXl' PANIZZI 
 
 That the occasion he took for the accompHshment of 
 his project was not, however, so ill-timed as might gene- 
 rally have been supposed, is proved by the subsequent 
 revolution at Milan, which broke out on the 20tli 
 April, 1814, and which showed that the government 
 of Eugene de Beauharnais was much less stable than 
 had been fondly imagined. 
 
 Although Maghella's plans had thus failed, he still 
 had means at command to employ for the benefit of his 
 enslaved and distracted country. Of these the society 
 of Carbonari presented the readiest ; and he accord- 
 insflv set himself to work to introduce the association 
 into Naples. In this he was successful, and a duly 
 constituted branch of the institution was established 
 there by his efforts ; the object aimed at being stated, 
 in express terms, to be the liberation of Italy from a 
 foreign yoke. That qualification of character was 
 required for admission into the ranks of the Neapolitan 
 league ap23ears from the following extract from their 
 Tules : — " General doctrine of the order." Article 4. 
 " Tried virtue and purity of morals, and not Pagan 
 qualities, render men worthy of belonging to the 
 Carbonari." Although the ordinary Neapolitan 
 Carbonaro might possibly have failed to fulfil these 
 rather severe conditions, yet we do not believe, still 
 less is there any evidence to prove, that the Carbonari of 
 Naples in general were animated by any less worthy 
 Tnotive than by a thoroughly sincere, if not very 
 enlightened, spirit of patriotism. 
 
 It cannot, however, be denied that whatever may 
 •be said of these new Southern Members of the Society, 
 the men of Northern Italy, who in 1819 and subsequent
 
 CAKBOXAKISM 19 
 
 years joined in considerable numbers, were of a class 
 vastly superior, so far as regards social standing, 
 culture, and education, energy and decision of charac- 
 ter, to their confreres of the South — and amongst the 
 JS^orthern Italian associates was Antonio Panizzi. 
 
 By 1820 Carbonarism had spread all over the 
 Peninsula ; it could scarcely be called any longer a 
 secret society. There were head centres in almost 
 every to"vvn. It had reached a numerical strength far 
 above that of any other society, and it is hardly too 
 much to say that, by this time, it had made itself 
 respected as the expression of a national idea. 
 
 The system had, as ^\dll have been seen, now deve- 
 loped itself into something very different from, and, to 
 the various rulers of divided Italy, far more formidable 
 than the innocent convention for mutual support and 
 defence of the German charcoal-burners. It is not, 
 therefore, under the circumstances, surj)rising that 
 certain people outside the pale of the society, though 
 we can hardly suppose them altogether ignorant of 
 its professed objects, should have come to regard it 
 with a vague and uneasy feeling of fear and aversion. 
 In the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom, as it was then 
 styled, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria had, in 
 August, 1820, issued a decree against the Carbonari, 
 wdiich, after accusing them of high treason, went on to 
 •declare that " The precise object of the Carhonari is the 
 subversion and destruction of all govermnentsy Xow, 
 with Avhatever danger to the Austrian Government 
 the organization might have been suspected to be 
 fraught, and it must be readily granted that there 
 
 were grounds for such suspicion, the foregoing uni- 
 c
 
 20 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOJ^T PANIZZI 
 
 versa! proposition presents a remarkable variation 
 from the truth. The aim of the Carbonari was, it is 
 true, to liberate their country from the yoke of the 
 foreigner, but there cannot be a doubt that it pointed 
 in an equally direct degree to the unification of Italy. 
 or at the least to a confederation of her several States 
 under Italian government or presidency. 
 
 Havino- thus endeavoured to trace the origin, 
 growth, and aim of Carbonarism, it behoves us to 
 consider how it affected the state of Naples, what was 
 the condition of that place at the time of its intro- 
 duction, and what were its immediate and subsequent 
 results. To do this it "will now be necessary to reca- 
 pitulate the events of the memorable years 1820 and 
 1821. 
 
 Whilst the secret societies and the people united 
 in endeavouring to upset the existing state of affairs, 
 the government of Naples, utterly unconscious of 
 all danger, continued its arbitrary career. Such, 
 indeed, was its feeling of security, that it had the 
 amazing stupidity to imj)rison any person, who fromi 
 excess of zeal or mistaken patriotism gave intimation 
 of approaching danger. Danger there was, however, 
 and in 1820 the revolution broke out in Naples. 
 Two months afterwards a similar revolution, caused 
 by the obstinacy and arbitrary acts of Ferdinand 
 VII. of Spain, occurred at Cadiz. All Europe greeted 
 these movements with applause. The Neapolitans,, 
 more eager and more active than the others, obtained 
 their political reforms at the cost of but little blood- 
 shed, and no public injury ; had the revolution 
 presented itself with its usual accompaniments of risk
 
 CARBONAEISM 21 
 
 and disaster, the Carbonari, and, indeed, the Liberals^ 
 would not have felt inclined to proceed. Never was 
 there greater excitement amongst the former, and 
 never did their numbers and strength increase sa 
 rapidly. 
 
 Thus encouraged they made essay of their strength 
 on the ranks of the regular army, and were fortunate 
 enough to be able to add to their Society no incon- 
 siderable number of associates, both of the rank and 
 file, and of officers. 
 
 The Government was completely taken by surprise. 
 Calabria, Capitanata, and Salerno issued various pro- 
 clamations, whilst the army joined the Carbonari 
 against Kins: Ferdinand I. 
 
 One morning five Carbonari, the most distinguished 
 of the sect, entered the royal palace, announcing that 
 they came in the name of the people, and that they desired 
 to speak with the King or some high authority of the 
 Court. Whereupon the Duke d'i\.scoli presented 
 himself, and was informed by one of the delegates in 
 unmistakable words that tranquility could not be 
 preserved in the city unless the King granted the con- 
 stitution demanded. On the 6th of July, 1820, 
 Ferdinand was compelled to issue an edict " To the 
 Nation of the Two Sicilies," in which he solemnly 
 promised to " pubhsh the basis of the constitution 
 within eight days' time." New ministers were ap- 
 pointed, and shortly afterwards a document appeared 
 stating that the King had resigned the royal authority 
 to his son. The people suspected this to be a stratagem, 
 and insisted on the establishment of the " Cortes " at 
 once. The Viceroy Francis was induced to publish a 
 (; 2
 
 22 THE LIFE OP SIR a:s'thoxy panizzi 
 
 decree declaring that the constitution of the Two 
 Sicilies should be the same as that adopted in Spain 
 in 1812. Thus the Government was constituted on its 
 new basis amid general approbation. 
 
 In Palermo, however, a rebellion had broken out 
 which forced the King to send 2,000 soldiers to reduce 
 the town to obedience. Emboldened by his success 
 over the Sicilian rebels, he now fancied himself safe, 
 and forthwith entered upon extreme measures. A 
 general disarmament of the civil population com- 
 menced, death being the sentence ofall found in secret 
 possession of arms. The liberal-minded monarch 
 further proceeded to prohibit or suspend the action 
 of all public schools, universities, and lyceums, and to 
 disband the militia. 
 
 Such was the wretched state of Naples, when pre- 
 monitory and alarming symptoms of disaffection 
 appeared in the north. On the 11th of January, 1821, 
 a band of young men, wearing the red cap of liberty, 
 appeared at the theatre of the Ardennes, in the dis- 
 trict of Novara, and raised a tumult. This ebullition 
 of enthusiasm was put down by the troops on guard 
 at Turin ; but the revolutionary spirit was checked 
 only for the moment, and soon broke out again sup- 
 ported by men of wealth and influence. In the month 
 of February, on the representation of the Austrian 
 Mmistry, the revolutionary party was publicly accused 
 of consj)iring to expel the Austrians from Italy. On 
 this charge, which might possibly be true enough, 
 many men of noble birth and of the highest social 
 position, were imprisoned in the citadel of Finistrello. 
 This was the signal for a general rising. Officers and
 
 CARBOXAKISM 23 
 
 statesmen joined the revolutionists, and, according to 
 Santorre Santa-Rosa, even tlie heir-apparent, Charles 
 Albert, Prince of Carignano, was no stranger to the 
 intrigues that were going on. 
 
 On the morning of the 4th of March symptoms of 
 revolt appeared in some regiments stationed near 
 Vercelli ; but they were speedily suppressed by the 
 soldiers who remained faithful to the royal cause. 
 
 On the 10th of March the Spanish constitution 
 was publicly proclaimed at Alessandria. As soon as 
 the news of this gain to the cause became known 
 throughout Italy, great were the rejoicings of the 
 Carbonari, and loud and frequent the shouts of " Viva 
 il Be ! Viva La Costituzione r A cavalry regiment 
 was raised and stationed on the heights of Carma- 
 gnuolo, under the command of Captain Lisio, the 
 soldiers shouting, " Death to the Austrians !" Turin, 
 abandoned by its governor, was occupied amid the 
 acclamations of the people and many of the soldiers. 
 
 The KiuCT all this time was at his chateau of Mon- 
 caliere ; but on hearing of the events above described 
 at once hastened to the capital. His first impulse 
 was to put himself at the head of his troops and 
 attack Alessandria ; but he was forced to relinquish 
 this enterprise owing to the unfaithfulness of his 
 soldiers. Thus bathed, he attempted, as a sort of 
 half measure, a proclamation of the French constitu- 
 tion. But it was too late — the insurgents had gained 
 the upper hand. As a last resource, the King sent 
 the Prince of Cario-nano to the revolutionists in order 
 to ascertain their demands. The prince was received 
 with respect and military honours, accompanied by
 
 24 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 shouts of " Viva la Costituzione di Sjjagna /" He 
 was told that war with Austria was desired. The 
 King, on hearing this, rather than give way, abdicated 
 in favour of his heir. 
 
 On the loth the royal family left Turin and set out 
 for Nice, and a proclamation was issued that the 
 Prince of Carignano had been appointed regent of the 
 realm. He was soon afterwards installed in full 
 sovereignty, and the constitution of Spain proclaimed. 
 
 We may be permitted in closing this necessarily 
 very short sketch of the two revolutions, to quote a 
 passage from that most amusing but slightly erratic 
 writer. Lady Morgan, on the subject of the Piedmon- 
 tese Revolution : — " Had this revolution not been dis- 
 turbed by the unprincipled interference of foreign 
 nations it would have led to the happiest consequences. 
 AVhat is to be said of a Government which reduces 
 the great majority of the people to a slavish insensi- 
 bility to national degradation, to a perfect indifference 
 to national honour ?' 
 
 It may certainly be asked, on the other hand, how 
 a nation reduced to the state described by Lady Mor- 
 gan could be entrusted to work out for itself a revo- 
 lution which " would have led to the happiest con- 
 sequences." But liberty in Italy, as elsewhere, must 
 have taken time to grow ; even under the most 
 patriotic of leaders a nation does not become suddenly 
 ripe for the blessings of freedom. Nor can it be 
 doubted that by the spirit that moved in 1820-1822, 
 and which burst forth so brightly in aftertime, were 
 laid the first foundations of that structure of Italian 
 unity finally completed by politicians more skilled but 
 not more patriotic than the revolutionists.
 
 MODENA 25 
 
 How far Panizzi's o-\vn country, Modena, was con- 
 cerned in the attempted w^ork of liberation ^\ill be 
 best shown by a short notice of his book, the 
 " Processi di BuMeray 
 
 By this work, no doubt originally intended for the 
 world, but even then so sparingly circulated and sub- 
 sequently so rigidly suppressed by the wTiter that very 
 few persons have even seen it, the circumstances which 
 drove Panizzi into exile, though not detailed in all 
 their fulness, are illustrated and rendered mtelligible. 
 
 A somewhat minute analysis is not therefore out of 
 place here, although, whether from indisposition to 
 thrust himself forward or from fear of compromising 
 others, the author's name occurs but once or twice 
 in the body of the work, which therefore contributes 
 hardly anything to the elucidation of his own 
 biography. It has usually been referred to as " / 
 Processi di Buhiera,'' Kubiera being the name of the 
 fortress situated between Reggio and Modena, where 
 the prosecution of Modenese political offenders was 
 conducted before a tribunal nominated ad lioc. The 
 title of the book, however, is " Dei Processi e delle 
 Sentenze contra gli imjnitati di Lesa-Mccesta e di 
 aderenza alle Sette jJTOscritte negli Stati di Modena ; " 
 247 pages, besides the title, Madrid, 8°., 1823. The 
 imprint was a disguise ; the publication, if the work 
 can be said to have been published, took place at 
 Lugano. The designation of the anonymous editor, 
 dating from Madrid, Feb. 2, 1823, and subscribing 
 himself, " Un membro della societa landehuriana,'' was 
 no doubt equally apocryphal, and may probably have 
 concealed Panizzi himself. The document is alto-
 
 26 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOXY PAJS'IZZI. 
 
 gether one of the most interesting productions of its 
 author, especially as an indication of the eminence 
 he might have attained in his chosen profession of 
 advocacy had his lot been cast in a free State. The 
 style borders on the oratorical, charged with fiery but 
 restrained indignation, Avhile the vehemence of invec- 
 tive is supported by legal acumen, and a thorough 
 acquaintance with the maxims of jurisprudence, to 
 which the writer continually appeals. His power of 
 recollection and mastery of incidents, whether public 
 or personal, appear extraordinary w^hen it is considered 
 that, his papers ha\ing been seized at Cremona, 
 Panizzi himself must have depended to 9, very great 
 extent upon his memory. Yet the completeness of 
 the documents, which are all given in full, induce the 
 belief that he might somehow have preserved this part 
 of his materials, or have subsequently obtained it in- 
 directly. Some inaccuracies may well have crept un- 
 heeded into the narrative under such circumstances, 
 and this may possibly account for his evident desire 
 to suppress the work. Years after, being questioned 
 on the subject by the biographer, he answered, 
 " Better say notliing about itT It seems difficult to- 
 assign any other reason, unless it might be an exces- 
 sive deference to the sentiment alluded to in the 
 preface, " die lo scoprire le turnititdini delta ixdria 
 sua, comecche a ciascuna jjersona non istia bene, a 
 coloro j)oi die j^er capricdo di malvagia fortuna 
 furono fuori del seno di lei trahalzati, piii special- 
 mente non convengar The tone of the production 
 can scarcely have been disapproved by his maturer 
 judgment. Though emphatic, it is alwavs decorous.
 
 CISALPIXE REPUBLIC 27 
 
 whilst the literary effect is even impaired by a punc- 
 tilious adherence to constitutional fictions in criticizing 
 the acts of the sovereign. There is nothing capable 
 of being construed to the writer's own disadvantage, 
 unless an adversary were sufficiently malicious or 
 prejudiced to discover an incentive to political assassi- 
 nation, in his report of a matter of fact, that Modena 
 rejoiced at hearing the news that a tyrannical official 
 could persecute his fellow-townsmen no more. This 
 moderation of tone certainly cannot have arisen from 
 any vacillation on Panizzi's part. He never altered 
 his opinion of the Modenese Government ; and, even 
 if his mere opinion were disregarded, the documents 
 printed by him speak sufficiently for themselves. It 
 is fortunate that he did not succeed in entirely sup- 
 pressing so lamentable an illustration of the forlorn 
 condition of the Italy of his youth. 
 
 The book commences with a retrospective survey of 
 the then recent history of Italy, displaying remarkable 
 insight into personal character, and containing shrewd 
 rem.arks on State policy. This introduction may one 
 day be appealed to as a testimony that the true 
 founder of Italian independence and unity was neither 
 Charles Albert nor Victor Emmanuel, not Cavour, 
 nor Mazzini, nor Garibaldi, but Napoleon. Nothing, 
 certainly, could have been farther from the intention of 
 the rapacious conqueror, who, ere the ink was well 
 dry with which he had assured the citizens of the 
 Cisalpine Kepublic that their liberties would shortly 
 be secure, proceeded to confiscate them himself. 
 
 A contemporary writer mentions the project which 
 Bonaparte is knowTi to have long entertained, for con-
 
 2S THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOXY PAXIZZI 
 
 solidating Italy into one State, and adds : " While he 
 was Emperor of France he probably intended to ad- 
 minister his new Government by a Viceroy, but since 
 his abdication we are satisfied from all we have seen 
 and heard of his conduct that he dreams of his Italian 
 kingdom for himself." 
 
 It was, however, impossible for a revolutionary in- 
 vader, whose authority involved the negation of the 
 old order of things, to govern Italy without appealing 
 to Italian national sentiment. The various branches 
 of administration fell into the hands of natives. A 
 national army was formed which participated to the 
 full in the glories of the Empire, and Italy regamed 
 something of that reputation for valour and conduct 
 which she had forfeited for three hundred years. The 
 Italian youth, no longer condemned by the jealousy 
 of their rulers to an existence of indolence and friv- 
 olity, awoke to the perception that their immediate 
 progenitors had reversed the mission of their fore- 
 fathers. 
 
 Excudent alii s])irantia mollius cera, . . . 
 Tu regere imjwrio j^ojndos, Bomane, memento. 
 
 For themselves, if still subjects, they were no longer 
 slaves. 
 
 Napoleon, '■^ nato^'' in Panizzi's pregnant phrase, 
 *'^jer dar Vormxc all eta sua" prepared the way for the 
 love of liberty by reviving the love of glory. Looking 
 around them, the Italians beheld an enlightened code 
 of laws, impartial judges, religious toleration, educa- 
 tion fostered by the State, active industry, flourishing 
 finances, above all, a strictly national administration.
 
 MODENA 29 
 
 with every post accessible to desert. The instinctive 
 sagacity of the race taught them to be content with 
 so large a measure of good for the present, and to 
 reserve their aspirations for independence until their 
 beneficent master should bequeath his empire to his 
 son. That day never came. Bonaparte fell, execrated 
 by the many nations which he had pillaged and dis- 
 membered, but cherished by the one he had trained to 
 national life, -svith a resrard which is still a force in 
 European politics. 
 
 Six millions of Italians had, in Napoleon's time at 
 least, been permitted to bear the Italian name. The 
 Congress of Vienna resolved them back into Lom- 
 bards, Piedmontese, and the people of Parma and 
 Modena. Modena was assigned to the Austrian 
 Archduke, descended on the female side from the 
 ancient house of Este, a j)etty tyrant of a peculiarly 
 exasperating type, timorous, suspicious, and hypocri- 
 tical. His first act was to abohsh the Code Napoleon, 
 and replace it by the code promulgated by authority 
 in 1771. The motive for this retrograde proceeding 
 was apparent. The code Napoleon was lucid and 
 comprehensive ; the obscurity and imperfection of the 
 *' Codice Estense " left a marsrin of uncertaintv, under 
 cover of which the maxims of the antiquated civil and 
 canon law would always be introduced when required. 
 The judge had thus the power of resorting to either 
 as he pleased, and his arbitrary decision might be the 
 most potent element in the proceedings. This was 
 plainly equivalent to a denial of justice to persons 
 charged with political offences. The remodelled 
 magistracv was filled with subservient functionaries ;
 
 30 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTHOXY PAXIZZI 
 
 but the real maia-spriiig of the judicial administration 
 was Besini, the Chief of Police. Every act of the 
 Government betrayed the same tendency, especially 
 the oppressive system of taxation, introduced to re- 
 plenish the Duke's private exchequer, and the re- 
 strictions imposed upon higher education. Schools 
 and colleges were placed under the control of the 
 Jesuits ; and scholarships established for the support 
 of poor students at the universities were suppressed, 
 the Duke declaring openly that jjeople must not he 
 encouraged to aspire heyond their station. Every 
 person of liberality or culture became disaffected, and 
 as all open expression of discontent was prohibited,, 
 secret societies began to permeate the entire duchy. 
 
 Matters were in this state when the sudden explo- 
 sion of the Neapolitan revolution turned the appre- 
 hensions of the petty Italian Governments into an 
 actual panic. Austrian troops, hastily summoned to 
 repress the Liberal movement, passed through 
 Modena on their march. Some of these were Hun- 
 garians, a nation sympathising with Italy. An ad- 
 dress was prepared and secretly circulated among 
 them, imploring them not to fight against the Nea- 
 politans. The jealousy of the Modenese Government 
 was roused to the highest pitch. Many arrests were 
 made, chiefly by means of espionage and the violation 
 of private correspondence ; and on March 14th, 1821, 
 a special tribunal was constituted for the trial of 
 political offenders. It was the formal inauguration 
 of a reign of terror. " Avra luogo," says the decree, 
 " un processo e un giudizio statario — Statario, dal 
 latino sfatim, se mal non av^iso," is the sarcastic note 
 of the editor.
 
 GIULIO BESIXI 31 
 
 The etvmolof^v mio^ht seem borne out "by the m- 
 junction that the duration of the proceedings was in no 
 case to exceed eight days, and by the sinister regula- 
 tion : " Si terra pronto il camefice, si potra secondo 
 le circonstanze, eriggere il patibolo anche preven- 
 tivamente, e si disporra per aver pronto un religioso 
 il quale assista coloro che fossero condannati." The 
 priest and the executioner, however, were not imme- 
 diately called into requisition; and the Neapolitan 
 a,nd Piedmontese revolutions having been promptly 
 extinguished, the tempest seemed about to pass off, 
 when suddenly, about the beginning of 1822, numerous 
 arrests were made of persons suspected of participa- 
 tion in the meetings of secret societies. It was soon 
 rej)orted that one of those implicated had denounced 
 his friends, and dark stories became current of the 
 tortures and privations by which the chief of the 
 police, Giulio Besini, sought to wring out confession. 
 By a decree of unheard of injustice and indecency, 
 this natural enemy of the accused was appointed 
 their judge, and charged to receive the depositions 
 he had himself extorted. The issue was eagerly 
 awaited, when, on the evening of May 14th, 1822, 
 Besini perished by an unknown hand. Besini was 
 taken home, surgeons sent for, and the blow declared 
 mortal. Quick as lightning the welcome news 
 spread through Modena, and the people heard Avith 
 joy that there was a man in the toAATi who had been 
 bold enough to rid the land of a miscreant. ^Mtli his 
 dying breath he denounced a certain Gaetano Ponzoni, 
 who, he said, had cause to be his enemy, "as if," 
 obsen'es Panizzi, " Ponzoni ivere the only such ])€rson 
 in the duchij. "
 
 32 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIE ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Upon the admonition of the attendant magistrate, 
 Sohni, Besini acknowledged that he could not positively 
 identify his assailant. Ponzoni was nevertheless 
 arrested, and Solmi's humane interference cost him 
 his office. The special tribunal, hitherto dormant, 
 was called into activity for Ponzoni's trial. 
 
 The course of the procedure gave earnest of what 
 was to follow. Parenti, Ponzoni's advocate, w-as 
 allowed only three days to prepare his defence, and 
 denied an opportunity of examining the adverse wit- 
 nesses, a part even of the written depositions was 
 withheld from him, he was charitably admonished 
 not to occupy the time of the court with tri\ialities, 
 and referred to a secret Ducal decree conferring un- 
 limited powers on the tribunal, which could not be 
 shown to the advocate, because it contained very con- 
 fidential instructions intended for the court alone. 
 In spite of all these obstacles, Ponzoni's innocence 
 was irrefragably established; but his judges, afraid to 
 acquit and ashamed to condemn, simply laid the pro- 
 ceedings before the Duke, w^ho left them unnoticed, 
 and when Panizzi wrote, Ponzoni was still in prison, 
 where he remained, though innocent, till the year 
 1831. The true assassin proved to be a certain 
 Morandi, who, when safe in London, openly avowed 
 ha\incr committed the deed. 
 
 This prosecution was but a preliminary to the in- 
 dictment of the unfortunate men who had languished 
 in capti\ity since the beginning of the year. About 
 the middle of June the commission appointed to tr}' 
 them commenced its session at Fort Rubiera. Its 
 first task was to receive the confessions extorted from
 
 GIULIO BESINI 33 
 
 tlie prisoners during their incarceration, and to elude 
 the numerous retractations of the accused. All these 
 avowals proved to have been obtained under Besini's 
 management by fraud or force. Manzotti had been 
 chained to a wall in such a manner as to oblige him 
 to remain in an erect position until he subscribed to 
 what was required of him ; Nizzoli's signature was 
 affixed during the paroxysms of a fever fit, after he 
 had been chained so as not to be able to sit down for 
 foiiy days. Conti was entrapped by a forged confes- 
 sion attributed to another prisoner; Alberici was 
 gained by allurements and flatteries ; Caronzi was per- 
 suaded by the prayers and tears of his wife, whose 
 honour w^as said to have been the price of a fallacious 
 promise of her husband's deliverance, he being sen- 
 tenced to twenty years' penal servitude, a term reduced 
 by the Duke to fifteen. Peretti, Maranesi, Farioli, 
 and others testified to similar deceits and cruelties 
 ineffectually employed against themselves ; some, be- 
 guiled by the inducement held out to them, remained 
 silent. The chief prosecutor, Vedriani, a man of 
 honour and integrity, called upon the tribunal to 
 acquaint the prisoners that such j)romises were illu- 
 sory and unauthorised. His colleague Fieri opposed 
 him; the question was referred to the Duke, who 
 denied having authorised Besini to hold out any ex- 
 pectations of indulgence. Vedriani insisted that the 
 culprits should be apprised of this declaration ; the 
 judges, fearful lest the unfortunate men should escape 
 from the snare into which they had fallen, peremp- 
 torily negatived the demand. "\'edriani indignantly 
 threw up Ids brief, and the last hope of justice-
 
 34 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTHOXY PANIZZI 
 
 vanished with him. A more supj^le instrument was 
 found, and the prosecution proceeded as the Govern- 
 ment desired. The prisoners were debarred from 
 choosing their own advocates, and those selected were 
 only allowed to confer with them under restrictions. 
 The defenders nevertheless did their duty, and al- 
 though they could not, without subverting the entire 
 judicial fabric of Modena, as then understood, have 
 brought the judges to acknowledge the uselessness of 
 extorted confessions (the sole evidence against most of 
 the accused) — the illegality of the tribunal itself ah 
 initio, or, even granting its legality, the incomj)etence 
 of the tribunal to take cognisance of offences which it 
 had not been constituted to try — they deterred the court 
 from accepting the conclusions of the prosecutor Fieri. 
 This man had demanded the execution of forty-two 
 persons, at most only guilty of belonging to a secret 
 society, and accused of no overt oifence against public 
 tranquility. The tribunal reduced the penalty to 
 various terms of imprisonment. The sentences, be- 
 fore they were pronounced, had to be submitted to 
 the Duke for confirmation. Francis, enraged at their 
 lenity, summoned the President of the Commission 
 before him, the revised sentences assumed a very dif- 
 ferent complexion, and all the three judges stultified 
 their previous decision by subscribing them '■'■ jperche 
 tale fit la Sovrana mente e wlonta'' Nine of the 
 accused, some of whom had fortunately made their 
 escape, were condemned to death ; the remainder to 
 the galleys or imprisonment for life, or for various 
 periods. A Ducal decree appeared after some delay 
 maintaining the punishment of death against those
 
 CARBOXARISM 35^ 
 
 who had escaped, pronouncing a virtual sentence of 
 imprisonment for life against those Avho had stead- 
 fastly maintained their innocence, and extending 
 marked indul^'ence to those who had merited it bv a 
 " sincere, promiit, and siwntaneous confession,''' in 
 other words, those who had been cajoled or intimi- 
 dated into betraying their associates. The latter part 
 of Panizzi's publication is occupied with a legal de- 
 monstration of the incompetence of a tribunal consti- 
 tuted to try charges of high treason to deal with the 
 mere offence of belonging to a secret society. The 
 argument seems conclusive, but in fact the tribunal 
 had voluntarily branded itself mth a deeper mark 
 than any that its assailant's eloquence or ingenuity 
 could have affixed to it. 
 
 On a perusal of the sentences, which are given 
 *' tofidem verbis " in the appendix of the book, the 
 civilized reader remarks with astonishment that, on 
 the tribunal's own shelving, half the offences for which 
 it awards penalties are not proved at all. First, is 
 recited a series of facts considered to be established, bv 
 far the greater part of Avhich relate merely to the 
 presence of the inculpated person at the formal re- 
 ception of some new member into a secret society. 
 Then, in many instances, comes a second string of 
 accusations, confessedly not proved, but considered 
 possible '' perche si ha imre in processo cpialche 
 indizioy And sentence is equally awarded for both ! 
 
 The reasons, for which the sentence on a priest, 
 Giuseppe Andreoli, was carried out, are worthy of 
 attention : — 
 
 1. Because he had committed a crime which was 
 punishable with death.
 
 S6 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 2. Because he had been the means of corrupting- 
 the younger part of the community. 
 
 3. Because he had abused the situation of Pro- 
 fessor of Belles Lettres, at Correggio, in converting 
 it into an instrumemt of Carbonarism. 
 
 4. Because he had confessed his crime too late, 
 and not within that time, which the Duke had fixed 
 upon as available for such confessions. 
 
 As to the latter, it is to be borne in mind, that he 
 confessed, simply on account of the Duke's encourage- 
 ment. The sentence was confirmed on the 11th of 
 October, 1822, not because it was legally necessary, 
 but, indeed, for the personal gratification of Francis 
 IV ; " Invocando il Santissimo noine di Gesii." 
 
 At the period of the production of this work 
 Panizzi's own process was in suspense. He mentions 
 it in a note, complaining of the delay, as intended to 
 discredit him in the eyes of the other Italian patriots. 
 His cousin, Francesco Panizzi, had, it appears, made 
 some sort of confession, and been treated with 
 suspicious lenity. If the Modenese Government had 
 any intention of forcing or enticing Antonio into the 
 like course of action with his cousin, it must have 
 been frustrated by his publication, which may 
 account for the impotent passion evinced in the sub- 
 sequent proceedings against him. The work would 
 be felt the more irritating from its sobriety of manner, 
 its moderation even in the midst of invective, and its 
 constant appeal to establish legal principle, as the 
 criterion of the whole question. While proclaiming 
 his fervent asjoirations for the independence of his. 
 country, the author incidentally disclaims any partici-
 
 CARBOXARISil 37 
 
 pation in the proceedings of the Carbonari, and the 
 commission of any act tending to the overthrow of 
 the existing Government. 
 
 Such would be the natural attitude of a citizen like 
 Panizzi, and he may well have affiliated himself to 
 the secret society, as at that time the sole efficient 
 agent in the cause of Italian freedom. 
 
 It is, nevertheless, difficult to conceive a man of 
 his solid sense and practical sagacity, long acquiescing 
 in the mummery of a Carbonarist conclave, and sub- 
 mitting to be kno^vn to the initiated as Thrasybulus 
 or Archimedes. He represents, however, all the more 
 faithfully, the indignation of the generous youth who 
 had grown up under the comparative liberty of 
 Napoleon's sway, and who, on attaining maturity, 
 found themselves deprived by political changes in 
 other countries, of their birthright in their own ; for- 
 bidden to call or think themselves Italians ; and with 
 every avenue in life closed against them, unless they 
 consented to become instruments of a cruel and sense- 
 less despotism. 
 
 As this generation has passed away other aspects of 
 the Italian question have come into greater promin- 
 ence ; the stately tree of Italian unity has covered the 
 soil in which it originally took root. Even more as 
 a picture of contemporary national feeling, than as an 
 exj)osure of the fraud and cruelty of an extinct 
 tyranny, is Panizzi's youthful Avork, worthy of being 
 rescued from the oblivion to which he for so lon<j 
 condemned it. 
 
 Deeply interesting as are these recollections of the 
 struggle for freedom in Italy, and intimately as they 
 d2
 
 38 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PAXIZZI 
 
 are connected with the life of Panizzi, than whom no 
 stauncher advocate for the liberty of his country ever 
 existed, it must not be forgotten that the object we 
 have immediately in view is to refer to these exciting 
 events so far only as Panizzi himself was concerned 
 with them, and not to allow ourselves to be carried 
 away by our subject beyond the limits necessary to 
 elucidate the object we have at heart. 
 
 II
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 Flight; Luf/ano ; Arrival in London; SaJita-Rosa ; Sentence of 
 Death ; Liverpool ; Boscoe and Friends ; Letter to the Tax- 
 Gatherer and Lnspector of Finances ; Miss Martin ; Lectures. 
 
 T IS HARDLY possible for a native of a 
 free country to form a right conception 
 of the more than fatherly interest 
 formerly taken by the petty prince of 
 an Italian State in the welfare of his 
 subjects. kSo deeply impressed Avith this feeling was 
 Francis IV, Duke of Modena, Panizzi's patron of 
 yore, that he was in the habit at this time (1821) of 
 sending regularly during the week one of his own 
 private carriages into Brescello for the express 
 purpose of bringing back two persons (whose names 
 were set down in his orders, but not divulged) whom 
 it was, doubtless, his intention to reclaim from evil 
 opinions, to save them from the dangers to which such 
 opinions might lead, and to hold them up as examples 
 of his paternal care, or, it is just possible, as a warning 
 to the remainder of his people. The Brescelleso, either 
 from uneasiness of conscience or from a natural dislike 
 to all that was good, regarded both the duke's inten- 
 tions and his carriage with aversion. Of all men the 
 least anxious for a seat in it were Panizzi and his
 
 40 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZl 
 
 friend Dr. Minzi, whom, it may be remembered, he 
 had initiated into Carbonarism. It happened one day, 
 as these two friends were taking their afternoon stroll 
 along the Reggio road, that the ill-omened carriage 
 suddenly appeared in the distance. Their only 
 resource was to throw themselves into the ditch by 
 the roadside, and remain concealed as closely as pos- 
 sible until the fatal vehicle had passed. This they 
 accordingly did, and, as good luck would have it, 
 ■escaped unnoticed. To return to BresccUo was to 
 meet the carriage a second time in all probability, for 
 they suspected, and not without reason, that they 
 themselves were the two persons who were to 
 take a forced drive to Modena — a journey for 
 which, at present, they felt little inclination. It was 
 decided, therefore, as a temporary measure, to cross 
 the frontier, and both being nimble of foot and with 
 bodies w^ell trained, as becomes all wise and prudent 
 men, by athletic exercise, they fled across country 
 with all possible speed for the Parmese territory. 
 Arrived on this hospitable soil, the story goes that 
 they threw themselves prone upon it, and actually (not 
 figuratively) kissed it, pouring forth their heartfelt 
 thanks to Providence for their deliverance from im- 
 pending evil. Their position was even now far from 
 enviable. It was imjDossible for them to remain on 
 Parmese ground, and they were fully aware that perils 
 as great as those from which they had just escaj)ed 
 lay before them. Exhausted as they were, they held 
 a council on the road, in doubt whether to proceed or 
 xeturn to Brescello. The conclusion at which they 
 arrived was that the better plan was to go back and
 
 FLIGHT 41 
 
 make careful inquiries in the neighbouring villages, 
 in order to ascertain who were the two persons for 
 whom the agents of the police were seeking. On that 
 very night, therefore, they returned, reaching Brescello 
 about daybreak, and learnt to their great satisfaction 
 that their names had never been mentioned. Here 
 they seemed to have secured repose ; but, as it turned 
 out, of short duration, lasting only for the space of 
 two months ; for on the 22nd of October in the same 
 year Panizzi received a slight message summoning him 
 to the police office, where he accordingly attended. 
 Hardly had he reached the door when he was arrested. 
 Throughout all his misfortunes he seems not to have 
 been without his share of good luck. The man who 
 arrested him proved to be a friend, and by the aid of 
 this kindly official he was enabled to jump out of a 
 window, and again make his Avay for the frontier. 
 
 It mav not be uninterestino^ to mention here that 
 this man afterwards became an Austrian spy. Many 
 years later on, while Panizzi was on a journey to Italy, 
 and had arrived at the frontier, some one ap- 
 proached the carriage and demanded his passport. It 
 was, of course, handed over. On returning it the 
 man said, " Bicon viaggio, Sir/nor Panizzi !" and he 
 recognised his friend of the Brescello police-office. 
 
 In the meantime, and before his arrest, the refugee, 
 whose good luck it must be confessed was mainly 
 owing to his sagacity and foresight, had taken care to 
 provide himself with a passport. This, strange to say, 
 he obtained duly endorsed, tiirough a friend of Count 
 Munarini, then Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 
 addition to this passport, he had also armed himself
 
 42 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 with another document, ahnost equally useful. This 
 was a pass, in the form usually given to labourers who 
 wished to absent themselves for the day. With these 
 papers in his possession he crossed the Po to Viadana, 
 and, setting out from thence in company with Minzi, 
 Zatti and Montani, arrived at Cremona, where he was 
 recognised by the Austrian police-agent Ticino, who 
 endeavoured to arrest his further progress. In this 
 attempt, however, he failed ; Panizzi's passport being 
 perfectly en regie. Nevertheless, he succeeded at the 
 instigation of a notorious spy named Antonioli in 
 robbing the fugitive of a portion of his luggage. 
 
 From Cremona he made his way as well as he could 
 to Switzerland, where he took up his quarters at 
 Lugano. Here he wrote his " Processi di Buhiera,'' 
 and at first thought of settling in the place, as this was a 
 free toAvn, near his own home. It may be as well to keep 
 the memory of wrongs before the world, and it is un- 
 fortunately the way of unsuccessful men in general, 
 and of unsuccessful revolutionists in particular, not to 
 accept defeat philosophically, but after all hope 
 of success has departed, still to irritate those 
 whom they have failed to dispossess or overcome. 
 From this pardonable defect Panizzi was, as might be 
 expected, not more free than the rest of mankind. 
 His restless and energetic disposition would not allow 
 him to refrain from political controversy, and the 
 character of his writings so provoked the Austrians 
 that he was ordered to quit Lugano and proceed to 
 Geneva. Thither he accordingly went, but not to 
 remain long ; his objectionable reputation had preceded 
 him, and the representatives of Austria, France, and Sar-
 
 FLIGHT 4o 
 
 dinia insisted on his expulsion. England was the only 
 country now open to himself and his brother exiles, 
 and thither they determined to journey by way of 
 France ; but, as they were not certain that the French 
 authorities would allow refugees to pass through their 
 country, it was decided to send forward Signor Bezzi 
 (afterwards well-known in England as Mr, G. Aubrey 
 Bezzi, who died in Piedmont only a few months 
 before Panizzi) to exjiloiter the route. This gentle- 
 man's exploitation must be held to have fallen a little 
 short of complete success. At Gex, a small town in 
 France, in the Department of Ain, and about 11 miles 
 from Geneva, he was stopped, unceremoniously 
 stripped, and after being thoroughly searched and ex- 
 amined, sent back. There was, however, a way to 
 England still left to the party, by the Rhine and the- 
 Netherlands, and by this route they arrived in London 
 in May, 1823. It is painful to have to record that 
 the slenderness of their means obliged them to live in 
 a state bordering on actual destitution. The author 
 clearly recollects hearing Panizzi narrate that, in these 
 days of his indigence, fourteen-pence was all he al- 
 lowed himself for breakfast and dinner, and how 
 well he remembered spending one portion of an after- 
 noon in gazing through the windows of a cook-shop 
 watching with hungry eyes the more fortunate mortals 
 who were satisfying their appetites within ; and this 
 reminiscence gained additional zest from the fact that 
 it was related at a banquet. 
 
 London at this period was full of refugees, from 
 every country and of every grade, including presidents 
 of republics, generals, men of letters, lawyers, poets, etc.
 
 44 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PAXIZZI 
 
 At first these various celebrities enjoyed a con- 
 siderable amount of notoriety, no small part of wliicli 
 was bestowed upon them by the newspaper writers, 
 who seemed for some time to be indefatigable in 
 drawing public notice to the exiles, and in relating 
 exciting anecdotes of this or that famous person 
 sojourning amongst them. In due course, however, 
 the novelty of the thing wore oiF, and readers, hav- 
 ing had a surfeit of such accounts, the newspapers 
 gradually ceased to stimulate their curiosity, and the 
 expatriated heroes were forgotten by the public at 
 large. 
 
 If, as the maxim is, a man may be known by the 
 society he keeps, Panizzi, who seems at most times to 
 have had peculiar good fortune in attracting to him- 
 self men of worth, both privately and publicly, must 
 be allowed to have stood high in this respect. 
 
 His dearest friend at this period of hJLs life in Lon- 
 don was the illustrious Piedmontese statesman, San- 
 torre Santa-Rosa, who, the life and soul of the great 
 patriotic movement then lately made to achieve the 
 freedom of his country, was born at Savigliano in Sar- 
 dinia, in September, 1783. He was the author of 
 the History of the Piedmontese Revolution, a work 
 which breathes the true spirit of national liberty, and 
 exhibits its WTiter as a most determined foe to any- 
 thing in the shape of foreign domination. Forced by 
 his Government to expatriate himself in 1821, Santa 
 Rosa went to Switzerland, but being, like Panizzi, 
 compelled by the Austrian and Sardinian Govern- 
 ments to quit that country, he betook himself to 
 France, taking u]) his residence in Paris, where he
 
 ii'LIGHT 45 
 
 assumed the name of Conti, and became the bosom 
 friend of Victor Cousin. Early in October, 1822, he 
 arrived in England, on the merits and defects of which 
 country he makes the following quaint comment in 
 one of his letters to his brother exiles :— " Here I have 
 been received with sincerity and kindness. I also 
 admire the virtuous habits of the English, but cannot 
 get used to their mode of cooking." 
 
 For ourselves, as true lovers of our country, we are too 
 well content with the eulogy at the beginning, to take 
 exception to the blame of one of our institutions im- 
 plied in the concluding part of the sentence. 
 
 In November, 1824, Santa-Rosa left England for 
 Napoli di Romania to light for the cause of Greek 
 independence, and was killed in battle on the 19th 
 of May, 1825. His death was a sad blow to the band 
 of Italian patriots in London, but especially to Panizzi, 
 who had looked up to him as a father and a counsellor, 
 and had kept up a constant correspondence with him. 
 There are in our possession but two letters written by 
 Santa-Rosa to his friend, dated respectively the 5th 
 September and 13th November, 1823, from "The 
 Green Cottage, South Bank, St. John's Wood," a part 
 of the town much affected as a dwelling place by the 
 leading refugees. Conspicuous in these are the writer s 
 affection for Panizzi and anxious care for his welfare ; 
 nor are matters of mental instruction omitted, for we 
 find strong recommendations carefully to study the 
 political and literary history of Italy, and also " note 
 all the most important ])oints of Ewilish habits^ 
 After Santa-Rosa, Panizzi's chief friends, with whom 
 during his stay in to^^Tl he spcmt a great portion
 
 46 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 of his time, were the brothers Camillo and Filippo 
 Ugoni, both literary men of some note. 
 
 Shortly after Panizzi's arrival in London he was 
 tried in his absence on the charge of Carbonarism, in 
 which it has been shown that he was deeply impli- 
 cated. Of this, as might have been expected, he was 
 found guilty on pretty clear evidence, and, in default 
 of appearance, was sentenced to death by the Govern- 
 ment of Modena. 
 
 Subjoined is a translation of the sentence : — 
 
 Invoking the name of God Most Holy, in the reign of 
 Francis IV. Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola, Arch- 
 duke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia. 
 
 The Special Tribunal, instituted by revered sovereign sign 
 manual of 28 July, 1823, 
 
 Having assembled at the Palace of Justice, and in the 
 chamber duly appointed for the purpose of trying the Doctor 
 of Laws, Antonio, son of Luigi Panizzi, native of and domi- 
 ciled at Brescello, province of Reggio, contumacious, and 
 
 CRIMINALLY ARRAIGNED : 
 
 1. For that he, being already enrolled in a prohibited sect, 
 took part with other persons known to the judicial authorities 
 in the reception into the sect of Carbonari of the appraiser 
 Francesco Panizzi, and Doctor Domenico Griglioli of Brescello, 
 in the afternoon of the 11th of March, 1821, in his own office 
 situated in his dwelling house at Brescello. 
 
 2. For that he in the evening of the next day, the 12th, did 
 with other persons likewise known to the judicial authorities 
 take part in the reception into the sect of Carbonari of the 
 apothecary Bartolomeo Panizzi of Brescello, which reception 
 took place in the office of the appraiser Francesco Panizzi, 
 situated in his dwelling house at Brescello. 
 
 Having referred to the documents drawn up by the acting 
 Director of Police, Doctor Pietro Curti, and to the further
 
 FLIGHT 47 
 
 documents before this Tribunal, and particularly to tlie charges 
 issued against the accused by the special inquisition on the 1st, 
 and the 19th of September last past; 
 
 Havino- referred to the inferences of the Procurator Fiscal of 
 this Tribunal, Advocate Felice Fieri ; 
 
 Considering that the results of the legal proceedings taken 
 ao"ainst the said contumacious Dr. Panizzi prove that he cer- 
 tainly belonged to a proscribed sect, and moreover clearly 
 demonstrate that he was anxious to gain proselytes for the sect 
 of Carbonari, and to promote by every means the efforts of 
 the confederates, and the object at which they were aiming, 
 that is the overthrow and destruction of our present lawful 
 government ; 
 
 Considering that the deposition of the appraiser Panizzi and 
 those of Giuseppe Alberici, of Dr. Giuseppe Minzi and of Dr. 
 G-iov. Batt* Cavandoli all of Brescello, show that the accused 
 Panizzi took part in the reception into the sect of Carbonari of 
 the said appraiser Panizzi and of Dr. Domenico Griglioli of 
 Brescello, which took place at his own house and exactly in 
 the office of the accused himself, in the afternoon of the first 
 Sunday in Lent, in the year 1821, that is on the 11th of 
 Marcii in the said year, whilst amongst the said persons there 
 are some wlio assert that the accused himself acted there as 
 chief, and also instructed the aforesaid Giglioli and appraiser 
 Panizzi, the first of whom likewise confesses that his aggre- 
 gation to the sect, which he afterwards found to be that of the 
 Carbonari, and which was even indicated to him as such by 
 the accused Panizzi, took place with the participation of the 
 said accused and in the place above-mentioned ; 
 
 Considering that in regard to the aggregation of the apothe- 
 cary Panizzi to the Carbonari sect with the participation of the 
 accused, there are the depositions of the former as well as of 
 the appraiser Panizzi and of Cavandoli, who were present 
 there with others, and that those depositions are corroborated 
 by the extrajudicial confession of the accused himself, made 
 to Kizzoli on the very evening of the event, that he had in-
 
 48 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY ' PANIZZI 
 
 troduced tlie said apothecary Panizzl into tlie Carbonari sect, 
 and made a Carbonaro of the said Panizzi, and subsequently 
 with rco-ard to Gin-lioli that he too had been affihated to the 
 Carbonari sect; 
 
 As the said Panizzi still persists in his contumacy, which in 
 terms of the law is equivalent to imputed confession, and con- 
 sidering that all the formalities prescribed by T. 12, L. 4 of 
 the Cod. Est. have been observed ; 
 
 Having referred to the same code §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 
 of L. 5. T. 2. — § 9. L. 4, 7, 15, and the sovereign edict 20 
 September, 1820 ; 
 
 The above-mentioned tribunal has condemned, and does 
 condemn, the contumacious Doctor of Laws, Antonio Panizzi, 
 to the punishment of 
 
 DEATH 
 
 to be executed on his effigy, to confiscation of his property, 
 and in the costs. 
 
 Modena, 6 October, 1823. 
 
 Giuseppe Cons'"'' Terni, President. 
 V^ Cavedoni, Judge. 
 C. Tassoni, Judge. 
 
 P. Pedresclii, Chancellor. 
 
 This sentence was promulgated by me in due form this 20 
 October, 1823. Pedrcschi, Chancellor. 
 
 A true copy. Pedreschi, Chancellor. 
 
 These hair-breadth escapes may be very amusing- 
 and pleasant to read about, but to the j)i'ii^cipal 
 person concerned, who was thoroughly capable of 
 appreciating the various positions and vicissitudes of 
 life, they must have conveyed anything but agreeable 
 impressions, or conduced to the ease of mind so ac- 
 ceptable to mankind in general.
 
 FLIGHT 
 
 49 
 
 J&^ 
 
 Panizzi remained but a short time in London. The 
 celebrated Ugo Foscolo, to whom the Ugoni had 
 introduced him, had strongly advised him at once 
 to quit the metropolis and to try his fortunes at 
 Liverpool, where there was more likelihood of his 
 obtaining employment. Foscolo furnished him with 
 letters of introduction to William Roscoe, author 
 
 of the life of Leo X., and also 
 to other distinguished Liverpool 
 men. How he was received by 
 Eoscoe, the following passage 
 in the biography of the latter 
 (Lond. 1833), vol. ii., p. 406, 
 will shoAv: — "It was the good 
 fortune of Mr. Eoscoe to retain, 
 even to the close of his life, that 
 power of attracting the friend- 
 ship of others which had been 
 from his youth one of his most 
 marked characteristics. Amongst these, the friends 
 of his age, there was no one who became more 
 sincerely attached to him, or for whom he himself 
 felt a higher degree of esteem and affection than 
 Mr. Panizzi, an Italian gentleman, who had been 
 compelled, in consequence of political persecutions, to 
 abandon Italy and to take refuge in England. Soon 
 after his arrival in this country he settled in Liver- 
 pool as a teacher of the Italian language, where his 
 talents and worth soon won the regard of Mr. Eos- 
 coe. To the kindness and attention of Mr. Panizzi, 
 which rather resembled that of a son than of a 
 stranger, he owed many happy hours." Mr. Eoscoe 
 died on June 30th, 1831.
 
 50 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 At his death Panizzi received the following letter: — 
 
 Lodge-lane, 30th June, 1831. 
 
 So affectionately attached as you have been to my father, I 
 cannot let you learn the sad intelligence which this letter will 
 convey from anybody but one of his own family. 
 
 He was seized last week with a violent cold or influenza, 
 accompanied with fever. At first we thought him getting 
 over it, but on Monday night he was attacked with a shivering 
 fit and being put to bed he never rose again. His strength 
 failed him rapidly, and this morning at 11 o'clock he breathed 
 his last quite peacefully. 
 
 It is a great consolation to know that he suffered no acute 
 pain, and his mind seemed perfectly composed. 
 
 Yours, &c., H. EOSCOE. 
 
 The centenary of William Eoscoe's birth was cele- 
 brated at Liveri^ool on the 8th March, 1853, and 
 Panizzi was of course asked to attend. 
 
 In replying to the invitation he said: — "Feb. 19, 
 1853. . . . The veneration in which I, together 
 with all lovers of truth, of freedom, of independence, 
 of literature, and of the arts, hold the memory of that 
 illustrious man, and the grateful recollection of the 
 warm and affectionate regard with which I was 
 honoured by him, are inducements so powerful to 
 accept so kind an invitation as that which your letter 
 conveys, that nothing but the absolute impossibility of 
 leaving my duties here could restrain me from avail- 
 ing myself of it." 
 
 Before Panizzi left London he received from Italy 
 n most curious bill for money due from him ; such a 
 bill as few men have ever received at any time, 
 and such as many men, Panizzi, probably, amongst 
 the number, would hardly consider the most unpleasant
 
 LIVEKPOOL S^ 
 
 of their kind. It was from the Inspector of Finances 
 and Tax-gatherer (Isi^ettore ed Esattore di Finanze) 
 at Pteggio, who, having heard of Panizzi's escape and 
 arrival in SwitzerLand, sent him an account of money 
 spent in preparing his accusation, sentence of death, 
 and even for the expenses of his execution, " vu con- 
 timiaciam:' The actual sum demanded was 225 
 francs and 25 cents, including the usual fee for the 
 
 hanfjman. 
 
 In his then low state of spirits Panizzi hardly felt 
 equal to answering this amusing epistle in a befitting 
 manner, and accordingly postponed his reply until 
 after his arrival at Liverpool, whence he sent the 
 following humorous letter : — 
 
 {Translation^) llcalin of Death, 
 
 Elysian Fields, 
 
 10th May, 1824. 
 
 The soul of whilom Dr. Antonio Panizisi, 
 
 To the Inspector of Finances and Tax-gatherer of the Pro- 
 vince of Rcggio (Satanic Domain). 
 
 The body animated by me before I was smitten by the 
 pointless stiletto of Terni, Cavedoni, and crew, and now living 
 at Liverpool, by the grace of God sound and so sprightly that 
 those who see it think that — spite of ]\Iodena's Dukeling — I 
 have not yet forsaken it, has sent mc in my abode here a letter 
 of yours, No. 14 of the 2Gth of March last past, requesting in- 
 formation or reply. Now I, in compliance with the latter 
 solicitation, have to tell you tliat, mindful of the maxim 
 " mors omnia solvit," I do not consider that since my departure 
 I have any longer either assets or liabilities in that miserable 
 world of yours; unless you mean to say that, notwithstanding 
 the Holy Alliance, I am still united to that body of mine at 
 Liverpool ; wh.ich would be a deadly sin ipso facto ct jure 
 incurring the penalty of higher e.i'conmimtcalion, from which
 
 52 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 none but sl fashionable Jesuit could absolve me, for havino-had 
 the audacity to suggest a doubt of your most benign petty 
 masterling's laxcful authority to expel me from the world. 
 
 Nevertheless, as I and that aforesaid body of mine are 
 always upon such good terms with each other that we might 
 still pass for body and soul conjoined, and as the corporal 
 party through honourable industry can by my direction dis- 
 pose of a few pounds sterling without inconvenience, I beg 
 you to send to my body at Liverpool — for the post from your 
 diabolical State never comes to disturb my rest here — a de- 
 tailed account of the expenses and of the food which you tell 
 me ought to be paid for to the extra-crammed treasury of a 
 microscopical Duke who has been so over-weeningly fatuous as 
 to send me to dwell in this beatific place ; and if your state- 
 ment be found correct, I will remit you in discharge thereof a 
 bill of exchange on some Capuchin bank payable at sight when 
 the Greek calends come. Only I warn you to give full par- 
 ticulars of the food, for I have an idea that it was gobbled up 
 by the aforesaid fleshmongers Terni, Cavedoni, and crew ; 
 knowing well that my body, seasonably advised by me, spared 
 the Treasury the trouble not only of providing the food to 
 be paid for afterwards, and xor which you make a demand now, 
 but also of preparing a lodging generously offered gratis, only 
 rather too late. If I perceive by the item — Bottles — that 
 Terni bravely distinguished himself as a consummate hypo- 
 crite in Austrian service ought to do, I will write to him, 
 begging him to pardon me for a letter which I addressed to 
 him, as if I had been on earth, telling him that he acted 
 against me like a hired assassin, and I will excuse him as a 
 " drunken murderer." 
 
 "Wishing you a death such as mine, I conclude without 
 further ceremony, both for the sake of following your example 
 and because such observances are not much affected in this 
 republic. 
 
 The soul of A. Panizz;
 
 AT LIVERPOOL So- 
 
 It must be acknowledged that this was rather a 
 substantial letter to emanate from the world of spirits, 
 and the imaginary separation of the soul from the 
 " sound and sprightly " body should certainly have 
 satisfied his extraordinary creditors and absolved him 
 from the debt. 
 
 Panizzi had now settled for the time in Liverpool, 
 where he kept up a constant correspondence with 
 absent friends. The two letters from Santa-Rosa,, 
 dated 1823, too clearly prove that he was at this 
 time in a state of great poverty, and that he thought 
 of returning to London, a step, however, strongly 
 opposed by his friend. 
 
 The capricious nature of the English climate— it 
 was in the winter that he had arrived at Liverpool — 
 seemed to discourage and depress him, perhaps, more 
 than anything else ; whilst the want of the most 
 ordinary comforts of life, even of proper food, told 
 severely upon his health. His income was chiefly 
 derived from giving lessons in the Italian language 
 and literature ; some of his pupils lived far away from 
 the town, and he used to start on foot early in the 
 morning, give his lessons and return to Liverpool by 
 eleven o'clock. This was necessarv, as other duties 
 required his attendance in the town at that hour; 
 and, when we consider that the journey had fre- 
 quently to be made through snow and rain, its 
 depressing influence on the spirits of the young 
 Italian, accustomed to the more genial climes of the 
 south, may be readily understood. 
 
 His address at tliis date, December 1823, is not 
 known, but in the January following he lodged, at 
 e2
 
 64 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOIsrY PANIZZI 
 
 No. 6, King-street, Soho. lie continued to extend 
 his acquaintance and was upon friendly terms with 
 the bankers, Mr. Ymes and Mr. Zwilchenbart. At 
 this period, too, he knew Mr. John Ewart, at whose 
 
 house he met Mr. Francis Hay- 
 wood, the translator of Kant's 
 " Critick of Pure Keason." 
 
 From these gentlemen, who, 
 as well as the Hev. William 
 Shepherd, author of the "Life 
 of Poggio Bracciolini," were 
 among his earliest acquaint- 
 ances in Liverpool, he received 
 the greatest kindness. With 
 Mr. Haywood he soon became most intimate, and fre- 
 quent communications passed between them. Lideed, 
 if a day elapsed without a letter from Mr. Haywood. 
 Panizzi wrote, asking " why had he not written." 
 
 Such were the friends, whom even in his early 
 career, when chances of success appeared at a hazy 
 distance, this young man was able to draw towards 
 him, and many more he secured in after life. 
 
 The necessity of close attention to his duties, and 
 the attractions of the hospitable society of English 
 friends, never led him to neglect his fellow exiles. 
 
 Amongst the latter was a certain Count Linati, 
 whose character and antecedents deserve some short 
 notice at our hands. Claudio Linati was born in 
 the Duchy of Parma, on the 1st of Februaiy, 1790. 
 Lie appears to have been at one time a man of wealth 
 and standing, but had become deejjly involved in 
 the political complications of his country. On the
 
 LIN ATI 00 
 
 9th of April, 1824, he was tried in his absence for 
 conspiracy against his Government, and sentenced to 
 death in contumaciam by the Supreme Tribunal of 
 Parma. Having succeeded in making his escape, 
 he settled for a time in Spain, and subsequently in 
 France. He was a writer and artist of no mean 
 ability. In a letter to a mutual friend, Panizzi 
 describes Linati, as a man of turbulent spirit, on 
 whom nature had bestowed a robust constitution, 
 proof against all changes of climate ; full of energy, 
 though without any decided aim, an adept at all 
 employments, and well versed in literature ; a painter 
 and a poet, a writer of plays, too, both comic and tragic, 
 many of which he delighted to read to his friend. 
 The manners and customs of the countries in whicli 
 he lived were his constant study, though his views 
 of mankind in general partook of his own untu- 
 tored spirit. Speaking of Spain he says that priestly 
 anarchy predominates in that country, and calls 
 France " quel sermlissimo versatile compassionevole 
 popoletto,'' stigmatising the nation as " servile pecus " 
 for its submission to tyranny. Linati's troubles were 
 many, and these it was his constant pleasure to 
 relate to his friend at Liverpool, in long letters 
 which Panizzi often answered by sharp criticisms,, 
 perhaps provoked in part by the heavy postage whicli 
 he had to pay, and to which he did not scruple 
 to call attention. In one especial respect there was 
 great dissimilarity between the Count and Panizzi, 
 for whereas the former for some unknown reason 
 hated England and the English people, the latter 
 early evinced the strongest liking for both.
 
 ■56 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 In December, 1823, he wrote to Linati, minutely 
 describing his position, and concUiding his long letter 
 thus : — " In spite of all my sufferings and many 
 troubles occasioned by poverty, I had rather live in 
 England than in Italy." 
 
 Upon this Linati wrote : — " Though your dear and 
 beloved England may in some measure have slackened 
 your chain, I will nevertheless tell you that I still 
 prefer the Duke d'Angouleme, open enemy as he is, 
 to that vile and infamous Sir William A'Court, who 
 has betrayed the rights of hospitality by supporting 
 a Government which, if unable to save itself, ought 
 at least to have saved others. I can make a distinc- 
 tion between the generous people of England, whose 
 hearts beat with noble enthusiasm at the war-cry of 
 the liberal Spaniards, as well as the aspiration for 
 Greek independence and self-government. I am 
 delighted to learn that you are in the way of getting 
 an honest livelihood. A hazardous occupation is that 
 of teaching languages, particularly if you happen to 
 meet with a pretty ' Brittanna,' who, whilst she is 
 iinxious to learn how to sing in Italian, may seem 
 still more anxious to master the language of Petrarch, 
 and suggest to her teacher that he might assist her in 
 conjugating the verb amare (to love)." 
 
 The biographer has at this point to deplore the 
 absence of some of Panizzi's letters ; not only because 
 of the interesting matter which they are sure to have 
 contained, but because curiosity must now remain 
 unsatisfied in regard to the particular impression 
 made on Panizzi's mind by the suggestion in the last 
 paragraph of Linati's letter.
 
 LINATI 67 
 
 As the Count was no longer allowed to reside in 
 France, the police ordered him. to quit the country at 
 once ; whereupon he emigrated to Brussels, and here 
 he found a letter from his Liverpool friend, enclosing 
 an order for 300 francs. This present, however, he 
 declined with thanks. The wretched state of the 
 Italians, cast into the streets of Paris penniless, after 
 several months of imprisonment, gave Panizzi and 
 Linati work enough to do. The former used his in- 
 fluence with the Philhellenic Society in London, and 
 the latter secured the interest of Lord Byron, of whom 
 he happened to be an intimate friend. 
 
 In the summer of the following year it appears 
 that both intended to settle at New York. Panizzi, 
 however, in discussing this project, remarked that his 
 acquaintance, though showing him every mark of 
 kindness, never seemed to lose sight of the fact that 
 he was an Italian ; from the Americans, who were " a 
 proud people," there was a fortiori but scant 
 courtesy to be exj)ected, and but little advancement 
 to be hoped for in their country. Linati's answer 
 was : — " I do not agree with you in what you say 
 respecting the North Americans, for half the popu- 
 lation consists of adventurers, and the system of colo- 
 nization being so active, there will be no difficulties in 
 becoming a citizen, whereas in England you will 
 remain a ^foreigner' for ever." 
 
 However, Linati went to Mexico, and from there 
 again indulged in his abuse of England in these words : 
 — " I cannot understand your sympathy with those 
 English tradesmen ; for whilst living amongst them I 
 daily noticed cold and formal ceremonials, stupidity
 
 58 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIONY PANIZZI 
 
 provoked by drink, and the brutality of the ' prize- 
 ring,' with its livid eyes and battered faces. Really, 
 and indeed, my dear friend, I am truly sorry that you 
 do not agree with me." 
 
 Linati seems to have discovered that worse countries 
 existed than England ; only a short interval iiad 
 elapsed before we find him leaving Mexico in disgust 
 and returning during the winter of 1827 to London,, 
 where he is heard of no more until 1830. In that 
 year he was upon the committee for remodelling Italy. 
 It is certain, however, that in course of time he over- 
 came his antipathy to Mexico, for he afterwards 
 returned thither, and died at Tampico in the year 
 1832. 
 
 Count Giuseppe Pccchio was another of those dis- 
 tinguished exiles in whose company Panizzi delighted. 
 Their long correspondence reveals a close intimacy. 
 Pecchio, better known in England as the author of 
 the " Semi-serious Observations of an Italian Exile 
 during his liesideuce in JEnr/land" was also one of 
 the victims of the ill-fated Piedmontese Eevolution. 
 England was his first refuge, and, after being engaged 
 in various occupations, amongst others that of Italian 
 teacher at Nottingham, he married an English lady, 
 and, ^^ post tot nanfragia tutus,''' took up his residence 
 at Brighton. 
 
 The book, published at Lugano in 1827, contains, 
 amusing sketches of English life from a foreigner's 
 2)oint of view ; and after perusing it one can safely 
 conclude that the Count was indebted for his in- 
 ferences rather to imagination than to memory — per- 
 haps to the two combined more than to actual facts. 
 
 J
 
 PECCHIO 
 
 59 
 
 While residing in London Pecchio contemplated 
 the production of a periodical, to which Panizzi was 
 to be the chief contributor, wdth Messrs. Haywood 
 an.d Poscoe as his supporters in addition to Silvio 
 Pellico, who was about to be set free on occasion 
 of the marriage of the Archduke Leopold, and whose 
 presence was expected in the metropolis. This 
 formed a strong company for the undertaking, to 
 which the promoters were justified in looking forward 
 with no little hope of success. The attempt to start 
 this periodical, however, proved futile, and not even a 
 number of it ever appeared. 
 
 On the loth November, 1825, Pecchio w-rote a 
 letter to Panizzi, for the purpose of introducing a 
 certain Miss E * * * *, telling- him that he ouo^ht to 
 appear as a l^arcissus to captivate the young lady. 
 Panizzi's health, however, seemed at this time to fail 
 him, and this he attributed to the severity of the 
 winter season, w'hicli, as before stated, invariably 
 affected him in a remarkable deo-ree. 
 
 Possibly this may have been one cause of his indis- 
 position. The Count, however, with some acuteness 
 in deciding on symptoms, remarks : " The loss of 
 one's country is a tvound ivhich never heals; it is 
 one of those ])ains which slowly destroy our own 
 existence ivithoiit our ]perceimng it" 
 
 Sufficient space has, however, been allotted to 
 Panizzi's friends, and it is now time to return to 
 Panizzi himself. His celebrity as a teacher of Italian 
 and lecturer on that language was established at Liver- 
 pool. Before dilating upon his peculiar aj^titude in 
 this direction we must mention one feature in his
 
 '60 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 character which will pre-eminently raise him in the 
 estimation of all discerning readers. Miss Martin, one 
 of his former pupils, knew him as a political exile in the 
 time of his penury; nevertheless, she well recollects and 
 bears witness to his most high-spirited disinterested- 
 ness in pecuniary matters — in fact, his singular dis- 
 regard of money. 
 
 The lectures on the Italian language, at which 
 this lady was present, were delivered by him in the 
 years 1824 and 1825 in English ; they had been in- 
 augurated by Mr. Roscoe, and were given at 
 the Royal Institution, Liverpool, where, strange to 
 say, no record of them has been kept. 
 
 The following anecdote related by Miss Martin 
 may serve to illustrate the earnestness of his ad- 
 dresses. In reciting some of the lines of the " Gerusa- 
 lemme Lihcrata" where the anxious Crusaders first 
 catch sight of the sacred city of Jerusalem : — 
 " Ecco apparir Gerusalem si vede, 
 Ecco additar Gerusalem si scorge : 
 Ecco da mille voci unitamente 
 Gerusalemme salutar si sente. — " 
 his eager eye glanced at the wall at the side 
 of the lecture-room with such realistic animation, 
 and with such power over his hearers, that some of 
 the audience turned to gaze on the vacant space as 
 though the veritable towers and walls of Jerusalem 
 had been thereon depicted. 
 
 These lectures were never published. The folloAv- 
 ing extracts, expressive of his personal feelings to- 
 wards his auditors may, even at this distance of 
 time, be not altogether devoid of interest. 
 
 _.i
 
 LECTURES 61 
 
 The first quotation is from the first of the lectures, 
 written in the summer of 1824, and the second is from 
 the concluding lecture of the series, delivered three 
 
 years afterwards. 
 
 I. 
 
 If I dare to address you in your own language, it is 
 neither because I have a vast confidence in my limited know- 
 ledge of it, nor because I am unaware how awkwardly a 
 foreigner is situated on such an occasion. But since you do 
 not honour me with your presence to ascertain how I am ac- 
 quainted with your language, but to hear what my opinion 
 is with respect to some poems written in my own, it is after 
 all of very Uttle consequence whether my diction be so correct 
 and my pronunciation be pure, if I am but intelHgible. 
 Having to speak of a foreign literature, I had still more 
 reason to expect that the audience would liberally overlook my 
 blunders ; for the Italian quotations would remind those whose 
 keen sense of the beauties of their own tongue might per- 
 chance dispose to pass a vigorous sentence on my English, 
 how difficult it is to speak a foreign language tolerably. 
 
 These reasons alone might perhaps have induced me to 
 trust to the liberality of an English public ; but even v^^ithout 
 them, and with far more confidence would I have presented 
 myself before you. Your kindness to me on former occasions, 
 to which I shall only allude as no language at any length 
 could do justice to it, would have been a sufficient encourage- 
 ment to me. It was in this same place that without any claim 
 to your favour, I met the most flattering reception. The 
 repeated proofs of benevolence which I have received from 
 you warrant me in expecting that you would continue to me 
 the same support. I know you so well that I am as certain 
 that you cannot be unkind, as I am conscious that I cannot be 
 ungrateful. 
 
 The Lectures which I purpose delivering will form an 
 appendix to those which you have already heard on Ariosto, 
 on whose poem I shall not lecture this time. I am sensible of 
 the disadvanta2re of such an omission.
 
 62 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 II. 
 
 I feel it would be indiscretion were I to trespass any- 
 longer upon your time, as I was inclined so to do on this last 
 occasion. I shall therefore conclude, offering you my sin- 
 cerest thanks for the kindness with which, sometimes even 
 in spite of the enraged elements, you have honoured this 
 course of lectures. I know full well that the subject must 
 have been so agreeable to a choice audience like that by 
 which I have been favoured, so as to be a powerful attraction 
 for them to attend. But I cannot and will not think that I 
 am indebted for your presence to the merits of the poems- 
 I lectured upon rather than to your benevolence to me. I 
 have known Liverpool so long and so well, and have had so 
 many occasions of experiencing the hospitality of its inhabi- 
 tants, that my heart cannot allow me to think that you 
 came to hear me as you would have done a stranger. I am 
 not a stranger in this town to which the noblest of senti- 
 ments — gratitude — ties me. I beg you will continue ta 
 entertain for me the kind feelings which you have hitherto 
 done, being certain that I am fully sensible of their value, 
 and proud in thinking that you have not found — and I hope- 
 you never will find me either unworthy of them, or not ap- 
 preciating them as fully as they deserve. 
 
 It is pleasing to trace in these words the grateful 
 heart of Panizzi, reflecting as they do the warmth of 
 his feelings, and acknowledging the kindness shown 
 him by Liverpool friends at a time -when he sadly 
 needed sympathy and support ; we now leave him,, 
 through such aid, in better worldly circumstances, 
 than he had but recently encountered. 
 
 .1 
 
 I 
 
 i
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Toscolo ; AtHolhham; First Article; Departure from Liverpool; 
 Brougham; Miss Turner; London University; Botta; Letity Bncre ; 
 ' Orlando Innamorato' ; W. S. lose; Keightley ; Moore's Verses; 
 Correspondence tcitJi Mr. Grenville ; First Appointment. 
 
 ANIZZI being established in Liverpool 
 in 1820, it may be conclndecl (and, in- 
 deed, in a letter to be presently qnoted 
 he admits as much) that he was now 
 earning sufficient to satisfy his imme- 
 diate wants, and to enable him to enjoy a certain degree 
 of luxury. He resided at 9o Mount Pleasant, an em- 
 inence overlooking the town, and celebrated in Eoscoe's 
 poem of the same name. From the invitations he 
 received, constantly dining out, it may be inferred he 
 moved in the best society and was leading a comfort- 
 able life. Far otherwise was it with Ugo Foscolo, his 
 fellow-exile. For Foscolo, of whose celebrity in 
 England, as of the reverence paid to his name by the 
 youth of his native Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini writers so 
 warmly, was noAV living in London in a state bordering 
 on destitution. 
 
 " Stern and somewhat aggressive in temperament," 
 says Mazzini, speaking of Foscolo, "his mind nourislied
 
 64 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 and fortified by severe study, little calculated for 
 
 laying new founda- 
 tions, but endowed 
 with mighty faculties 
 for destruction, he ef- 
 fectually overthrew 
 (except for those who 
 bow down kindly be- 
 fore precedents) a 
 whole edifice of errors 
 which barred the way 
 to the study of Dante. 
 In his different writ- 
 ings, especially in his 
 " Discorso sul Testo,"' 
 etc., etc., etc., he 
 cleared the ground for a better understanding of the 
 * Commedia ' and the poet." 
 
 This estimate of Foscolo's character was founded 
 entirely on reading and reports, and seeing that the 
 two famous refugees had no personal knowledge of 
 each other — indeed had never met — must be taken as 
 an eulogium rather of the genius than the moral worth 
 of the great writer. 
 
 Though doubtless much might be said on this topic, 
 our space and the purpose of this memoir forbid our 
 dwelling at any length on the subject. For Foscolo's 
 genius as writer and poet, Panizzi — as who would not,, 
 even without his shrewd discernment? — ever enter- 
 tained the profoundest respect ; but in a somewhat 
 important qualification, strict adherence to truth, he 
 detected a slight deficiency. However, he made 
 
 ll
 
 FOSCOLO 65 
 
 every allowance for this failing in a man of superior 
 endowments, and felt the deepest sympathy with one 
 of so great attainments reduced to such ignoble shifts. 
 It is but too true that Foscolo wrote his famous book, 
 '■^ Discorso sul Testo, ete.,'' and other of his last works 
 under the pressure of extreme poverty and in continual 
 dread of his creditors, which rendered his bodily suf- 
 fermgs the more intolerable, and caused him alarm 
 lest want of bread should put a stop to his literary 
 labours. 
 
 It is unnecessary to give further details of Foscolo'3 
 life. They were better known to Panizzi than to any 
 one else, and he alone could have narrated the true 
 story of the experiences of his illustrious friend. The 
 biographers of the former have unaccountably and un- 
 pavdonably neglected to take due cognizance of the 
 intimacy which subsisted between the two. 
 
 The first letter, written by Panizzi to Foscolo from 
 Liverpool, and dated 2'5th February, 1S26, is long and 
 most interesting. Herein he recalls to his friend's 
 memory that it was just thirty months since he laid 
 the foundation of all that the writer possessed, and 
 proceeds in the following grateful strain : *' Were it 
 possible for me to forget my owti country, I could not 
 certainly forget Liverpool. If the misery of selling 
 articles and verbs were not such as to freeze one's 
 blood, I might say that I live, yet I only vegetate ; 
 even this is due to you." 
 
 Of Foscolo's " Liscorso sul Testo " of Dante, Panizzi 
 always expressed the highest admiration." It would 
 be impossible," he writes of his friend's magnum ojJUSy 
 "to describe how much superior your work seems to me,.
 
 66 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 compared with those hitherto made known, not only 
 in Italy, but by any critic elsewhere. Being a great 
 admirer of Dante, in whom I find the greatest com- 
 fort of my exile, I paid last month a visit to the 
 Bodleian, where I saw thirteen manuscripts of the 
 * Divina Commedia.' I have ready a minute descrip- 
 tion of each, which I have written in the shape of a 
 letter, with the intention of sending it to the ^Anto- 
 lof/ia,'' a paper more Italian in feeling, and less 
 slavish than the others ; but if you would like to see 
 it, I shall most willingly send it to you. I may add 
 that not far from here there is another manuscript of 
 Dante, which, according to Mr. Roscoe, is well worth 
 consulting ; I propose seeing it next Easter. Mr. 
 Coke, of Ilolkham, also possesses other MSS. and 
 has kindly offered to send them to my house, that I 
 
 may have an opportunity of studying them at 
 leisure." 
 
 The splendid library at Ilolkham had been, in 1812, 
 carefully examined and catalogued by Mr. Roscoe, 
 who was immensely impressed with its value and im- 
 portance. 
 
 " Such MSS. of Dante," he writes to a friend, 
 " drawings of the old masters, treasures of European 
 liistory — you have no idea besides beauti- 
 fully illuminated MSS. on vellum of many of the 
 Latin classics, a most exquisite Boccaccio, a very fine 
 old Dante." 
 
 In the catalogue the following note is written by 
 Eoscoe : " For a transcript of this very difficult MS. 
 of Boccaccio, by Signer Antonio Panizzi, see the 
 illustrations in Vol. VIII. of this catalogue." 
 
 I
 
 FOSCOLO G7 
 
 Next, if not equal in value to the 'Discorso sul 
 Testo," in Panizzi's estimation, was another work of 
 Foscolo's. This was " La Commedia di Dante 
 Alighieri illustrata da Ugo Foscolo." (London : 
 8vo., 1825). It may be mentioned that the preface 
 to the first vol. of a later edition (1842) of this book^ 
 signed " iin Italicmo,'' was written by Mazzini. 
 Panizzi revievved " La Commedia " (it was his first at- 
 tempt at criticism in the English language) in the 
 Westminster Review (vol. 7, p. 153). 
 
 This will amply repay perusal. The sincerity of 
 the writer's patriotism, and the manner in which it 
 serves to enhance his interest in the great poet of his 
 native country, will probably attract the reader's 
 attention at the outset. The philological contest in 
 which Dante was engaged — his conclusions (set forth 
 in his " De Vulgari Elorjuio "), on the true origin of 
 the Italian language, by which he so much disgusted 
 his Florentine compatriots, — his own life and greater 
 works, — the-relations of the different powers by whose 
 influence Italy was chiefly affected, — the spiritual in 
 jeopardy of its existence in its own home, and ex- 
 ternally the temporal, on which it mainly relied foi 
 support, — are all brought under notice, and skilfully 
 treated. 
 
 Reference has been made to the " Westminster 
 Review," and as that periodical is easily accessible it 
 is unnecessary to destroy the reader's interest by 
 extracting from the article in question. 
 
 Meanwhile Foscolo still continued his correspon- 
 dence with Panizzi, furnishing him with details of his 
 troubles. Serious differences seem to have aiisen 
 F
 
 G8 TEE LIFE or SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 between him and Mr. Pickering, the publisher of his 
 projected works, whose treatment of him he describes 
 as shameful. Neither is Mr. Brougham spared ; 
 Foscolo had employed him to heal the breach be- 
 tween Mr. Pickering and himself; and these are the 
 terms in which he mentions the services rendered : — 
 *' Brougham, at first, offered to take the matter to 
 heart, but allowed it to drop, because I have no 
 money to carry on the suit. He has acted as a 
 lawyer, and wisely too ; I shall also act wisely by 
 having nothing more to do with him." 
 
 It is somewhat difficult to discover from these words 
 the exact part Brougham took in the matter. To sub- 
 stantiate the charges brought by Foscolo against men 
 of acknowledged worth is against our inclination, nor 
 have we the opportunity of clearly knowing their 
 nature. In writing a memoir of Panizzi it is but just 
 to remark that, so far as the worthy publisher is con- 
 cerned, he entertained the highest opinion of Picker- 
 ing up to the last, as a man of taste, of great know- 
 ledge, and of indisputable private worth. These 
 accusations, in all probability without foundation, 
 possibly created in their recipient's mind his before- 
 mentioned suspicion Qf his friend's entire trustworthi- 
 ness, a suspicion he almost publicly divulged in 1871, 
 when Foscolo's remains were about to be removed from 
 Chiswick to a more honourable grave in Santa Croce, 
 Florence. 
 
 In the summer of the year i82G, Foscolo reached 
 the lowest depth of his poverty. Persecuted on all 
 sides by his creditors, he hid, or rather, as he ^vrote, 
 buried himself alive. " I send you my new address, 
 
 I
 
 FOSCOLO G9 
 
 you are the only person who will be acquainted with 
 it, 19, Henrietta-street, Brunswick-square, let nobody 
 know it, now or ever, and if in town, I can offer you 
 a bed, and thus prevent your portmanteau from being 
 ransacked by some London hotel-keeper." At this 
 period (painful to relate), he evidently meditated 
 suicide. " The virile act of voluntary death becomes 
 dreadful, when committed through poverty. 1 must, 
 in order to proceed with my work, take care of my- 
 self; and have imitated you, in finding a few humble 
 families, to wdiom I give lessons at three shillings 
 each." Of these lessons he could give no more than 
 six a week, having in hand another important work, 
 also on Dante, in which he requested the assistance 
 of Panizzi who possessed some valuable notes on the 
 subject. This aid was readily afforded. Panizzi, 
 hoAvever, who wished to serve his friend to the utmost 
 urged Foscolo to visit Liverpool ; and, as a compen- 
 sation for his expenses, proposed that he should 
 deliver six lectures at the Royal Institution, on Tasso 
 and Ariosto, during the space of three weeks, and 
 receive for this £50. In the letter suggesting this 
 he says : — " I do not care for these lectures 
 myself ; haxing so many friends I am obliged to give 
 away tickets to, in return for their dinners and tea- 
 parties. Come, and write, never mind the postage, 
 for I had sooner deprive myself of a good dinner than 
 one of your letters. Moreover I am not in want." 
 
 As to the subject of giving lessons the writer 
 remarked : " How much better it is to sell articles, 
 nouns, and verhs than to stretch forth your hand and 
 ask for nssistance from those generous, miserahle,
 
 70 THE LIFE OF SIK ANTllOiNY PAJS'lZZl 
 
 proud rich people whose rude manners make one un- 
 willingly ungrateful. When I think that Macchia- 
 velli acted the pedagogo to live I may well be proud 
 of my present position. There will be no more of 
 this soon. Courage, my dear friend, the storm will 
 clear up before long, and the serene sky will also 
 return for you." 
 
 It M'ould appear by this letter that the political 
 atmosphere of Liverpool had affected Panizzi in a 
 manner that may seem strange to some of our readers. 
 That the little " nuances " of character, which he 
 notes as distinguishing the members of our different 
 political parties, may be discerned by a keen observer, 
 and the causes of their existence perceived, is not im- 
 possible ; they seem to have struck him very forcibly, 
 as a foreigner, in his short experience. Of the three 
 sections as they existed at that time (it would be 
 interesting to know his opinion of parties more 
 recently) he remarks not less strongly than naively : 
 " D — n the English Liberals ! my experience (Roscoe 
 and Shepherd excepted) shows me that the Tories are 
 more polite than the Whigs, and much more so than 
 the Radicals." 
 
 Poor Ugo Foscolo, who, for some reason, had been 
 unable to accept the invitation to Liverpool, and 
 whom misfortune seemed to have marked for her own, 
 died in London in penury on the 10th September, 
 1827. Llis death was at once announced to Panizzi 
 by Giulio Bossi. The few books he left behind were 
 purchased by some of his remaining friends ; Panizzi 
 bought as many as his means allowed him, and these 
 he distributed among the most distinguished admirers
 
 FOSCOLO 71 
 
 of the deceased, one of whom was Mr. Macaulay, who 
 acknowledged the presentation in the following 
 
 letter : — 
 
 October 4, 1827. 
 Your letter was acceptable to me as a mark of kind re- 
 membrance, but it is quite unnecessary as an apology. I 
 assure you that I considered myself, and not you, as the 
 offending person on the occasion to which you refer. I liopc, 
 however, that either here or in Liverpool we shall hereafter 
 enjoy many meetings without any such cross accident. 
 
 I have not yet found time to read your kind present, poor 
 Foscolo's book. I hope soon to be able to study it, which I 
 shall do with additional interest on his account and on yours. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 T. B. Macaulay. 
 
 No doubt the untimely death of Foscolo under such 
 lamentable circumstances grieved his friend deeply ; 
 but it must have been to him a consolation that he 
 had endeavoured to assuage the exile's sufferings, 
 although, as has been stated, the generous offer was 
 not accepted. It is such sympathy for our fellow-man 
 which stamjjs the character, and imparts to it the true 
 ring of charity and worth. 
 
 The year 1828 may be said to have been the turn- 
 ing-point in Panizzi's career, for it was then his de- 
 parture from Liverpool took place. In that popu- 
 lous town, by his own personal merits and ability, 
 he had won for himself, if not quite the traditional 
 golden opinions of all sorts of men, at least that well- 
 deserved meed of praise and respect to which all 
 aspire. To this a contemporary bears witness and 
 
 writes of him, " that he never abused a friend's kind- 
 ness, but always aA'ailed himself of it in a becoming
 
 72 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 manner, turning it to good account for himself, and at 
 the same time reflecting honour upon him who be- 
 stowed it." 
 
 Conspicuous amongst 
 his friends was 'Mr. 
 Brougham, then one of the 
 most active members of the 
 Council for the new Uni- 
 versity of London, now 
 known as University Col- 
 lege. At this college Pa- 
 nizzi was asked to occupy 
 the chair of Italian Litera- 
 ture, an offer made to him 
 solely through the influence of Brougham, with whom 
 he became intimate in the spring of 1827, when they 
 proceeded in company to Lancaster, to attend the 
 famous trial of the Wakefield family, for conspiracy 
 and the abduction of Miss Ellen Turner, who had been 
 a pupil of Panizzi. That, among all the vicissitudes 
 of his life, he had not forgotten his former cunning, 
 appears from the statement that he rendered import- 
 ant assistance in this case, by his knoAvledge of law^ in 
 general, and particularly, as might be supposed, of 
 lloman law. 
 
 After serious and anxious consideration the offer of 
 this professorship was accepted, mainly at the instiga- 
 tion of his learned friend, who strongly urged it upon 
 him. This determination was not arrived at without 
 much reluctance and regret ; for, indeed, he was loth 
 to abandon his friends at Liverpool, which he now re- 
 garded as his second home. His appointment bears
 
 ROGERS 
 
 73 
 
 date, May, 1828, but it was not till the 1st of October 
 following that the college was formally opened. 
 
 Four days afterwards Brougham wrote to Lord 
 Grey " that the delight of all who have been admitted 
 to the university was perfect. . . The professors and 
 aU concerned are therefore in the highest spirits." 
 
 Amongst those who felt Panizzi's departure from 
 Liverpool most keenly was Roscoe, who, now in his sixty- 
 fifth year, had become thoroughly accustomed to his 
 frequent visits, and took the greatest delight in his con- 
 versation. The old savant^ however, spared no trouble 
 in giving him letters of introduction to friends^ 
 amonost them one to Samuel Ilo<T:ers. 
 
 " This is intended to 
 be delivered to you by 
 my highly-valued friend. 
 Signer Antonio Panizzi, 
 professor of the Italian 
 language in the London 
 University, who lived some 
 years in Liverpool, whence 
 he is now returning, after 
 visitins: the numerous 
 friends whom he has made 
 during his residence here. He is probably already 
 knoAvn to you by his literary works, particularly his 
 cditionof Bojardo and Ariosto, now publishing; in ad- 
 dition to which I beg leave to add my testimony, not 
 only to his abilities as an elegant scholar, but to his ex- 
 perienced Avorth as a sincere friend, and to his char- 
 acter as a man. It is, therefore, with great satisfac- 
 tion, that I introduce him to your better acquaintance.
 
 74 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 being convinced that it cannot fail of being productive 
 of pleasure and advantage to both." 
 
 Panizzi, on his appointment as Professor, took up 
 his abode at No. 2, Gower Street, North, close to the 
 college, and delivered his first lecture in November, 
 1828. As was the case with his Liverpool lectures, 
 so with these. They do not seem to have been re- 
 ported, consequently no record remains. In 1837 
 he resigned the Professor's chair. 
 
 The first of his London publications (" Extract from 
 Italian Prose Writers, for the use of Students in the 
 London University ") appeared in 1828, and was fol- 
 lowed, soon afterwards, by " An Elementary Italian 
 Grammar." In addition to the compilation of these 
 works, he now began to contribute frequently to the 
 Eeviews. The first of these contributions appeared in 
 the Foreign Beview and Continental 2IisceUanjj; it was 
 a criticism of a work entitled " I Lombardi alia prima 
 Crociata. T. Grassi. Mil°., 1826. 8vo." This was 
 followed by another, a very interesting review 
 of the "Storia dTtalia dal 1789 al 1814, da Carlo 
 Botta. 8 vols. 1824. 12mo." To this last the 
 critic extends at least as much justice as mercy, and 
 spares no pains to refute (which he does by the 
 clearest evidence) many of the statements put forward 
 in the M'ork as historical facts. Of the author he 
 gives the following notice : — 
 
 "A Piedmontese physician, who, in 1794, after 
 two years' imprisonment in Piedmont, for his warm 
 support of the principles of the French Revolution, 
 made his escape (Heaven knows how !) to France, and 
 was employed in his professional capacity in the
 
 BOTTA 75 
 
 French army. When this army entered Piedmont, 
 Botta fought with it against the King and his 
 country. He went to Corfu in the capacity of army 
 physician. The King of Piedmont having been 
 obliged to abdicate, the French General, Joubert, ap- 
 pointed a provisional government, which the historian, 
 of course, mentions with high eulogium, inasmuch 
 as of this very government Signor Botta was a w^orthy 
 member." 
 
 As to his diction, the reviewer says : — " We wish 
 not to criticize minutely Signor Botta's style. . . The 
 Italian edition, however, we have read, and, save only 
 school-boy themes and college exercises, more cold- 
 ness, stiffness, and affectation is scarcely to bo 
 found." 
 
 Apart, however, from the historical blunderis ixud 
 stvle of the work, another cause existed to call forth 
 the hostile criticism of Panizzi. This will appear from 
 the opening passage of the review, which runs thus : 
 — " The name of Carlo Botta has long been known as 
 that of an historian. While vet a member of the 
 legislative body, during the reign of Napoleon, he 
 published at Paris a ' History of American Indepen 
 dence.' Whether it so hajopened that his notions on 
 liberty have been since wonderfully revolutionized, or 
 his bitter vituperations of England and laudatory 
 tropes in favour of America, propitiated the then ran- 
 -corous hatred of the French towards this nation we 
 know not, but his work was eminently successful." 
 
 Undoubtedly it was Botta's ill-feeling towards 
 England, more than the demerits of the work itself, 
 which called for such severe and scathing comments.
 
 7G THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHO^'Y TANIZZI 
 
 The review was translated into Italian, and circulated 
 amongst Botta's compatriots. 
 
 Other articles on various subjects appeared in the 
 same journal up to the year 1830, 
 
 The new college, though happily inaugurated, did 
 not attract so many students to the lessons in the 
 Italian language and literature as might have been 
 anticipated, and the expected emoluments of the Pro- 
 fessor fell proportionately short ; nevertheless his 
 reputation as a sound scholar and acute critic increased 
 daily, and his circle of friends widely extended. Mr. 
 Brougham, Avho assiduously cultivated his society, 
 lost no opportunity of introducing him to the leading- 
 literary personages of the period, and to the most pro- 
 minent members of the Liberal party. Among the 
 former was Lady Dacre, whose translations from 
 Petrarch were highly valued, yet not beyond their 
 merit, by some of the ablest critics of the time. To 
 her Panizzi was introduced in the following note from 
 Brougham : — 
 
 ' March 3, 1829. 
 
 "My dear Lady Dacre, — This will be presented to you by 
 Professor Panizzi, of whom my brother has already spoken to 
 you, and of whom it is quite impossihlc to say too much, 
 cither as regards his accomplishments or his excellent amiable 
 qualities. 
 
 Yours, etc., etc., H. Beougham." 
 
 The acquaintance thus formed ripened into a las'- 
 mg friendship. Of the frequent correspondence which 
 this led to the chief and most interesting examples 
 are the views exchanged on the interpretation of 
 various passages from Dante and Petrarch. Lady
 
 LADY DACKE 7T 
 
 Dacre, in fact, began very shortly to regard Panizzi as 
 her literary adviser ; and some years later, on the pub- 
 lication of her work, " Translations from the Italian " 
 (1836), makes the following grateful mention of him : 
 — " I have of late years been so fortunate as to make 
 the acquaintance of Mr. Panizzi, of the British 
 Museum, and to obtain also his approbation of these 
 English versions of his great national poet. It is by 
 his advice and that of other high authorities that I 
 now make this collection of my attempts." 
 
 Lady Dacre's letters are beyond measure charming. 
 The elegance of mind and purity of taste pervading 
 them, with the rare beauty of their tone and style^ 
 must cause any one who may happen to have read 
 them, though knowing nothing before, nor having 
 even heard of Lady Dacre, to regret that the amiable 
 and accomplished translator of Petrarch is not more 
 extensively appreciated. 
 
 A passage from one of her earlier letters seems 
 worth extracting, as showing her estimate of the best 
 known English translator of Dante, although the 
 comments it calls for may lead to a slight digression 
 from the line of the narrative : — " As to Gary's tran- 
 slation of ' La Divina Commedia,' I still hold translat- 
 ing Dante as an impossibility. . . . Cary does not 
 satisfy me, for, as he gave himself all the latitude of 
 blank verse, I cannot help thinking he might have 
 done more justice to the gems." 
 
 With the ophiion expressed in the first clause of 
 this extract few will disagree. Lady Dacre, indeed, 
 might have extended her sentence to other poets be- 
 sides Dante, and, it may be said, to poets in general 
 of any marked eminence.
 
 78 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Of these poets, or of any save those of the second or 
 third class, to which may be added certain of the 
 satirical and didactic category, it is not too much to 
 assert that nothing that could be called a sufficient trans- 
 lation has yet been accomplished. By translation is here 
 meant not a mere rendering, however faithful and in- 
 telligent, of the w^ords, phrases, and plain meaning, 
 hut a transfusion, by the translator's own genius, of 
 the spirit of the original into the ordinary diction, 
 idioms and peculiarities of another language. Pope 
 and Dryden have, perhaps, arrived nearest this 
 result ; but, too great themselves, they have so im- 
 bued their greater originals with their own spirit — a 
 spirit in many respects differing widely from the clas- 
 sical, that their versions may with more justice be 
 called paraphrases than translations. Still, if there 
 are degrees of impossibility, Dante is fully entitled to 
 a place in the first class of such impossibilities. 
 
 To Lady Dacre's assertion, however, of the facility 
 which Gary ought to have derived from his use of 
 blank verse, exception may well be taken. Although 
 in some cases, as in translating Petrarch, it may be 
 difficult, and in others, as in rendering certain classic 
 metres, impossible, to reproduce in the alien language 
 the exact form of verse employed in the original (and 
 with the form of his verse, it must be observed, the 
 spirit of the poet is always indissolubly connected), 
 yet it is necessary to a good and true translation that 
 this course should be adopted wherever practicable. 
 Dante is a rhymed poet, and the system both of his 
 rhymes and of his verse is by no means uncommon in 
 English poetry ; to none, it might be supposed, more
 
 AEIOSTO 
 
 familiar than to Lady Dacre. For this reason alone 
 it would appear that if Dante, of all poets, is to be 
 clothed anew in English garb, the most fitting attire 
 for him would not be blank verse. 
 
 These remarks are merely by the way, our work is 
 not particularly concerned with poetry, but with 
 the life of Panizzi, who was then (1829) en- 
 gaged upon his " Orlando Tmiamorato di Bojardo : 
 
 Orlando Furioso di Ariosto: 
 with an Essay on the Roman- 
 tic Narrative Poetry of the 
 Italians ; Memoirs, and Notes 
 hy Antonio Panizzi." 9 vols. 
 Svo. London, 1830-34. 
 
 The first volume of this 
 edition, dedicated to his bene- 
 factor Roscoe, contains a dis- 
 sertation on Italian Romantic 
 Poetry, with analyses of the " Teseide " of Boccaccio, 
 the " Morgante " of Luigi Pulci, and the " Mam- 
 hriano " of Francesco Bello, besides other Italian 
 romantic epics. The second volume is prefaced by a 
 memoir of Bojardo, with an essay making him full 
 amends for the long usurpation of his fame by his 
 adaptor Berni. It also contains a life of Ariosto. 
 
 The corrupt text of the " Orlando Innamorato " is 
 restored, with great acumen (from a collation of rare 
 editions, principally contributed by the Right Hon. 
 Thomas Grenville and Earl Spencer), and, as well as 
 that of the " i^«r/050 " (published later on, 1834), is 
 accompanied by long and learned notes in English, 
 " from an idea that they would prove more accept-
 
 80 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 able to the English reader, who will gladly excuse 
 any errors, Avhen he reflects that, had I not preferred 
 his language, he would not have enjoyed the beautiful 
 translations by Lady Dacre ; W. S. Rose, Esq., and 
 W. Sotheby, Esq., which adorn this introductory 
 €ssay." 
 
 The first part is well worthy the consideration of 
 such as are curious in tracing the ^vmdings of the 
 stream of civilization from its fountain head. In this, 
 with great ingenuity, the author describes the passions 
 and incidents of the most remarkable period in the 
 history of mediaeval times — the age of chivalry — which 
 institution he attributes to Celtic sources. Chivalry 
 raised Europe from its barbarous condition. Every 
 institution, mdeed, is of lowly origin. Love, naturally 
 a brutal appetite, only becomes refined by emulation 
 among men, advancing knowledge, and civilization. 
 Panizzi (p. 29) tells us that the Italians were mdebted 
 to the popular songs sung in the north for their long 
 prose romances, giving, as an example of the most 
 popular and inspiriting of these songs, the Lays of 
 lloland and Charlemagne, sung by Taillefer, the Nor- 
 man standard-bearer who led the charge at the 
 battle of Hastings. " If," Panizzi continues, at p. 34, 
 " the original destination of poetry were in every 
 nation of the world to celebrate the glorious actions 
 of heroes, one of the provinces of England, possessing 
 one of the most ancient languages extant, would seem 
 to have surpassed all other countries in the application 
 of the art. All the chivalrous fictions, since spread 
 throughout Europe, appear to have had their birth m 
 Wales. ... So famous were their lays in France,
 
 ARIOSTO 
 
 81 
 
 that the French trouveres Avere accustomed to cite the 
 British oriirinals as vouchers for the truth of their 
 stories, while some of them were translated by Marie 
 de France. A glance at these translations Avill show 
 the lays to be of British origin." 
 
 To this ingenious theory it is difficult, without con- 
 siderable further inquiry, to give so unqualified an 
 assent as the Editor of Bojardo aj^pears to have done. 
 The subject, however, opens up a field of discussion 
 far too wide to be entered into in tliis biography. 
 
 Besides Panizzi's valuable notes, his work is further 
 embellished wdth a selection from Lady Dacre's trans- 
 lations from Petrarch. The peculiar skill with which 
 this most elegant authoress could transfer to her own 
 language the graces of her Italian original will be best 
 presented to the reader by an example of her art : — 
 
 Aud ioiiseiie »as iji Ler heart uwure, 
 That love of hei' was Oliver's sole care. 
 
 And because Love not willingly excuses 
 
 One who is loved, and loveth not again ; 
 (For tyrannous were decm'd the rule he uses, 
 
 Siiould they who sue for pity sue in vain ; 
 What gracious lord his faithful liege refuses ?) 
 
 So when the gentle dame perceived the pain, 
 That well-nigh wrought to death her valiant knight, 
 
 Her melting heart began his love requite. 
 
 And from her eyes soft beamed the answering ray, 
 That Oliver's soul-thrilling glance returns ; 
 
 Love in these gleamy lightnings loves to play, 
 Till but one flame two youthful bosoms burn?. 
 
 dv Forisena intanto come astuta 
 Deir amor d' Ulivier s'era avvcduta.
 
 82 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 E perche amoi' malvolentier perdona 
 
 Ch' e' non sia alfin sempre amato cH ama, 
 E non saria sua legge giusta e buona, 
 
 Di non trovar merze chi pur la chiama ; 
 Ne giusto sire il suo servo abbaudona : 
 
 Poi che s'accorse questa gentil dama, 
 Come per lei si moriva il Marchese, 
 
 Subito tutta del suo amor s'accese. 
 
 E comincio con gli occhi a rimandaro 
 Indietro a Ulivier gli ardenti dardi 
 
 Che amor sovente gli facea gettare 
 Accib che solo un foco due cor ardi. 
 
 When the work was published, copies were 
 presented by the author to his most intimate friends, 
 and he received, amongst others, the following letters 
 of acknowledgment : — 
 
 From Mr. W. S. Hose * (whose ire at Pickering's 
 device is not altogether unjustifiable) : — 
 
 "Brighton, 29 April 1830. 
 
 *' Dear Panizzi, 
 
 I have seen nothing to quarrel with in your book, 
 but will read it again, and with a more exceptions dis- 
 position. 
 
 If Pickering be not squeezed to death in his own press, 
 his nose at least ought to be rubbed in his own frontispieces 
 (I mean title-pages) while the ink is still wet, .... 
 . . . . as an appropriate punishment. I do not blame 
 him for his imitation, but for his bad imitation, of Aldus. His 
 symbol and dlsposiium of ionrds are not oflensive. 
 
 * Wm. Ktewarfc Rose was liorn in 1?7.">. He resided in Italy for two years, 
 during which time be acquired the most accurate knowledge of toe languflgo 
 and literature of the country. In 1853 he bejian a condensed vranelaiion in 
 prose and verse of I3ojardo"s Orlando Inuamorato and Ariosio's Orlando 
 Furioso. He ilied in 1813. 
 
 i
 
 W. p. EOSE 
 
 «?, 
 
 D y s 
 
 •Compare this witli INIr. Plekciing's. 
 
 iJLDZ 
 
 Ati_2;1us is not an a(|ji\Mivo. 
 
 AViiy have we Arabic iistoa*! of Roman mnnorals ? wlilclv 
 would have harmouizcd with the rest of the letierpiess. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 W. S. KosK," 
 
 G
 
 84 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 From Eoscoe : —   
 
 « Lodge Lane, :May 1st, 1830. 
 " My dear Friend, 
 
 I have just received a copy of the first volume of 
 your edition ofthe great works of Bojardo and of Ariosto, and 
 feel myself greatly obliged by the honour you have done me by 
 dedicating them to me ; an honour to which 1 have no pre- 
 tensions but iu the partiality of your friendship, which renders- 
 such a memorial of it truly valuable. 
 
 I flatter myself that through the blessing of Providence I 
 may yet be favoured with such a state of health as may enable 
 mc to enjoy the perusal of this introductory volume, front 
 ■which I anticipate great pleasure. 
 
 I am, with the sincerest esteem and attacliment, 
 Ever faithfully yours, 
 
 \V. Eoscoe." 
 
 And from Macaulay, dated " Calcutta, 1st January, 
 1835." (This letter has reference not only to Panizzi's 
 " Orlando Imiamorato^' but to another work of his, 
 shortly to be mentioned, that is, the edition of 
 Bojardo.) 
 
 "Dear Panizzt, 
 
 Many thanks for your kind and welcome present. It 
 was acceptable to me on account of its Intrinsic interest, and 
 still more acceptable as a proof that 1 am kindly remembered 
 by one by whom I should be sorry to be forgotten. 
 
 In two years or little mote I shall be on my return to 
 England. There, or, as I would rather hope, In your own 
 beautilul country, we shall meet, and talk over that fine 
 literature which you have done so much to illustrate. I have 
 never given up my Intention of writing a review of your 
 edition of Bojardo. I never found time to read the poem 
 through In England. But here I have had that pleasure, and 
 have been exceedingly graiKied both by the text and the 
 
 I
 
 MACAULAY 85 
 
 notes. I read Berni's Eifacimento long ago. But I like 
 Bojardo better. 
 
 At present my ofEcial duties take up a great and increas- 
 ing portion of my time. 
 
 The hours before breakfast are slill my own. But I give 
 them to ancient literature. 
 
 It is but little tliat 1 have lately been able to spare to- 
 Italian, yet I feel all tliat Milton lias so beautifully expressed, 
 Quainquam etiam vestri nunquam lucminisse pigublt, 
 Pa.stores Tusci, Musis operata juveutus ; 
 llic Cliaris, atque Lepos ; et Tusciis, tu quoque, Damon, 
 Aiitiqua genus luide petis Lu(.-umonis ab urbe. 
 0, ego quuntus eram, geliui cuiu stratus ad Arni 
 ]\Iuriiuna, populeiimque nenuis, qua moUior heiba, 
 Carpcre nunc violas, nunc sumuias carpere mvrtos, 
 Et potui I^ycid;i3 certautem au lire Menalcam ! * 
 But of ihese things we shall have opportunities of talkin"' 
 hereafter. 
 
 Believe me ever, yours, &c., &c., 
 
 T. B. Macaulay." 
 
 , Macaulay, no doubt, intended to bestow on 
 Panizzi's book sometliini;- more than a mere acknow- 
 lodgment of its presentation. In a letter addressed 
 to Macvey Napier, dated 29 April, 1830, he says : — 
 " There are two subjects on which I think of writing 
 for the next number (of the 'Edinburgh Review'). 
 * The Romantic Poetry of the Italians ' is one of them. 
 A book on the subject has just been published by my 
 friend Panizzi, Professor in tlu^ London University, 
 which v,'ill afford a good opportunity. I have long 
 had this project in my head." 
 
 * Epita^ihium Dainonis, line 125, sqq. 
 
 g2
 
 <5b Tiii. LIFK 01*^ SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 On the 16th October, 1830, he, however, writes 
 again, saying, " My article on the Italian Poets mnst 
 be postponed till the spring." And again on the 8th 
 October, ISoS, writing from London, to Napier, ''I 
 think of writing an article on Panizzi's edition of 
 Bojardo, with some remarks on the romantic poetry 
 of the Italians generally. This I can do as well, 
 indeed better, on my journey than in London. I will 
 try to send it off bv the middle of December, or 
 earlier." 
 
 Tiie nitention, however, thus twice, at all events, ex- 
 pressed, was never carried into effect, and an essax 
 which would probably have taken its place with the 
 best of Macaulay's has been lost to the xvorld. 
 
 Fi-om wliat has been said it will seem that the book 
 received due appreciation from some, at least, of those 
 well capable of judging of its value. 
 
 This short notice of its reception w^ould be incom- 
 plete were all account omitted of a curious but somewhat 
 unpleasant episode in the history of the work in ques- 
 tion, to touch upon which it is necessary to anticijiatr 
 a little the course of events. The fans et origo inaJl is 
 best told in Panizzi's own words, which are taken from 
 a letter dated 27th March, 1835, and addressed to the 
 proprietors of TJie Foreifjn QuaHerly Beview :— 
 
 " In the last number of The Foreign Quarterly 
 Beview (called XXIX., but in fact No. 1 by your 
 editor) (Vol. XV., p. 48), there is a lucubration on 
 Italian Bomanfic Poetry^ in the shape of an article 
 on the Orlando Tmiamorato and Fnrioso, edited by 
 me, in which occurs the following passage, intended, 
 I suppose, as a sample of the courteous and gentle-
 
 ITALIAN KOMANTIG POETEY 87 
 
 manly style of literary criticism ^yllich is to grace this 
 journal under the new regime: — 
 
 " Tlic present beautiful edition of these poems has been pre- 
 pared by a gentleman named Panizzl, one of those Italians who 
 have been obliged to Ily their country for their political 
 opinions — a circumstance, by the way, as our readers must be 
 aware, no ways conclusive in proof of the mor-.d diiinlty of the 
 exiled patriots' souls. Anytus, we know, was one ofihc men 
 ofthePiroeus wdio delivered Athens from lier Tiiirty Tyrants, 
 and vet Aiivtus wm< afterwards one of the accu.-crs of Socrates! 
 To this a casesomcwh.-it parallel will presently appear. In his 
 own country Mr. Panizzl was, as we are assured, utterly un- 
 known as a man of letters ; here, througli the pntrunage of 
 the ex-Chancellor cliiefly, he enjoys the barren lionuur of being 
 professor of Italian In the University of London, and the sub- 
 stantial situation of one of the Under-Llbrarians of the Eiilish 
 Museum. He is also, we understand, engaged for a handsome 
 remuneration to catalogue the library of the Pox al Society, — 
 two appointments wdiich gave great offince to tliose narrow- 
 minded persons who think that charity should begin at home, 
 and that deserving Englishmen of letters, who have families to 
 support, and are able to write out the titles of books as well as 
 a foreigner, might have been found without any very anxious 
 search. Be this as It may, Mr. Panizzl, we believe, pci forms 
 the duties of his office In a most ellicicnt manner, and he is not 
 ungrateful, but seems perfectly content with liis lot, lor while 
 his "co-mates and brothers in exile" arc siLfhins/ after the 
 beautiful country they have lost, not a murmur or a sigh ever 
 escapes lain. Mr. Panizzl writes and speaks English with 
 facility, as is proved by the present work, though what motive 
 but vanity could have Induced him to employ it In preference 
 to his beautiful mother-language, we are unable t<> conceive ; 
 for, surely, any one who is curious about the oiiginal text of the 
 Orlando Iiniainoratu, must feel rather oilcndc<l than otherwise 
 at being pvesenled with English notes. Tins Gcxicrity In
 
 88 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 writinprour binfjiiage lias also tempted Mr. Panizzi to become a 
 reviewer : ami here it is that his character appears in a most 
 unpleastint light, ami he becomes, as we have just liinted, a 
 kind of litorury Anytus. In conversation and in writing he is 
 the inccpsant, and we may add virulent, assailant ol" tlie literary 
 reputation of his illustrious compatriot, Eossetti, whose Com- 
 ment on Dante, that extraordinary monument of erudition 
 and sagacity, he would fain make the world believe to be a 
 tissue of ignorance and absurdity. Nay, should any friend of 
 Mr. Panizzi's even hint tluit he is disposed to regard Rossetti's 
 system as well founded, his own works, if he has published 
 any, will be made to feel the wrath of the learned librarian. 
 But we leave the critic, and turn to the essayist and an- 
 notator.' " 
 
 On these strictures, just as fair as they are to the 
 point, Avith reference to his character as an author, 
 Panizzi pertinently remarks :— 
 
 "Did you choose an editor to start a mngazine of calumnies, 
 or to continue a review of ivorks ? If the latter was your 
 object, can you say what tlie above slang has to do with the 
 Italian Romantic Poetry, and my edition of Bojardo and 
 Ariosto ? . , . That I was utterly unknown in Italy as a man 
 of letters, when, scarcely twenty-live years of age, I fled the 
 country, is perfectly true ; and, had I continued there, I doubt 
 not that 1 should have died without ever being known as such ; 
 but the question propounded is, whether my edition of Bojardo 
 and Aiio>to is good or bad ? As the Reviewer says that ' it has 
 everything to recommend it,' is it discreditable to me that I 
 should have turned a man of letters, when driven into exile 
 Avith nothing in the world but my head, which I had the wit 
 to keep on my shoulders, although not without trouble ? 
 
 * Inflip;nata mails mens est succumberc : scq[ue 
 Prsestitit iuvictaui viribus usa suis. 
 «f « « « • «
 
 EOSSETTI 89 
 
 En pgo cum patria cnroam gnzUqne domoqno, 
 R iptaque sint, adimi quae potuore mihi ; 
 
 In'}; nio tamen ipse raeo comitorque fruonpie . 
 liodis in hoc potuit juris habere uilill.' " •' 
 
 What !?eems especially to have aroused Paiiizzi's anger 
 (and herein may be remarked his sincere affection for 
 the land of his refuge and rest), was that he should be 
 ■called a '■'■ forelfjnerr If to be domiciled in England 
 iind naturalized by an act of her legislature makes a 
 man an Englishman, then was he an Englishman to 
 all the then necessary intents and purposes. " It is 
 true," says he, " that I am not ungrateful ; I love 
 my adoptive country as much as the one wherein 
 I was born, and being able to gain a very hon- 
 ourable and independent subsistence, by making- 
 use of those talents which Providence has been 
 pleased to bestow on me, no wonder that I do 
 not allow murmurs and sighs to es'^ape me." His 
 alleged disposition towards liossetti, the foundation for 
 wdiich he declares to have been deri^'ed from advantage 
 taken of certain private conversation, grossly misre- 
 presented by his reviewer, he thus vindicates from 
 ■a charge which he declares to be " utterly false .'' 
 
 " I dissent from Mr. Hossetti's views concerning: 
 Dante ; but I have a high opinion of his talents and 
 ■acquirements ; I respect them too much to be virulent 
 
 * rARAI'mUSKI' : — 
 
 Uprising in unconqnerd strength, the sovil 
 
 Scornfully braves the storms of fate. 
 
 ***** 
 
 So I, bereft of fortune, house, r.nd home — 
 
 or all that could be torn away, 
 My talents still retain and can employ: 
 
 O'er these no foe lias aught of power.
 
 90 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 when speaking of his works, which I do not in- 
 cessantly attack. The contrary assertion made by the 
 reviewer is a wilful and deliberate falsehood, charit- 
 ably invented and pro[)agated to cause mischief and 
 strife between Mr. Kossetti and myself. I 07ice stated 
 freely my reasons for differing from Mr. Eossetti'sv 
 system concerning Dante ; but 1 then said, that I knew 
 him to be a verf/ clever man, and I added that his 
 writings on the subject do much honour to his mgcnuitijy. 
 and his very mistakes indicate a lively imagination.'^ 
 Is this the language of ' a virulent assailant ' ? " 
 
 In treating another passage in the article our 
 author displays, as well he may, more of contempt 
 than anger. His reviewer, one Mr. Keightley, 
 drew a comparison between Panizzi's literary merits 
 and his o^vn— by no means in favour of the former, a 
 practice, though decidedly blameable, not so rare as 
 to call for lengthy notice here. A couple of sonnets 
 translated from Bojardo by this same Mr. Keightley 
 are actually inserted in the review. Examples are to 
 be found, both in early and late history, of an author 
 praising his own works anonymously, and if by means 
 of self-laudation he can smite his enemies secretly his 
 acuteness has been thought all the more deserving of 
 admiration. 
 
 To what motive can the savage tone and evident 
 personal rancour of this article be imputed? The 
 office of the critic has for a long time past been di?« 
 charged fairly enough ; if not with an undue excess 
 of leniency and generosity, at least (from the critic's 
 own point of view) with justice and honour. Politics, 
 and such other matters as may be taken to be the
 
 KEIGHTLEY 91 
 
 common property of the public, have, it is true, been 
 known to hifuse something of what might at first sight 
 be called acerbity into his style ; but as ho who in 
 fair and open fight, complaining of blows, would meet 
 with scant pity, so the " benighted Tory " or the 
 " reckless and destructive Hadical," or possibly the 
 propounder of some latest theory in literature, science, 
 or art, must put up smilingly with the rubs which it 
 may please his adverse judge to give him, remem- 
 bering always that the office of that judge is to sup- 
 press the ignorant, to repress the arrogant, and 
 occasionally, though of course but very rarely, ta 
 oppress those who are neither the one nor the other. 
 Still, that the gall of personal animosity should mix 
 itself with the ink and infect the pen of the re- 
 viewer is plainly a thing so utterly monstrous as to 
 astonish us on hearing of its occurrence more than 
 once in an ordinary lifetime. There is, unfortunately, 
 too clear evidence that, not uninfluenced by some such 
 dark motive, the critic now under notice perpetrated 
 the article in question. 
 
 It seems that about two years before the review 
 appeared cither Panizzi made Mr. KcigLtley's acquain- 
 tance or Mr. Kcightley Panizzi's. 
 
 The relations between the two — so long as they 
 lasted — seem to have been of an amicable kind. 
 Panizzi assisted his new acquaintance in the Italian 
 works on which he was engaged, and, although he 
 never appears to have been inclined to admit him to 
 any very intimate friendship, yet a good deal of inter- 
 course seems to have taken place between them^ 
 especially in matters relating to the peculiar study
 
 92 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZl 
 
 with which each was occupied. Panizzi, indeed, 
 acknowledges that the last time he met Mr. Keightley 
 the latter insisted upon his accepting a copy of his 
 works, and that he (Panizzi) " peremptorily objected" 
 to doing so. It maybe admitted that this was somewhat 
 discourteous, and perhaps hinc illce lachrymce. Be 
 •that as it may, what must have been his astonishment 
 to receive, three months afterwards, the following 
 letter from his quondam friend, of whom during- that 
 period he had quite lost sight : — 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 When next you stab a fricncl in the dark, if you wish 
 to be unknown, hide your hand a little better tluin you have 
 done in my case. But I have reason to suppose that yow. did 
 not desire concealment, as I find it was com ;n only known 
 that you were the author of the article in question. Indeed 
 no one who knew your style, &c., could doubt for a moment. 
 I never saw that article till last Saturday, and In-fore I liad 
 read the liijt column 1 named the writer of it. It is not safe 
 to attack one v.dth whom you have been in the habit of con- 
 versing, lie has too many keys. 
 
 When I recollect that it was written at the very time I was 
 endeavouring to serve yoti, I must regard the action as a piece 
 of the basest treaclicry and darkest malignity that can be con- 
 ceived. 1 should not condescend to notice it, but that I 
 required to inform you that I know you, and that our 
 acquaintance is at an end. ' I bide my time,' and may yet 
 I'epay you, but not by a stab in tlie dark. 
 
 I am, yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Thomas KEiGUTLEy." 
 
 Following closely upon this letter came Mr. 
 Keightley's article in the Foreign Quarterly. It may 
 he safe to conclude here — hoc ergo ]post ]jro})ter hoc.
 
 W. S. ROSE 93 
 
 Panizzi, his temper already not unreasonably 
 ruffled by the letter, appears to have been terribly put 
 out by the Review, lie winds up his own appeal to 
 the proprietors of the " Foreign Quarterly " with a 
 burst of indignation and menace, which, had it been 
 carried into execution might have brought him into 
 collision with the laws of his " adoptive country." 
 
 Dreading and deprecatmg any such forcible ex- 
 pression of his ire by the outraged author, Mr. W. S. 
 Eose sent him the poetical epistle which we subjoin, 
 
 " Brighton, April 15, 1835. 
 " ^Ty Wife and I arc certain you are better 
 Than you're reporteil, reasoning from your letter ; 
 In wliich you've blown your enemy to bits (I 
 Think) and deservedly, my dear Panizzi : 
 But do not in your honest rnge outrun 
 The rule the ghostly king enjoined his son ; 
 The' you " speak (higgers — use none " — this I know 
 You'd scarcely do — 1 mean don't use your toe, 
 Or break liis head, or pull him by the nose. 
 Always yours truly, 
 
 W. S. KosE." 
 
 Panizzi himself seems to have possessed somewhat 
 of a poetic faculty, if we may judge by the sole speci- 
 men extant of his skill in the art— a translation of 
 one of Moore's sougs, " Her last words at parting." 
 In confirmation of this, it may be observed that the 
 canon before assumed in speaking of Lady Dacre on 
 Gary, namely, that the translator should conform to 
 the style of the verse in the original, has here been 
 overlooked. For this neglect there may be cogent 
 reasons. It would be difficult to adapt Moore's
 
 .'94 THE LIFE OF Sill ANTIIOJS'Y PANIZZI 
 
 anapaestic lines to Italian verse in the same measure, 
 and, when adapted they would in all jirobahility, 
 prove inelegant, and perhaps unnatural ; even were 
 this not the case, liberties which would not be admis- 
 sible with an important poem, might very pardonably 
 be taken with the trifling composition of Moore. 
 
 The stanzas set out below are neatly turned, and 
 and convey the idea of the original in elegant and 
 musical versification : — 
 
 L'uhiinc sue pnrolc 
 
 QiiaiuJo mi disse a'ldio 
 Sconlur giammai j)Oss 'io ? 
 
 Meco saranno ognor ; 
 
 Qual tnelodioso accento 
 
 Clie r alma ne consola 
 Boiclie quel ssuon s'lnvola 
 
 Ke |)iu risuoni allur. 
 
 Vcnga Tavversa soite, 
 
 M' oltraixiiiera, ma invano; 
 Sempre il mio tal'ij^mano 
 
 Sara quel suoti d'amor. 
 
 " Rammciita nell' asscnza, 
 
 Fra le ritoite c pene, 
 Un cor chc ti vuol bene 
 
 Sol per te batte ancor." 
 
 Da dolcc fonte in oltra 
 
 II pellegHno enante, 
 Per un sol breve istante 
 
 Grusta del suo sapor. 
 
 Ma si provcde intanto 
 
 Deir acque rieclie e care 
 Di quelle goccie rare 
 
 Che dauno a lui valor.
 
 GRENVILLE 95 
 
 Co?i al rigor del futo 
 
 Nt'ir cMvmo (id la vita, 
 La fonte min ffra'lita 
 
 Sara quel suon d' amor. 
 
 *' KHmnu.Mita neli' asseiiza, 
 
 Fru le ritorto o pene, 
 Un cor clie ti vuol bene 
 
 Per to sol batlc ancor." 
 
 This, however, is merely given as an instance of 
 versatility in a genius that was more fully developed 
 and more usefully employed, in illustrating and setting 
 forth, so far as such worlc is concerned, to the world 
 the poetry of others. The " Orlando Innamorato,'' 
 &c., &c., was soon followed hy the '^ SoneUie Canzone 
 del Poefa Clarissimo, Matfeo Maria Bojardo, Conie 
 di Scandiano. 4.% Mil((no, 1835." This remarkably 
 handsome volume, in beautiful type, and extremely 
 scarce., only 50 copies of it having been printed, is 
 inscribed '' All onorevtjlis.simo Signer Tomraaso Gren- 
 ville. Sec. S:c." 
 
 As in tiic eaae of the former work so in the execu- 
 tion of this one. Mi-, (xrenville had kindly given his 
 aid by the loan oi' his Iavo editions of Eojardo's Son- 
 nets to the editor. Ti e correspondence between the 
 two gives ample proof of the genuine love of his sub- 
 ject for its own sake felt by Panizzi, and affords satis- 
 factory corroboration of the disinterestedness in money 
 matters, to which his old pupil, Miss Martin, of Liver- 
 pool, has borne witness. Mr. Grenville was desirous that 
 the editor should receive some remuneration for his 
 labours. The manner in whicli this desire is de- 
 <dared, and the offering with which the writer supjiorts
 
 96 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 it, cannot fail to receive its due meed of praise for 
 consummate delicacy and good feeling. We subjoin 
 a few extracts in evidence: — 
 
 "B.M., Sept. 12, 1834. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 As this publication, or rather edition, is intended _/Y;r?/oi« 
 I was anxious to obtain your approbation, well knowing besides 
 that if I were so fortunate as to obtain it I might hope not to 
 be reasonably found fault with by men of taste. To tell you 
 the truth I fancy the volume (as I almost see it printed, 
 pressed, and bound) as a very due one. Do not laugh at my 
 cont-eit. I never did anything so much con amore. AVitli 
 notes and all it will come to about 300 pages. 
 
 Yours, &c., A. Panizzi." 
 
 « Vale Royal, 15 Sept., 1834. 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 I have always been truly sensible to tlie kindness with wliich 
 you have satistied the occasional literary enquiries with which 
 you have allowed me to trouble you, and with which you have 
 taken so friendly an interest in the details of my small collec- 
 tion of books, and in its gradual improvement, but to permit, 
 if I may iise such a word, or to encourage you to incur the 
 expense of printing a work of 300 pages for me without any 
 intention of remunerating yourself by the sale of the work, is 
 what upon no consideration I ought or could be brouglit, as 
 far as I am concerned, to consent to. At the same time, I 
 cannot but be disposed most gratefully to accept your present,. 
 and most anxioui?ly to assist in promoting your literary lal)ours, 
 so u?eful to all readers of taste and so creditable to the distin- 
 s]juished editor. As an humble associate in so laudable an 
 undertaking, I trust you will have the goodness to accept me 
 as such, and have therefore taken the liberty of enclosing a small 
 advance, as you will see in the note to Coutts which accom- 
 panies this. By your kind coacurrence in this indispensable
 
 GREXVILLE 1)7 
 
 course you will increase your claim upon my grateful acknow- 
 ledgments for your welcome present, and will thus relieve me 
 from difficulties otherwise insuperable. I cannot but add like- 
 wise my earnest wish that you would be induced, after you 
 have indulged your liberality in your presents to your friends, 
 to give the work to the public, and to derive from it the profit 
 to which you are so justly entitled. Once more, dear Sir, 
 accept my grateful thanks for your intended present, which 
 will be a most valuable addition to my library. 
 
 Yours, &c., Thomas Grenville." 
 
 »B. M., Sept. 17, 1834. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 1 have just received the kind note with which you 
 have honoured me, and I cannot conceal how greatly mortified 
 I am at the indispensable condition, as you call it, on which 
 you will do me the honour of allowing me to dedicate to you 
 the edition of Bojardo's Lyrical Poems. I assure you that if 
 you insist upon it, it will be a very great disappointment to 
 me. 1 have taken a liking to Boj irdo's poems because they 
 are, in my opinion, remarkably fine, because I owe him a 
 good deal (ijince it is through him that I have had the honor 
 of becoming acquainted with you more than would have been 
 likelv to be the case had he not written the Innamorato) and 
 because he was born in my native province ; and I, having 
 been in the habit of spending many of my younger days at 
 Scandlano, feel great pleasure in being occupied with the 
 works of a poet whose name is connected in my mind with so 
 many dear recollections. I intend printing a limited number 
 of copies of the lyrical poems, because few persons can ap- 
 preciate thf^m, and still fewer will buy them ; whilst the 
 present will be more acceptable if only a few copies of a book 
 not published for sale, be olfered to an amateur. 
 
 It was this last circumstance which induced me to beg of 
 you to condescend to have the book inscribed to you : for as 
 it would be seen only by those who knew us both, or evea
 
 98 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 cither of U9, a dedication could not be considered but what it 
 really is intended to be, an expression of gratitude and respect 
 really felt and due. Were I to s;iy that tlie thou^dit of editing 
 a volume which was to bo so insci-ibed did not render the 
 ■occupation still more agreeable than it would have been, I 
 should not stute the fact ; but I can truly say that the e«iition 
 will be proceeded with at all events even sliould you not allow 
 me to oiler it to you — a detennihation wliich [ hope you will 
 not take. You will sec from this that you neither cause, per- 
 mit, nor encourage expense, and that consequently 1 cannot 
 consent to your bearing any. 
 
 With many and many thanks foryour kindness, and in hope 
 that you will not deprive me of the anticipated pleasure of 
 inscribing my lililc volume to you. 1 have, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 "Yale Eoyal, 19th Sept., 1834. 
 
 '• Dear Sir, 
 
 I had hoped to ovcrcomo the delicacy of your scruples in a 
 matter which appeared to me likely to press very unreasonably 
 upon you; but your letter ex[)resses so strong a sense of morti- 
 fication and disappointment at the earnestness of my proposal, 
 that I can only say that 1 will leave tiie decision upon it 
 
 entirely to your own consideration and judgment. 
 
 ******** 
 
 I have only once more to repeat that my n)rmer letter had 
 no other object than that of doing wl.at might be gratifying 
 to you, and that 1 wish you to do about it whatever is must 
 agreeable to yourself, and that you may be assured that In 
 all events 1 shall be hi.i;hly honoured and gratified by your 
 inscribing the book to me. — 1 am, &•., 
 
 'JlIO.MAS GkENVILLE." 
 
 "Brit. Mus., Sept. 22nd, 1834. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 Your letter of the 19th inst., which I have just had the 
 honour of receiving, by granting the request I made on my
 
 CHARLES FELIX 
 
 99 
 
 own terms, and srrantinrr it in such a manner renders me still 
 more deeply indebted to you. •" * ^' "' * * I can fully enter 
 into the motives which dictated both your letters, and I see in 
 both of them a fresh proof of that delicate kindness to me 
 which I have so often experienced, which I appreciate to its 
 extent, and which I shall never forget. — Believe me, yours, 
 <S:c., &c. 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 In returnins: from our dissertation on Panizzi's 
 works to his life, we bring- the narrative back to 
 the date 1830-1831, it may be observed, when 
 Europe was in a state of revolution. In Italy 
 fresh disturbances indicated that the spirit of discon- 
 tent was unallayed — especially in Modena — wliere 
 Francis IV. continued his oppressive government ; 
 while in Piedmont, a more earnest and conscientious 
 people founded an association under the name of 
 Giovine Italia ; amongst them was the Genoese 
 Giuseppe Mazzini, who forwarded an address (1831) 
 to the King of Sardinia, praying for a Constitutional 
 Statute. 
 
 For this act Mazzini was forced into exile, and from 
 that time may be said to date the end of Carbonarism, 
 which, overpowered by the new scheme of not only 
 uniting Italy, but of establishing a Republican 
 form of government, seemed to have alienated, those 
 that were left of the older patriots who had sacrificed 
 life and property ten years previously. 
 
 The King, Charles Felix, died, leaving behind him 
 
 the reputation of having ruled his kingdom after 
 
 the fcishion most worthv of the " rois faine- 
 
 <intSy" and as an unworthy nephew of Emanuel Phili- 
 
 11
 
 100 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 bert and Charles Emanuel. His death, by a strange 
 coincidence, happened on the very day, in the same 
 year that one of His Majesty's most bitter enemies^ 
 Antonio Panizzi, entered the Institution which after- 
 wards he so much honoured. 
 
 In England the death of George IV. (1830), and 
 the unpopularity of the Duke of Wellington, largely 
 contributed to the overthrow of the Tory party. In 
 France, too, the expulsion of Charles X. (in conse- 
 quence of his attempts on the constitution and the 
 press), had its influence on the masses in tins country ; 
 the elections greatly favoured the Whig party, and 
 Mr. Brougham, raised to the Peerage on the 22nd 
 of November, 1830, took the earliest opportunity, as an 
 ex-officio Trustee of the British Museum, to place his 
 Italian friend in that noble establishment, under the 
 title of Extra- Assistant Librarian. 
 
 On the 27th of April, 1831, his appointment was 
 signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Howley, 
 and by the Lord Chancellor, Brougham ; the House 
 of Commons having been dissolved, there was no 
 Speaker at the time. Panizzi had to give, according 
 to usage, two securities of £500 each, which were 
 promptly forthcoming in the persons of his two earliest 
 friends of Liverpool, Mr. Ewart and INIr. Haywood. 
 
 Thus far have we drawn from the materials at handy 
 a sketch of that early career which was to lead to the 
 achievement of a lasting literary reputation, and the 
 exercise of an energetic adminstrative faculty. We 
 have glanced at the struggles of the incipient juris- 
 consult, the patriotic agitator, the outlaw, the home- 
 less fugitive, the indigent teacher, the literary aspir-
 
 PANIZZI 101 
 
 ant, and, in every vicissitude, the man of many 
 warmly-attached friends. We have traced his pro- 
 gress until he attained the position wherein his 
 abilities had extended scope, wherein his influence 
 was to be beneficially felt, and his success consum- 
 mated. The record of his life to this period is of 
 itself the most valuable testimonial to his character 
 and conduct ; but while we lay sufficient stress on his 
 own exertions, let us not forget to award the share of 
 honour due to Lord Brougham, who, discarding 
 national prejudice, recognised the capacity, and gave 
 ample sphere to the energy and genius of Antonio 
 Tanizzi. 
 
 H-^-SvlEIo^'-^H-
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 Tlie British Ilmeum ; Appointment Discussed ; First Duties ; Royal 
 Socie'j!; Promotion; Cary ; IMlains Letter ; Official Residence. 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 1, 
 
 .^ .y I) M 
 
 OT before the middle of the eighteenth 
 century had the grand idea of estab- 
 lishing a National Museum been 
 entertained in England. The project 
 was suggested by the will of Sir Hans 
 ISloane, liart., of Chelsea, M'ho, during a long period 
 of eminent practice in physics, 
 had gathered together what- 
 ever was within his reach of 
 rare and curious, not only in 
 England, but in other coun- 
 tries. This orreat originator 
 of our National Collection 
 was born in 1G60, and died 
 in 175o. The codicil of his will 
 bears date the 20th of July, 
 1749, and expresses a desire 
 that liis collection might be 
 kept together and preserved in his Manor House. 
 
 13y the said codicil the testator directs that his 
 trustees should mal^e their humble a])plication to His 
 Majesty, or to Parliament at the next session after his
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 10c> 
 
 own decease, offering the entire collection for the sum of 
 £20,000. This consistedof a numerous library of books, 
 and MSS., Avith drawings, prints, medals, and coins, 
 articles of virtu, cameos, precious stones, &c., &c,, 
 which he had himself collected at an outlay of £-30,000. 
 
 His testamentary offer to the nation was accepted 
 by Parliament, and in 1753 an Act (26 George II., c. 
 20) was passed, which may be termed a Charter of 
 Foundation. 
 
 Trustees were appointed, the identical individuals 
 named by Sir Hans during his lifetime, who had been 
 consulted by competent persons, and strongly felt the 
 necessity of procurins: the collection as a whole for 
 the use of the nation. 
 
 TJie attention of the legislature was not confined 
 simply to the collection of Sir Hans Sioane. The 
 Act which directed the purchase of his museum 
 also gave instructions for the purchase of the Harleian 
 collection of MSS., for which a sum of £10,000 was 
 granted. This Act also directed that the Cottonian 
 Library of MSS., which had been granted to the 
 Government for public uses by an Act of the 12th 
 and 13th, William III., should, with the addition of 
 the library of Major Arthur Edwards, form part of 
 tl-e ijeneral collection. 
 
 Ii was ordered that these several collections sliould 
 be kept in their respective places of deposit until a 
 more convenient and durable repository, safer from 
 fire, and nearer to the chief places of public resort, 
 could be provided for the reception of them all. 
 
 To defray the expenses of these purchases, to pro- 
 cure a fit repository for their preservation, and to
 
 104 TIIK LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 provide a fund for the permanent support of the 
 establishment when formed, the Act directed that 
 £100.000 should be raised byway of lottery, the net 
 produce of which, together with the several collec- 
 tions, was to be vested in a corporate body selected 
 from the highest in the land so far as regards rank, 
 station, and literary attainments, upon whom it con- 
 ferred ample powers for the disposition, preservation, 
 and management of the Institution, which, it was deter- 
 mined, should bear the name of The BriiisJi Museum. 
 
 Tlie sum really raised under this Act, partly in 
 consequence of benefits arising from unsold tickets, 
 amounted to £101,952. 7s. Gd. ; but the expenses of 
 the lottery amounted to £0,200, and the cashier 
 of the bank received more than £550 in consideration 
 of his management of it, so that the net produce was 
 £95,194. 8s. 2d. Out of this the sum of £20,000 
 was paid to the executors of Sir Hans Sloane; £10,000 
 to the Earl and Countess of Oxford for the Harleian 
 MSS. ; £10,250 to Lord Halifox for Montague House, 
 and £12,873 for its repairs, which had been estimated 
 at £3,800 ; £30,000 being set apart as a fund for the 
 payment of future salaries, taxes, and other expenses. 
 Some loss was also sustained by the difference of price 
 between the times of buying and selling stock, and 
 £4,6G0 were expended for furniture. The surplus 
 was applied to the gradual liquidation of numerous 
 and general expenses, including the removal of the 
 different collections. 
 
 The only buildings offered as general repositories 
 were Buckingham House, with the gardens and field, 
 for £30,000, and Montague House for £10,000.
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 105 
 
 The consideration of the former was waived, partly 
 from the exorbitant sum demanded for it, and partly 
 from the inconvenience of the situation. The latter 
 was finally fixed upon, and the agreement for its 
 possession was drawn up in the spring- of 1754. 
 
 No offer of ground for building a repository was 
 made, except in Old Palace Yard, where it was at one 
 time proposed that the Museum should find a place 
 in the general plan which had been there recently de- 
 signed by Kent for the New Houses of Parliament. 
 
 Montague House was originally built about 1674, 
 by Ralpli, Duke of Montague, after the style of a 
 French j)alace. It was erected from the design of 
 Robert Hooke, the celebrated mathematician, who 
 took so important a part in the re-building of London 
 after the great fire. Foreign artists were chiefly 
 engaged in its completion, and amongst them A^errio 
 superintended the decorations. 
 
 When finished it was considered a most magnificent 
 building; but on the 19th January, 1686, owing to 
 the nes^lioence of a servant the house was burnt to 
 the ground. The large income of the owner was 
 again brought into requisition for the re-construction 
 of his palace ; and, though executed by fresh artists, 
 the plan was the same, the new structure being raised 
 upon the foundation and remaining walls of the old one. 
 
 The architect now employed was Peter Puget, a 
 native of Marseilles, who was assisted by C. dc la 
 Fosse, J. Rousseau, and J. B. Monnoyer, three artists 
 of great eminence. 
 
 The exclusive employment of French artists gave 
 rise to the popular, but improbable, tale that Mon-
 
 106 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 tague House was re-built at the expense of Louis 
 XIV., to whose Court tlie Dulce had twice been 
 attached as Ambassador. 
 
 The second building was purchased as a repository 
 for the collections. 
 
 In 1755 the liarleian MSS. were removed into it, 
 and the following year the other collections were 
 added, and when all had been properly distributed 
 and arranged the British Museum was opened for 
 public inspection on the 15th of January, 1759. 
 
 The government of the Institution was vested in 
 trustees, to the end that, as the Act says : " A free 
 access to the collections may be given to all studious 
 and curious persons at such times, and in such manner, 
 and under such regulations for inspecting and con- 
 sulting the said collections, as by the said trustees, or 
 the major part of them, may be determined in any 
 general meeting assembled." 
 
 The trustees are forty-eight in number. Twenty- 
 three are called official, being the holders for the time 
 being of certain high offices ; by these the National 
 interests of Church and State, Law, Science, and Art 
 are presumed to be represented and protected. Of 
 these the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chan- 
 cellor, and the Speaker of the House of Commons are 
 termed the Principal T^^nsfees. Nine others are caUed 
 the Famihj Trustees, as representing the families of 
 Sloane, Cotton, Harley, etc., etc. ; one is termed the 
 Boyal Trustee, because nominated directly by the 
 Crown. The remaining fifteen are styled the Elected 
 Trustees, who are all chosen by the other twenty- 
 three.
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 107 
 
 In accordance with the desire of Sir Hans Sloane, 
 the elected were chosen in the beginning from among 
 the adepts in learning and science, and this practice 
 continued until about 1791, when the vacancies began 
 to be filled almost exclusively by persons of rank 
 and fortune. 
 
 The chief officer of the British Museum is styled 
 the Princqjal Librarian, which is to a certain extent 
 a misnomer, as he has no more to do with the books 
 than with the other portions of the collection ; he 
 derives his appointment from the Crown under sign 
 manual, and is entrusted with the care and custody 
 of the Museum, his duty being to sec that all the 
 subordinate officers and servants perform their re- 
 spective duties properly. 
 
 The different departments are each managed by a 
 head called Keeper, and in most of them there is 
 also an Assistant -Keeper, besides assistants and 
 attendants. 
 
 The patronage of the Museum is vested in tlie three 
 Principal Trustees, of whom the Archbishop cf 
 Canterbury takes precedence. 
 
 The hours for the opening of the Museum in 1759 
 were from 9 o'clock in the morning till 3 in the 
 afternoon, from Monday to Friday between the months 
 of September and April inclusive, and also at the 
 same hours on Tuesday in May, June, July, and 
 August, but on Monday and Friday only from 4 
 o'clock till 8 in the afternoon during these four 
 months, 
 
 Persons desirous of inspecting the Museum were ta 
 be admitted by printed tickets to be delivered by the
 
 lOS THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 porter upon their application in writing. No more 
 than ten tickets were to be delivered out for each 
 hour ; five of the persons producing such tickets 
 were to be attended by the Under-Librarian, and the 
 other five by the Assistant Librarian in each Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 On the 30th of March, 17C1, the hours of admission 
 were changed from nine to eleven and one, and the 
 number admitted at one time was increased to 15, 
 
 On the 9th of February, 1774, a Committee of the 
 House of Commons was appointed to consider a more 
 convenient method of admitting persons into the 
 Museum, and on the 11th of May the Committee sug- 
 gested that on certain days visitors should pav for 
 admission. This was ado^^ted and the practice continued 
 for 36 years afterwards, when, in 1810, Mr. Planta,then 
 Principal Librarian, first took the step of having the 
 Museum opened three times a week from ten to four 
 o'clock, without tickets. 
 
 The first '' Frind])al Lihraricm'' was Dr. Gowin 
 Knight, a distinguished member of the College of 
 Physicians. Lie was appointed in 1756, and remained at 
 the Museum till 1772, when he was succeeded by Dr. 
 Matthew Maty, who was born in 1718, near Utrecht, 
 and was educated at the University of Leyden. In 
 1740 he published " Dissertatio philosophica inaugu- 
 ralis de Usu," and, later on, a work on the effects of 
 habit and custom upon the human frame. Coming to 
 England in 1741, he practised as a physician, and 
 soon became a man of reputation, but much of his 
 spare time was occupied in literary pursuits, and at 
 •the death of Dr. Knight he was appointed Piinci_pal
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 109 
 
 Lihmrkm, which post, however, he held only for four 
 years, as he died in 1776. 
 
 Dr. Charles Morton, a native of Westmoreland, born 
 in 1710, was his successor. He was the author of 
 several important works, and contributed largely to 
 the " Philosophical Transactions." His death took 
 place on the 10th of February, 1799. 
 
 Joseph Planta next obtained the appointment, having 
 been engaged in 17 73 as an Assistant Librarian. Anative 
 of Switzerland,he was born on the 21st of February,! 744, 
 and educated at Utrecht, besides having been a student 
 at the University of Gottingen. From the date of his 
 appointment as Principal Librarian (1799) it may be 
 said that the affairs of the Museum began to improve ; 
 chiefly devoting himself to the improvement of the 
 reading-room, in ISIG the number of visitors in- 
 creased, and, as already stated, he suggested the vast 
 improvement of throwing open the doors of the 
 British Museum freely three times a week. He died in 
 1827. 
 
 Sir Ilenry Ellis next occupied the position of Prin- 
 cipal Librarian, having been a servant of the Trustees 
 since 1800. He was born at Shoreditch, in London, 
 29th of November, 1777, but of him we shall have 
 occasion to speak more fully hereafter. 
 
 During this period the contents of the British 
 Museum were divided into three separate depart- 
 ments, namely, Printed Books, Manuscripts, and 
 Natural History, and to the first of these we must 
 now draw the reader's attention. 
 
 The department of Printed Books consisted at first 
 only of the librarv of Sir Hans Sloane, which is said
 
 110 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 to have amoimted to 50,000 volumes, and that of 
 Major Edwards ; these were not, however, actually 
 transferred to the Museum till 17G9. In 1757 His 
 Majesty George II., " fully impressed with a convic- 
 tion of the utility of this Institution," by instrument 
 under the Great Seal, added the Library of Printed 
 Books and Manuscripts, which had been gradually 
 collected by the Sovereigns of these realms from 
 Henry VII. do^vn to William III. Rich in the pre- 
 vailing literature of different periods, and including, 
 with others, the libraries of Archbishop Cranmer 
 and of Isaac Casaubon, this library also contains the- 
 venerable Alexandrian Codex of the Bible. His 
 Majesty added to his gift the privilege which the 
 Eoyal Library had acquired in the reign of Anne, of 
 being sujDjilied with a copy of every publication 
 entered at Stationers' Hall. 
 
 The bulk of this Royal Collection consists of books 
 of English divinity, history, classics, &c., as well as of 
 Italian and Spanish works, many of the volumes re- 
 markable for being printed on vellum, or dedication 
 copies. The most valuable among them are the pro- 
 ductions of Verard, the celebrated Paris printer (1480- 
 1530), who struck off, during the reign of Henry VIL, 
 a copy on vellum of every book he printed. Unfor- 
 tunately, part of this collection was dispersed. 
 
 In 1759, Mr. Salomon Da Costa presented 180' 
 Hebrew books, which, as he states, " had been 
 gathered and bound for King Charles 11." 
 
 The department was further enriched, in 1762, by 
 a donation from George III. of a collection of pam- 
 phlets and periodicals published in the convulsive
 
 SIR JOSEPH BANKS HI 
 
 interval between the years 16-iO and 1660. Chiefly 
 illustrative of the civil wars in the time of Charles I., 
 they Avere collected by an eminent bookseller, George 
 Thomason ; the whole comprises upwards of 30,000 
 articles, bound in about 2,000 volumes. 
 
 It is impossible to enumerate in detail all the addi- 
 tions which have been since made by gift or purchase. 
 Dr. Thomas Birch's library, bequeathed in 1766, is 
 rich in biography ; two collections of books on musi- 
 cal science were also presented — one by Sir John 
 Hawkins, in 1778, and the other by Dr. Charles 
 Burney. 
 
 In 1780, 900 volumes of old English plays were 
 given to the Museum by Gavrick. In 1780, numerous 
 classics from the library of Thomas Tyrwhitt, and a col- 
 lection of ceremonials, processions, and heraldry from 
 Mrs. Sophia Sarah Banks was added. These gifts 
 were supplemented in 1818, two years later, by the 
 
 library of Sir Joseph Banks, 
 consisting of about 16,000 
 volumes, particularly rich in 
 scientific journals, transac- 
 tions of societies, and books 
 on natural history, but which 
 were not actuallv transferred 
 to the Museum till 1827. 
 ^ ^ ^ A collection of Italian his- 
 
 l\/i ®L- ^^^^y ^^^^ topography from Sir 
 
 Richard Colt-Hoare, Bart., 
 was presented in 1825. This 
 gentleman printed only twelve copies of the catalogue 
 of his books, and wrote on the fly-leaf of the copy
 
 112 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 which accompanied the presentation, " Anxious to 
 follow the liberal example of our gracious monarch, 
 George IV. ; of Sir George Beaumont, Bart., of 
 Richard Payne-Knight, Esq. (though in a very hum- 
 ble degree), I do give unto the British Museum this 
 my collection of topography, made during a residence 
 of five years abroad, and hoping that the more modern 
 publications may be added to it hereafter, a.d. 1825. 
 Richard Colt-Hoare. This catalogue contains 1,733 
 articles." 
 
 The valuable library of the Rev. Clayton Mordaunt 
 Cracherode, consisting of 4,-500 volumes, came into 
 the possession of the Museum in 1799 ; and lastly, in 
 1835, Major-General liardwicke bequeathed to the 
 Trustees the deficient works on natural history which 
 formed part of his library, and which caused an 
 accession of 300 volumes. 
 
 Parliament also en inced its interest in the library, 
 and gave instructions for the following purchases : — • 
 
 Mr. Francis Hargrave, an eminent barrister, had 
 formed an important collection of law books, which 
 was purchased in 1813 for £8,000, having been valued 
 by a bookseller at £2,247. 8s. 
 
 Dr. Burney's library was likewise purchased in 
 1818, and was estimated at the value of 9,000 
 guineas. It contained a remarkable collection of 
 Greek classics, besides 700 volumes of newspapers, 
 &;c., &c. 
 
 In 1769 a sum of £7,000 was paid for Major 
 Edwards' library, and in 1S0'± i\\i- sum of £150 was 
 applied to the purchase of a collection of Bibles 
 belonging to Mr. Combe.
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 113 
 
 In 1807 classical works, with MS. notes by Dr. 
 Bentley, were also obtained by purchase. 
 
 £1,000 were spent in 1812 in the purcliase of works 
 on English history and topography, and in 1815 books 
 on music, belonging to Dr. Barney, were acquired for 
 the sum of £253. 
 
 In the course of the same year a collection of books, 
 portraits, minerals, &c., belonging to Baron Moll, of 
 Munich, became national property for the considera- 
 tion of £4.,777. 17s. 5d., and in 1818, the Gmguene 
 collection, consisting of 1,675 articles, chiefly on Italian 
 literature, besides 2,686 articles in Greek, Latin, 
 French, &c., &c., &c., became another addition for 
 £1,000. 
 
 Four separate collections of tracts, illustrating the 
 Revolutionary History of France, have been purchased 
 at diflferent times by the Trustees. One was that 
 formed l)y the last President of the Parliament of 
 Brittany, at the commencement of the revolution ; two 
 others extended generally throughout the period, 
 whilst the fourth was a collection of tracts and papers 
 published during the " Hundred Days " of the year 
 1815, and became the property of the Museum in 
 182o, the whole forming a library of revolutionary 
 history, which contains as complete an account of 
 those important days for France as does the already- 
 mentioned collection of tracts of the civil wars of 
 England. 
 
 Anotlicr and unrivalled feature of the Museum 
 history is its progressive collection of newspapers from 
 1588. But as, for the purposes of this biography, we 
 have stated enough of the condition of the Museum.
 
 114 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 ^t the time of Panizzi's appointment, we shall say no 
 more on th(^ subject except to add a few words on the 
 general collection at the British Museum, which may 
 not be devoid of interest at this point of our nar- 
 rative. 
 
 Between 1805 and 1816 were added the choice 
 statues and antiques of ]\Ir. Charles To"v\Tiley, the 
 Lansdowne MSS., theGreville minerals, the Phigaleian 
 and the Elgin marbles. Whilst, however, treasures 
 upon treasures were accumulating in the Institution, 
 other good opportunities were allowed, through 
 apathy and ignorance, to be neglected, and amongst 
 the rarities thus lost were Dodwell's Greek vases, 
 Belzoni's alabaster sarcophagus, the yEgina marbles, 
 the Millingen vases, and, last but not least, the famous 
 collection of drawings by old masters acquired by the 
 energy of Sir Thomas Lawrence, which, by the terms 
 of his will, was offered to the nation for one-third of 
 its original cost. 
 
 To this neglect was added the sale of duplicate books, 
 Avhich so much disheartened Lord Fitzwilliam (who 
 died in 1816, and who intended to bequeath his col- 
 lection to the British Museum), that lie altered his 
 mind, and handed it over to the University of Cam- 
 bridge. 
 
 In 1823 the library of George III. was presented 
 by George IV. to the nation, and ordered by Parlia- 
 ment to be added to the Library of the British 
 Museum, but for ever to be kept separate from the 
 other books. Immcdiatelv after his accession George 
 III. began to purchase books, and for this purpose 
 gave Mr. Joseph Sr.iith, Consul at Venice, £10,000 for
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 115 
 
 his collection, besides other money which he sent to 
 various continental agents. 
 
 This library contains selections of the rarest kind, 
 more especially works in the first stages of the art of 
 printing, and is rich in early additions of the classics, 
 in books by Caxton, in the history of the States of 
 Europe, in the Transactions of Academies, &c. At the 
 time of its formation the houses of the Jesuits were 
 undergoing suppression, and their libraries were on 
 sale. It was accumulated durins^ more than half a 
 century at an expenditure of little less than £200,000. 
 
 In the preface to the catalogue it is stated that it 
 was compiled in accordance with a plan suggested by 
 Dr. Samuel Johnson. Plis Majesty's Librarian was Sir 
 Frederick Barnard, who survived his royal master, 
 and continued to hold the appointment until the 
 library became national property. He died at the 
 age of 87 on the 27th of January, 1830. 
 
 Soon after the reception of the gift, a Select Com- 
 mittee of the House of Commons reported (April 18, 
 1823) that a new iire-proof building ought to be 
 erected to preserve it from all risks, and accordingly the 
 present east wing of the ^luseum was built, at the cost 
 !if £140,000, bylsir Robert Smirke. The upper floor, 
 though it has been used for the Natural History col- 
 lection, was intended for a picture gallery and for the 
 reception of MSS. The new building was completed 
 in 1826, but the library was not opened for two years 
 afterwards. The room is 300 feet in length, 55 
 feet in width in the centre, and 31 in height. 
 The presses are all glazed to preserve the books 
 from dust. In the centre of the room are four 
 1
 
 ]]G THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 columns of Aberdeen cranite, each of a single 
 piece, surmounted by Corinthian capitals of Derby- 
 shire alabaster. Over the door are inscriptions, one 
 in Latin and the other in English, in these terms : — 
 *' This Library, collected by King George III., was 
 given to the British Nation by his Most Gracious 
 Majesty George IV., in the third year of his reign, 
 A.D., MDCCCXXiii." As to the reality of the gift to the 
 nation there is som.e doubt ; for it appears that 
 George IV., having some pressing call for money, did 
 not decline a proposition for selling the library in 
 question to the Emperor of Russia. Mr, Heber, the 
 bibliographer and book collector, having ascertained 
 the facts, and that the books were in danger of leaving 
 for the Baltic, sought an interview with Lord Sidmouth, 
 the Home Secretary, and stated the case, observing — 
 *' What a shame it ivoidd he that such a collection 
 should go out of the countrij T to which Lord 
 Sidmouth replied, ^^ It shall not;'' and, as it proved 
 afterwards, the library was presented to the nation, 
 but on condition that the value should be paid, which 
 was done from the surplus of certain funds furnished 
 by France for the compensation of " losses by the 
 revolution." 
 
 AVith this necessarily brief account of the rise and 
 progress of the British Museum, we return now to 
 the immediate subject of these memoirs. 
 
 In the previous chapter reference has been made 
 to Panizzi's dislike to the appellation of ^'■foreigner " 
 a dislike, which, indeed, he always entertained. 
 
 The act of naturalization took place scarcely one year 
 after he became a servant of the Trustees of the
 
 THE BKITISH MUSEUM 117 
 
 British Museum. It bears the date of March 24th, 
 1832, and was, as might be expected, a source ot 
 great satisfaction to him. 
 
 It has ah'eady been noticed that the National In- 
 stitution had previously enrolled amongst its increas- 
 ing staff other foreigners, who all held important, if 
 not responsible, appointments — viz., Dr. Maty, a 
 Dutchman, and the very first Undcr-Librarian of the 
 Department of Printed Books, afterwards Principal 
 Librarian ; Dr. Solander, a Swede, and Joseph 
 Planta, a Swiss, besides Charles Konig, a German 
 Of these, strange to say, not one was natural- 
 ized. Panizzi was now an Englishman after his own 
 heart, and his subsequent political career wiU 
 amply testify to the pride he took in being so. 
 His suitability for the appointment and the 
 causes which led to his selection for so responsible 
 an office, will be best understood from the Archbishop 
 of Canterbury's own statement before the Select 
 Committee on the British Museum, which sat in 
 1836 ; but on this subject more will be said here- 
 after. 
 
 His answer (No. 5,511) to a question put to him 
 
 was as follows : — 
 
 "Mr. Panizzi was entirely unknown tome, except by reputa- 
 tion ; I understood that he was a civilian who had come from 
 Italy, and that he was a man of great acquirements and talents, 
 peculiarly well suited for the British Museum ; that was 
 represented to me by several persons who were not connected 
 with the ^luseum, and it was strongly pressed by several 
 Trustees of the jNIuscum, who were of opinion that j\Ir. 
 Panizzi's appointment would prove very advantageous for 
 the Institution ; and considcnng the qualifications of that 
 1 2
 
 118 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 gentleman, his knowledge of foreign languages, his eminent 
 ability and extensive attainments, I could not doubt the 
 propriety of acceding to their wishes." 
 
 The news of his appointment was first com- 
 municated to him on the 25th of April, 1831, by the 
 Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. 
 
 " I am just come from a meeting of the Trustees of the 
 Museum and have the satisfaction of telling you that your 
 name, when proposed to succeed to the vacant Assistant 
 Librarianship, was received with high testimony to you, univer- 
 sally approved, and the Archbishop said he would lose no time in 
 signing the appointment, and in obtaining the Chancellor's 
 concurrence. 
 
 The appointment Avas £200 per annum for five days in the 
 week, and £75 for extra attendance to INIr. Walter. I am 
 very glad of your success, and think that your appointment 
 will be of great value to the JMuseum." 
 
 That the Trustees were satisfied with the perfor- 
 mance of Panizzi's duties there can be no doubt, and 
 it Avill be interestinsr to record his earliest labours. 
 His first report is dated May 4th, 1831, in which it 
 is stated that he was engaged in transcribing a 
 catalogue of duplicates to be submitted to the Royal 
 Society for their selection. This duty was soon fol- 
 lowed by cataloguing an extraordinary collection of 
 tracts, illustrative of the history of the French 
 Revolution, and formerly the property of Mr. Croker. 
 That it was no easy task, and that it demanded special 
 attention, may be gathered from a letter which the 
 cataloguer addressed on the 18th of April, 1834, to Mr. 
 Baber, then his superior officer : — • 
 
 "1st, As to the omission of the Christian name of the author,, 
 when his family name is given. 
 
 2nd. As to the great proportion of anonymous tracts.
 
 THE ROYAL SOCIETY 119 
 
 3rd. As to the number of works without any author's name 
 or title whatever, or with so vague a title as to be of no use 
 for the purpose of cataloguing the work." 
 He continues : — 
 
 " Much time is spent in searching for names or for author i, 
 and in glancing over tracts to see what is their subject, to 
 catalogue them properly, after a most tedious search proves 
 useless with respect to the first point, and no evidence remains 
 of the trouble and loss of time which it causes. I cannot 
 catalogue more than forty tracts each day." 
 
 As it is a matter of importance that Panizzi's 
 stormy connection with the Royal Society should be 
 fairly and impartially added to these memoirs, and as 
 we have now arrived at the period when, for the 
 proper elucidation of the facts thereto belonging, the 
 whole circumstances of the case should be thorouglily 
 weighed and dwelt upon, it will be necessary to devote 
 a few pages to a clear account of the proposal made 
 by that Society, of the obstacles that were placed in 
 Panizzi's path, in his conscientious endeavours to fulfil 
 the obligations imposed on him, and of the un- 
 tiring zeal and patience he displayed in doing his duty 
 in the matter, and in opposing the force with which 
 it was attempted to crush the evidence of his superior 
 talent, and to trample under foot even the Society's own. 
 verbal agreements upon which, as coming from a body 
 of men beyond suspicion, Panizzi relied. The whole of 
 that opposition was successfully surmounted by his 
 undoubted genius. 
 
 Biographers generally have to undergo the tedium 
 of monotony in their faithful endeavours to reproduce 
 the lives of those whose careers they pen, and it is 
 only at certain epochs in the course of the lives of
 
 120 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 consistent men that an opportunity is afForded for a 
 discursive chapter such as is now presented to our 
 readers. It deserves, however, due consideration, and 
 has its value as a proof of the forbearance, learning, 
 and perseverance of the man of whom we are writing ; 
 whilst it, without doubt, throws somewhat into shade 
 the members of a very learned Society, who vainly 
 strove, first from want of knowledge of their own re- 
 quirements, and secondly from non-appreciation of him 
 "with whom they had to deal, to undervalue true talent, 
 and, by their associative power, to make a show of 
 quashing not only Panizzi's {subsequently j^yovedj in- 
 telHgence, but also his right to acknowledgment for 
 the new light he threw upon their want of accuracy 
 and knowledge for the work which they had confided 
 to him, and for which they should — some, at least^ 
 must — have knoA^ii he was so eminently fitted. 
 
 The origin, progress, and denoiiment of this affair 
 cannot be brought within very small compass ; but 
 attracting (as they did at the time) the notice of many 
 literary men, are worthy of some space in this volume. 
 
 It would be amusing to watch the progress of this 
 attempt to thwart Panizzi's intentions for the develop- 
 ment of that which he so well understood, even were 
 it not also a necessary record of the heartburnings of,^ 
 and wrongs done to, one who, justly confident in his 
 own position, had to prove, step by step, willingly or 
 not, for his own defence, his superiority to those 
 whose business it was to direct him, and not to derive 
 from him their inspiration. 
 
 To proceed, then, as we have intimated above, in 
 reference to the connection of Panizzi with the Royal
 
 THE KOYAL SOCIETY 121 
 
 Society ; and to give our readers a clear conception of 
 that connection, it Avill be necessary to make con- 
 siderable quotations from his o^vn letters and notes, 
 for which, considering their importance as indications 
 of his learning, and humility under adverse treat- 
 ment, it will scarcely be necessary for us to offer any 
 apology. 
 
 In the year (1832-33) the Royal Society, from the 
 incompetency of those who had taken the matter in 
 hand, found it advisable to engage the services of 
 some knoNvn and experienced cataloguer to revise a 
 work, which had been begun on their behalf by one 
 of the members, whose presumption and arrogance 
 cannot be better proved than in the mild unassuming 
 languas^e of Panizzi himself : — 
 
 " So long ago as October, 1832, I happened to meet Dr. 
 Roget at dinner, wlio told me that the Catalogue of the Royal 
 Society, of which a sheet had been set up in type as a speci- 
 men, had been found to require revision in passing through tlie 
 press, and that a Committee, on tliat very day, had requested 
 him to ask me whether I would undertake the task. I said 
 that I had no objection, and I received from him a proof o^ the 
 sheet in question. The same evening, on my return home, 
 irlancingf over it, I was astonished at the numberless errors by 
 which it was disfio-ured. The more I looked into it, the worse 
 did it appear, and I soon felt convinced that it was utterly in- 
 capable of correction. I immediately wrote a note to Dr. 
 Roget, stating the conclusion to which I had come, and begging 
 to decline to have anything to do with a work which I felt 
 satisfied would be disgraceful to the Royal Society, and to any 
 person who should venture to meddle with it. Either in tliat 
 note, or verbally, shortly after, I mentioned to Dr. Roget that it 
 would be necessary for the Royal Society to have an entirely new 
 Catalogue, compiled in such a manner as would answer the ex-
 
 122 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 pectations which the public had a right to form : adding, that, 
 although I would never attempt to correct what had already 
 been done, I was ready to undertake a new compilation. 
 
 I had no idea when I so candidly expressed my opinion, that 
 I was making a powerful and unrelenting enemy in one of 
 the most influential officers of the Eoyal Society, who, as I 
 have learned since, had put together the titles of books which 
 were to form the Catalogue, and was so well satisfied with his 
 performance as to order a very large number of titles to be set 
 ■up in type ; whatever, in fact, he included in classes, which he 
 called : Mathematics, Astronomy and Navigation, Mechanics, 
 Optics, Transactions, Tables and Journals. The IMembers of 
 the Catalogue Committee, on being informed of what had 
 passed between Dr. Eoget and myself, perceived that my 
 opinion, as to the value of the work done, was correct, and it 
 was resolved that the compilation of a new Catalogue should be 
 intrusted to my care. Thus, not only all that had been done 
 Avas undone at once, but the time which had been lost, and, 
 what is more, the unwarrantable expense incurred by sending 
 so large a proportion of the ill-digested work to press, was 
 thrown away. Such is the origin of my connection with the 
 Koyal Society." 
 
 This is an extract from a letter dated 28th January, 
 1837, from Panizzi to his Royal Highness the Duke 
 of Sussex (then President of the Royal Society), a letter 
 wherein is fully set forth his whole conduct in the case, 
 and which, besides revealing the interile and almost 
 unpardonable errors he detected in the titles brought 
 under his notice, is a wonderful certificate to the 
 patience, endurance, and acuteness of a gentleman 
 Avho was called upon to contend, single-handed, with 
 a corporate body, supported by a clique necessarily 
 jealous of its own distinction. 
 
 Wg shall now ex])lain as clearly as possible the 
 course pursued by tlie Society, and the pains-taking.
 
 THE KOYAL SOCIETY 123 
 
 much enduring- way in which Panizzi met his oppo- 
 nents. 
 
 • Let us, therefore, continue to extract from the 
 memorable letter to H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex, those 
 passages wherein are particularized the egregious 
 blunders of Panizzi's predecessor in the work : — 
 
 " Authors' names were not better treated than the subjects. 
 Bonaventura, the Christian name of CavaUeri, was taken for a 
 family name, and a cross reference put from it to Cavalieri ; of 
 the three mathematical decades oi^ Giovan Camillo Grloriosi, one 
 was put under Camillo, his second Christian name, and the 
 remainder under his family name Grloriosi. On entering a 
 ■collection, the word Collezione was taken for a surname, and 
 Xuova for a cliristian name, and thus the entry is to be found 
 ■" Collezione (X.) " I will not notice mere errors of the press, 
 of which the number is prodigious ; but there are entries 
 wliich prove abundantly that the printer was not to be accused 
 of them, Cossali's History of Algol^ra in Italy was printed 
 Nclla Real Tipograjia Parmense, and Parmense was gravely 
 inserted as the name of the place where the book was printed. 
 Da Cunha's mathematical principles were translated into 
 French by D'Abreu after the author's death, and have this 
 title : " Principes Mathematiqucs de feu J. A. Da Cunha." 
 Anyone who has even merely heard of the ^'■feu Lord INIaire de 
 Londres" may easily guess, without much knowledge of 
 French, that feu here means late, i.e., deceased. The com- 
 piler of this Catalogue, however, did not attach such a gloomy 
 meaning to this word ; but philosophically conceived it to 
 signify ^re, as is evident by his precaution in writing it with a 
 capital F, Feu ; and by substituting the word Opuscules for the 
 <;orrect one, Principes, the following entry was made : — 
 
 "Da Cunha (J. A.), Opuscules Mathematiqucs dc Feu, 
 traduits litteralement du Portugais, par J. M. D' Abrcu. 8vo 
 Bordeaux, 1811. 
 
 The idea conveyed to a Frenchman by this title would not 
 be very clear, but it might possibly be understood that this is
 
 124 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 an infamous book, deserving to be burnt. It is a fortunate 
 thing iovfeu Mr. Da Cunha, that this libel on his fair name 
 was not published in his own country (ho was a Portuguese) 
 when he was living, and when the fashion was, not only to 
 burn books, but authors ; else, so dangerous an insinuation by 
 the Eoyal Society of London might have exposed him to the 
 chance of paying dearly for their blunders and bad French. 
 
 If errors of so ludicrous a nature occur in the first sheet 
 which was so often revised, one may easily conceive in what 
 state that part of the catalogue was which was set up, but not 
 corrected. As a specimen I transcribe three entries in the 
 last slip, containing a list of names put down pelc-mele, of 
 works said to be mathematical. 
 
 Litheosphorus, sive de lapide Bononlensi lucem in se con- 
 ceptam ab ambiente claro mox in tenebris mire conseruante 
 liber Fortunii Liceti Genuensis pridem in Pisano, nuper in 
 Patauino, nunc in Bononiensi Archigymnasio Philosophi 
 eminentis. 4to. Utlni, 1646. 
 
 I suspected at one time, that the error arose from Litheos- 
 pJiorus being mistaken for a star, and no attention being paid 
 to that explanation " sive de Lapide Bononiensi." I am now 
 satisfied that my suspicion was unfounded, and that the blun- 
 der is gravely, deliberately, and learnedly perpetrated ; it is 
 not to be attributed to the mere ignorance, that lapis means a 
 a stone, not a star, but to a very ingenious process of reason 
 ing, by which phosphorus was metamorphosed into a heavenly 
 body. 
 
 To demonstrate in "as correct and complete" a manner "as tlie 
 circumstances of the case will allow," I beg to call Your Eoyal 
 Highness's attention to another work by Liceti, which docs 
 exist in the library of the Eoyal Society, and which was cata- 
 loo-ued in the following manner, in the specimen now under 
 consideration. 
 
 Licetus (Fort). De Luna? sub obscura, luce propc Con- 
 iunctiones Libri IIT. 4to. Utini, 1641.
 
 THE ROYAL SOCIETY 125 
 
 In my proofs it stands thus : 
 
 Licetus (Fortunius). De Lunte subobscura, luce prope 
 conjunctiones, et in eclipsibus observata. 4 to. Utiiii, 1642. 
 
 Youi' Koyal Highness may have heard of the Board of 
 Agriculture having sent for twelve copies of Miss Edge- 
 AA orth's essay on Irish Bulls, for the use of that Institution, and 
 this ludicrous mistake was thought so exquisite, that no one 
 would have fancied it could possibly be equalled. But the 
 attempt at cataloguing drawn up by some learned astronomers, 
 the ornament and pride of the Eoyal Society, proves that 
 among the members of this famous Institution, there are some 
 who could leave the whole Board of Agriculture in the shade. 
 The work on ^star-fish, mistaken for a work on constellations ^ 
 not only is adorned with plates, showing that it treated of 
 aquatic not heavenhj bodies, but on the very title-page there 
 is an oval engraving representing on the upper lialf the 
 heavens covered with stars, and the lower half, the sea Avith 
 star-Jisli; with the motto, sicut supcrins ita est inferius, which 
 was taken literally by the acute individual who made this 
 entry, and who very mathematically argued that the stars 
 below, must belong to the domain of astronomical science, if 
 they be, as the author declares, like those above. On the 
 recto of the following page a dedication of the work occurs to 
 Sir Hans Sloane, as President, and to the Fellows of the Eoyal 
 Society, which probably was either passed over unread by the 
 moeiest fellow who catalogued the book ; or served to dazzle his 
 understanding with such passages as this : "fulgent sidera in 
 ccelis, in orbe litterario illustris vestra Societas. Sideribus inscrl- 
 bere Stellas convenit." But how could any |one doubt that the 
 work was astronomical, when the writer provokingly begins his 
 preface : " Coelorum spectare sidera decetjuvatqueAstronomos." 
 It is true he continues : " Physicorum interest stellis marlnis 
 visum intendere." But this was probably taken for a figura- 
 tive speech ; and with that bold decision by which great men 
 are distinguished, this work on so inferior a subject as star-fish, 
 dedicated to the Eoyal Society, was by the elite of that same
 
 126 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 body declared to be a treatise on mucli higher bodies, on con- 
 stellations, and consequently classed among astronomical books, 
 whilst I, thinking: marine stars to be animals, did not dare to 
 follow an example so splejulide mendax, and classed the work 
 among others on zoolor/ical subjects. What a difference, botli 
 with respect to the length of the title and the classes in which 
 it was entered ! Linckius would rise from his 2;rave, were 
 he to see mis-classed a work, which, as he said, he had 
 dedicated to the resplendent constellations forming the Royal 
 Society of his days, just because it treated of stars ! How 
 fortunate that the learned persons who are to render my Cata- 
 logue correct and complete have it still in their power to ap- 
 pease his indignant shade by re-classing the Avork among 
 astronomical treatises ! 
 
 These few specimens will satisfy any one of the justice of 
 my assertion that it was impossible to correct such a work. I 
 am fully aware of the difHculties, nay, of the impossibility, of 
 compiling any catalogue which shall be free from errors of a 
 very grave description. No work requires more indulgence 
 than one of this sort ; but the specimens which I have given 
 are such as cannot admit of excuse or palliation : they must at 
 •once convince the most indulgent observer that those who com- 
 mitted them were incapable, utterly incapable of performintr 
 the task they had undertaken. After what we have seen, shall 
 we wonder that Newton's Principia should be misplaced ? We 
 cannot wonder ; but by Your Royal Highness, who has the 
 honour to fill the chair once occupied by that immortal man, 
 and by those Fellows of the Royal Society who are not un- 
 worthy of the distinction, something like sorrow must be felt, 
 Avhen they see in the catalogue of their Library that work classed 
 among jmre Mathematics, as if Mechanics had nothing to dc 
 with it." 
 
 How amusing are some of Panizzi's remarks, and 
 how fully do they evince the supreme contempt he 
 must have felt for the ignorance displayed in the 
 sheets, which were submitted for his correction. It is
 
 THE EOYAL SOCIETY 127 
 
 impossible not to liel^^ dwelling- on and re-quoting such 
 a sentence as this : " It is a fortunate thing for feu 
 Mr. Da Cunha that this libel (the utter non-appreci- 
 ation of the word feu) on his fair name was not pub- 
 lished in his own country (he Avas a Portuguese) when 
 he was living, and when the fashion was not only to 
 burn books, but authors." This must have been a 
 cutting but amusing hint for His Eoyal Highness, 
 and then we perceive the manly tone of Panizzi when 
 he added : " So dangerous an insinuation by the Royal 
 Society of London might have exposed him to the 
 chance of paying dearly for their blunders and bad 
 French." 
 
 In October, 1833, the New Catalogue, entrusted to 
 Panizzi w^as commenced; not, however, left to his 
 own discretion, for cahined., crihhed, confined^ he 
 was called on to follow a plan, concocted by the 
 Library Committee, of which he mcidentaUy remarks : 
 '' Heaven forbid that I should ever le supimsed guilty of 
 hamng ai^jjroved of it, or he susjjccted capahle of 
 selecting such a plan, had I been at liberty to execute 
 the work as I ])leased. I agreed to carry their j^lan 
 into execution on my own resjwnsibility." 
 
 The agreement entered into with the Council of the 
 Society was only a verbal one, and, by its terms, the 
 compiler of the Catalogue was to be paid according 
 to the number of titles written, and at certain stages 
 of his labour, the first instalment when the whole of 
 the titles were written, the second when they were 
 ready for the printer, and the third when the book 
 was completed. This agreement or contract was never 
 reduced to writing. Panizzi, it may be, was inex-
 
 128 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 perienced in a business point of view, but it is more 
 probable that he placed implicit confidence in the 
 understanding with the Council, through the Chair- 
 man Mr. Lubbock. 
 
 As the work progressed, however, the members of 
 the Library Committee appear to have conceived that 
 they had a right to interfere with the execution of the 
 work. The compiler firmly resisted this, and it was 
 ultimately conceded that any proposals of the Com- 
 mittee were to be regarded merely as suggestions. 
 
 In the course of a year Panizzi, having nearly com- 
 pleted the writing of the titles on slips of paper, 
 applied for the first instalment of the remuneration in 
 proportion to the number he had written. 
 
 AVhat must have been his mortification to find that 
 the Council would not accept his computation, but 
 referred his account to an underling, in consequence 
 of whose report they reduced the demand by one-third. 
 
 The consequent offer was rejected, and Panizzi's 
 claim afterwards admitted by payment of the full 
 amount. 
 
 A similar difficulty or objection arose about the 
 second instalment, due in July, 1835 ; when, after the 
 Council had voted but one half the amount, they ulti- 
 mately granted the other, and the whole was paid. 
 
 When matters had progressed to the final stage, the 
 revision of the printer's work for press, Panizzi had 
 again occasion to complain of the interference of the 
 Catalogue Committee, and of insufficient access to 
 the books. 
 
 The Council hereupon took the opinion of certain 
 then well-kno^vn bibliographers, which was unani-
 
 THE ROYAL SOCIETY 129 
 
 mously in favour of the compiler, nevertheless it was 
 resolved " that Fanizzi be ow longer emjjlof/ed in the 
 formation of the Catalogue.''' 
 
 The Council had only paid a portion of the value 
 of the work in its possession, had refused arbitration, 
 and by their summary resolution thought to escape 
 further liability. 
 
 Not so thought Panizzi. He maintained his claim, 
 and the matter, after narrowly escaping the interven- 
 tion of the law, was settled satisfactorily through the 
 good offices of friends. 
 
 The summing u]) of his case, as expressed by him- 
 self, in concluding his letter to the Duke of Sussex, 
 is worthy of reproduction here. 
 
 " It would be an empty boast were I to say that tlie pecuniary 
 loss which I must needs submit to is indiilerent to me. It is 
 no such thing; yet I can conscientiously say, that I should 
 never have taken the trouble of writing on this subject, had the 
 pecuniary loss been the only consequence of the conduct of the 
 Council towards me. But, after the observations made by Your 
 Eoyal Highness, were I to submit without stating the whole 
 truth, I might be suspected guilty either of unwillingness or in- 
 capability of fulfilling my contract, and that I could not brook. 
 I have ofFeredover and over again to the Council, throufjli the 
 secretaries, to refer our disputes to any two competent judges ; 
 the consciousness of their being in the wrong has made the 
 Council shrink from this fair proposal. I can and will do no 
 more. If, however, Your Ro3'al Highness considers it no more 
 than due to the character of the Royal Society, that the trans- 
 actions between the Council and myself should be thoroughly 
 and openly investigated, I will readily and cheerfully submit 
 them to the consideration of a tribunal so constituted. If, on 
 the contrary, Your Eoynl Highness be advised that no 
 further steps need be taken in the matter, I shall have my own
 
 130 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTIIO^'Y PANIZZI 
 
 opinion of the conduct of the Council, and of the Society at 
 large, as well as the Public, will be at liberty to form their own. 
 They will perceive that a contract was entered into between 
 tlie Council of the Royal Society and myself for the perform- 
 ance of a literary work : That the Council broke the terms of 
 that contract: That they refused to state by what right they 
 did so : That they would never answer my proposals of refer- 
 ring to arbitration any point in which they thought I did not 
 act in accordance with our agreement : That, after the rudest 
 and most uncourteous proceeding, they stooped to having clan- 
 destine access to private drawers containing the proofs of what 
 they owe to me, and have now the meanness not to pay their 
 debt, which, by their dishonest proceedings they are aware it 
 is out of my power legally to claim." 
 
 Thus thwarted and impeded at every step, Panizzi 
 at last succeeded in once again proving thai' right can 
 contend successfully with might ; and though years 
 have elapsed since this unseemly treatment at the 
 hands of a great and learned Society took place, it is 
 well that the occurrence should not pass into oblivion, 
 as it forms a conclusive proof of the determined astute- 
 ness of the man, of his endurance of character, and of 
 his abiUty to judge of the weak points of his adver- 
 saries, a foretaste of his prowess in many a subsequent, 
 struo-^le in his oft-times arduous career. 
 
 Panizzi's dealings with the Royal Society having 
 been thus satisfactorily disposed of, it will now be 
 necessary to return to the more matter-of-fact conduct 
 of this remarkably persevering man in his every-day 
 efforts to attain that position which he held steadily 
 in view — efforts which were finally crovrned with 
 
 success. 
 
 At this time it was not an unusual thing, and 
 especially during the absence of the Keeper, for him
 
 THE ROYAL SOCIETY 131 
 
 to spend some of his holidays, and evenings after 
 official hours, in the Library ; and it is a Avcll-known 
 fact that in the winter, when the Museum closed 
 early, he remained at his post working by candle-light, 
 which, however, was put a stop to on account of the 
 alleged possible danger of the practice. 
 
 About three years after his appointment, Paniz'zi 
 was, in a report Avritten April 2Gth, 1834, proposed 
 by Mr. Baber to direct the General Catalogue then 
 contemplated, Mr. Baber s scheme of Cataloguing the 
 books in the Library not having been adopted. Panizzi 
 and other of his colleagues were desired to prepare 
 titles for a noAV Catalogue. It appeared, by the end 
 of the year (1834), that he had written a larger 
 quantity of titles than any two of the other gentlemen, 
 which assiduity gained for him the approbation of the 
 Trustees. Panizzi's own words before a Royal Com- 
 mission on the 20 til of May, 1818, were in these 
 terms : — 
 
 "In 1835, without my knowing anything about it, the 
 Trustees found, from a retain laid before them in the month of 
 January, that I had been so fortunate as to do my duty Avell, 
 and in a manner that satisfied them. Mr. Baber was called in 
 (I know this from himself), and he was asked, I believe, if I 
 recollect right, by the Bishop of London (Dr. Blomfield) how 
 it was that I had done so remarkably well; and as there was an 
 election going on, I remember the expression used (as Mr. 
 Baber reported to me) was, that I was 'at the head of the poll' 
 Mr. Baber told me, tli:it he had the goodness to answer that I 
 was there, and that I would keep there. That led the Trustees 
 to consider how I was remunerated, and they found that my 
 remuneration was much lower than that of other people." 
 
 In consequence of this the adequacy of the remune- 
 ration in question was, on the lUlh of January, 1835, 
 K
 
 132 THE LIFE OF SIR -\NTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 referred to the Sub-Committee of Finance for their con- 
 sideration ; but at this meeting nothing material was 
 resolved on, except that the claim was admitted, and 
 the matter considered worthy of further deliberation. 
 Sir R. H. Inglis was added to the Finance Committee 
 for this purpose ; but in June of the same year a 
 meeting took place, with Lord Farnborough in the 
 chair, when the following resolution was passed : — 
 
 " That it is the unanimous opinion of the Sub-Committee that 
 it would be desirable for the Trustees to mark, by an increased 
 remuneration to Mr. Panizzl to the amount of £75 a year, that 
 making up the sum that he would receive if he were an 
 Assistant Librarian, their sense of Mr. Panizzi's vakie to the 
 Miiseum, and also of the particular service which, by his zeal 
 and knowledojc, he has rendered in an eminent de2;rce to the 
 advancement of the new Catalogue of the Printed Books." 
 
 The members present, beside the Chairman, were 
 the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Ashburton, and the 
 Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. 
 
 Llere, therefore, was strong admission of the inade- 
 quacy of Panizzi's remuneration at the time, and strong 
 special reasons wero advanced to support that admis- 
 sion, as well as the proposal for a more adequate 
 salary. 
 
 It was necessary for this resolution to be submitted 
 to the General Meeting on July 11th, 1835. Another 
 minute was then passed openly against the principle 
 affirmed six months previously ; it ran : — 
 
 " The Trustees, having taken into their consideration the 
 Report of the Sub-Committee of June 20th, although entirely 
 concurring in the opinion expressed by the Sub-Committee as 
 to the zeal and abiUty with which j\Ir. Panizzi has discharged 
 the duties of his oflice, and desirous of evincing the sence which 
 they entertain of his services to the Museum, yet feel them- 

 
 PROMOTION 133 
 
 ■selves to be precluded, by the general principles upon which 
 the scale of remuneration to officers in similar stations and with 
 the same degrees of responsibility must of necessity be framed, 
 from adopting a rate of payment to Mr. Panizzi differing from 
 that which is fixed for the office which he at present holds in 
 the Museum." 
 
 It might be interesting to inquire into the 
 motives of the Committee, in taking the ade- 
 quacy of the remuneration in question into their 
 consideration. "Was the concession made to the office 
 or to the man who held it 1 But we need not pursue 
 this. 
 
 The minute of the General Meeting produced 
 tin unprecedented event. Mr. Grenville, one of 
 the Committee present, when he saw what was 
 taking place, rose, left the room, and never attended 
 a meeting of the Trustees again. The increase 
 was not granted. To preserve the correctness of our 
 chronology, it is necessary to reserve an account of 
 Mr. Grenville till much later on. It is fair to state 
 that Lord Lansdowne and Lord Ashburton were not 
 present on this occasion ; but the Board considered it 
 necessary to instruct the Secretary (then Mr. J. Forshall) 
 to forward to Mr. Grenville a copy of the minute 
 which he sent to Panizzi, with the following note :— 
 
 ** I do not lose a moment in transmitting to you, for your 
 own custody, the minute made by the Trustees : it is at least 
 an honourable testimony of the sense which they entertain of 
 the value of your services in the British Museum, and as such 
 I send you the original minute as 1 received it, and I beg you 
 to keep it. — Yours, &c„ &c., T. Grenville." 
 
 In March, 1837, the Keeper, Mr. Baber, gave 
 notice that he intended to resign his post at mid-
 
 134 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 summer. Mr. Gary, the celebrated translator of 
 Dante, who was then an Assistant-Librarian, would 
 have been the natural successor ; but on account of 
 his infirmities the Principal Trustees raised an objec- 
 tion to such an appointment. 
 
 Now it is of great importance to us that these state- 
 ments should be made known, for much controversy^ 
 angry discussion, amounting to personal vituperation, 
 and many letters ensued on the appointment of 
 Panizzi as Keei^er of the Printed Books, which, not- 
 withstanding, took place on the 15th of July of the 
 same year. 
 
 Meetings were held against the ^^ Foreigner ;" and 
 one of the speakers made an open statement that 
 Panizzi had been seen in the streets of London selling 
 white mice: had it been a few years later, possibly 
 the distinctive title of organ-grinder would have been 
 added. The infirmities of Mr. Gary were well knoAvn^ 
 and Panizzi, out of regard and in fairness to him, 
 never asked for the place, nor took any decided step 
 for the purpose of obtaining it. On the loth of 
 March, 1837, he addressed a letter to the Archbishop 
 of Ganterbury and the other Principal Trustees, 
 soliciting in general terms that if any appointment 
 was to take place they would bear his past services in 
 mind. 
 
 The letter was to the following effect : — 
 
 " British Museum, March 13, 1837. 
 *'My Lord Archbishop, 
 
 It is reported, that, in consequence of the new 
 arrano-ements which are going to be introduced into this estab- 
 lishment, some vacancies are likely to occur in the offices of
 
 CARY 135 
 
 the several departments. Having been so fortunate as to be 
 honoured with the approbation of the Trustees for (as tliey 
 were pleased, to say in July, 1835), ' the zeal and ability ' with 
 whicli I have (daring a period of nearly six years), discharged 
 the duties of the office which I now hold in the British Museum, 
 I venture to beg of your Grace, and the other Principal 
 Trustees, to keep my humble services in view should any place 
 become vacant for which I should be deemed qualilied. I take 
 the liberty of appealing to my past as an earnest of my future 
 conduct, should the Principal Trustees deem it expedient to 
 promote me to any higher situation than that which I now 
 hold, and in wliich I miglit humbly but warmly second the 
 views and wishes of the Trustees i-i extending the public 
 utility of this Institution. 
 
 In the hope that this application may receive the favour- 
 able consideration of your Grrace and the other Principal 
 Trustees, 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 The letters to the Lord Chancellor and Speaker 
 were m the same terms. 
 
 It was a common opmion that Mr. Gary had been 
 ill-treated and passed over m favour of Panizzi. How- 
 ever, Samuel Rogers, the poet, a friend of Gary's, 
 after having strongly recommended the latter, 
 thought that, considering his ill-health it would 
 scarcely be acting fairly to the Principal Trustees, or 
 to the public to press his claims. Mr. Gary saw the 
 Speaker, who, in the course of conversation, said : " I 
 heard of a Mr. Panizzi, who is next : What do you 
 know of him ■? " What Gary's answer was is not 
 knoAvn ; but it is certain that, when the post was 
 declared vacant, the gentleman went to the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury on the 24th of June, 1837, and
 
 136 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 again solicited the appointment, which, as might have- 
 been expected, was withheld. Panizzi, having heard 
 of it directly from Gary, asked, in the presence of 
 Mr. Baber, whether he would object to his applying 
 for it, when he answered, ''^N'ot at ally There and 
 then Panizzi sat down and wrote this letter to the 
 Archbishop : — 
 
 "My Lord Arciroisliop, 
 
 Since I had the honour of arldressing your Grace, Mr. 
 Baber has resigned tlie Keepership of the Frhited Books \n 
 this establishment. I hope your Grace will not deem it pre- 
 sumptuous in me, to beg respectfully of your Grace and the 
 other Principal Trustees to take my case into consideration, 
 should they think it requisite to depart from the usual 
 system of regular promotion, on appoindng his successor. I 
 venture to say this much, having been informed by Mr. Gary 
 of the conversation he has had the honour to have the morning 
 before last with your Grace, and beg to subscribe myself with 
 the greatest respect, &c., &c. A. Panizzi." 
 
 No sooner was the promotion made known than 
 the controversy began. It ivas a j^iece of favouritism 
 to a Foreifpier, and an injustice to Mr. Gary. 
 
 As to the first point, Panizzi was at the time per- 
 sonally unkno^\al to the Principal Trustees. Of this 
 there was sufficient evidence. 
 
 There was am]3le precedent for the appointment of 
 a Foreigner, and, if so, objections could not be made,, 
 especially to a naturalized Foreigner, and there was 
 plenty of time for a better qualified person to come 
 forward, as quite four months elapsed between 
 Mr. Baber's announced resignation and the appoint- 
 ment of a successor. If there was a semblance of 
 injustice, it was because the claims of an individual 

 
 cary'b letter 137 
 
 had been postponed to the necessities of the Institu- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. Gary then thought fit to write the following 
 letter to the Lord Chancellor Cottenham, which 
 was published in the "Times" of July ISth, 1837, 
 
 '• The following letter has been sent to the Lord 
 Chancellor by the Rev. H. F. Cary, the Translator of 
 Dante, who seems to have been treated with extra- 
 ordinary injustice : — 
 
 * British Museum, July 17, 
 'My Lord, 
 
 I cannot suffer the communication yesterday made to 
 me by our Secretary, of your having passed me by in the 
 nomination to tlie vacant office of Librarian, and appointed a 
 subordinate Officer over my head, to reach me without an im- 
 mediate remonstrance against this disposal of your patronage. 
 I have for the course of eleven years been constant in the dis- 
 charnfe of irksome duties in this establishment ; and at a 
 moment when I was told to expect the rc\vard never yet denied 
 in this place to such claims, I find it snatched from me by 
 yourself and tlie Speaker of the House of Commons, in the face 
 of a recommendaticn from the other Principal Trustee, the 
 Arclibisliop of Canterbury, the only one of the three who has 
 been in the habit of attendinrj here, and makinfr liimself 
 acquainted with our proceedings. My repeated requests for a 
 personal interview with your Lordship were met by refusal, 
 and a desire to communicate whatever I had to say by letter* 
 Three letters which I addressed to you were met by silence. 
 In the last of these letters I endeavoured to answer the objec- 
 tions which the Archbishop with his usual humanity and 
 CH)nsideration for the humblest of those who have any claim on 
 Lis attention, had apprised mc of, as existing on the part of the 
 other Trustees. The objections were my age and the general 
 state of my hcaltli. ]My age, between 64 and Go years, it was 
 plain, might rather ask for me that alleviation of labour which.
 
 138 THE LIFE Oi'^ SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 in this as in many other public ofliccs Is gained by promotion 
 to a superior place, than call for a continuance of the same 
 laborious employment- Mjr health for the last four years has 
 been such as to allow me, with the interval of one fortnight 
 only, to attend closely through every day to the business of my 
 department. Before that time (and it was the only other in- 
 stance of ill-health since 1 have been here) I had a severe ill- 
 ness, occasioned by domestic affliction, on account of which I 
 Avas permitted to pass six months on the Continent, and even 
 that time was not wholly lost to the Museum, as I availed my- 
 self of the opportunity to inquire into the state and man- 
 agement of the public Libraries in most of the principal 
 cities in Italy, where chiefly my time was spent. Lest 
 however, I should deceive myself as to the present state of 
 my health, I thouglit it right to consult three medical men 
 who best know the ailments I have been subject to. Their 
 opinions I immediately laid before the Archbishop, and copies 
 of them before yourself and the Speaker. They were unani- 
 mous us to my fitness in point of health for the place I solicited. 
 On their testimonies and on his own previous knowledge of my 
 character and services, the Archbishop was pleased to declare 
 his determination to appoint me, with the understanding that 
 if at any future time infirmity should render me unfit for my 
 trust, I should reslLrn. 
 
 You, my Lord, and the Speaker, have refused to concur in 
 the appointment, and have placed my subordinate officer, Mr. 
 Panizzi, a Foreigner, who has been here some years less than 
 myself, over me, and at the head of our national library. 
 
 Being convinced that when the nomination to offices in the 
 British Museum was intrusted by the country to men them- 
 selves holding high offices in the State, It was on the implied 
 condition that they would either acquit themselves of their 
 duty by an attention to its internal management, or abstain 
 from' active interference if they were conscious of havinfT 
 given no such attention. I feel that I owe it not merely to 
 myself, but to my fellow-countrymen, to protest against your
 
 IIALLAM 
 
 139 
 
 present decision, to call publicly for an inquiry into the mode 
 in which my duty in the Museum has been performed, and 
 into the particulars of what I have done, which may be as- 
 certained by means of our monthly reports, and to demand for 
 what reason a person in an inferior station has been preferred 
 to me, in opposition to the only one of the three nominators 
 who regularly inspects the minutes of the establishment, and is 
 at all likely to have an intimate and accurate knowledge of its 
 concerns, and to be capable of forming a just judgment con- 
 
 cerning them. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 H. F. Gary. 
 
 J^S^^ 
 
 In justification of Panizzi, Hallam's opinion of his 
 
 fitness for the post is given : — 
 
 " Wimpole Street, July 6, 1S37' 
 My dear Sir, 
 
 You first mentioned to me, about 
 two months since, the prospect of 
 attainino- a hi^rher station in tlic 
 Museum, in consequence of Mr. 
 Baber's resignation, and seemed 
 rather desirous of testimonies to 
 your literary and genei'al character. 
 The closer connection I have since 
 had with the Museum does not, I 
 tliink, make it improper for me to 
 say what I would then readily have 
 said had it appeared to me as re- 
 quisite at that time; but you are, 
 of course, perfectly aware that I am only to be considered as a 
 private person, who has had frequent opportunities of seeing 
 you in the Library. In the many conversations on literary 
 subjects we have had together, both there and on other occa- 
 sions, I have been struck with your extensive and very ready 
 knowledfje of books, which has several times been of much 
 service to myself. Your zeal and activity in the Department
 
 140 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZl 
 
 are so generally acknowledged that no testimony of mine can 
 be of mucli additional value, and the many private friends you 
 possess, among whom T reckon not a few of my own, bear 
 sufficient witness to the sincerity and integrity of your 
 character. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 Henry ITallam." 
 
 Panizzi then wrote to the Archbishop : — 
 
 " British Museum, Jidy 19, 1837. 
 " I have just been informed by INIr. Forshall that your Graco 
 has been pleased to concur in my appointment of Under- 
 Librarian, and I must beg your Grace to accept my most 
 sincere and respectful thanks for so much kindness. 
 
 Your Grace will allow ine to add that it will be the height 
 of my ambition to show myself not unworthy of the honourable 
 trust reposed on me, by a zealous discharge of the arduous duties- 
 of my olfice to the utmost of my humble powers. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 A fortnight had scarcely elapsed when a question 
 arose on the subject of an ofhcial residence, and this 
 hivolved a lengthy correspondence between Panizzi,. 
 the Secretary (the Rev, J. Forshall), and Sir F, 
 Madden. The latter — who, from the outset, appears 
 to have regarded his colleague in an inimical spirit 
 (and no doubt the feeling was reciprocal) — evinced the 
 greatest eagerness to take possession of a certain one 
 of the lodgings which accompanied the appointments. 
 
 Further details would weary the reader ; it will, 
 therefore, be only necessary to state that Panizzi was 
 unsuccessful on this occasion in obtaining the house 
 to which, according to his own account, he was 
 entitled.
 
 OFFICIAL KESIDENUE. 141 
 
 The following letter, however, is worthy ol perusal 
 as a specimen of his persuasive and straightforward 
 arguniv-^nt in the matter : — 
 
 " British Museum, July 25th, 1837. 
 
 I should not trouble you again with respect to the question 
 now pending before the Trustees, as to the apartments to be 
 assigned to Sir Frederick Madden and myself, did it not seem 
 to me that the point of seniority is the one which will probably 
 influence their determination. I am well aware that the 
 Trustees are not bound to assign the best apartments to the 
 Senior Under-Librarian; but should they be pleased to make 
 seniority the ground of their decision, it is important that they 
 should have clearly before them focts and dates. 
 
 Mr. Baber resicned on the 24th of last June, and had his 
 successor been immediately appointed he might have been in- 
 stalled in his office, and have had apartments assigned to him 
 before you had vacated the office to which Sir Frederick has 
 been promoted. The appointment of the successor to Mr. Baber, 
 although made after your place had become vacant, preceded, 
 nevertheless, that of your successor; and it seems to me that, 
 however short the interval between the two nominations, he 
 who was last elected cannot be senior Vvdth respect to th& 
 other. The circumstance of Sir Frederick bavins: been an 
 officer of this house for a longer period, appears not to affect the 
 case, since the point is as to the seniority of the two Under- 
 Librarians as such. I believe in the army or navy the poin.^ 
 would not bear discussion. Mr. Baber had been in this house 
 before Mr. Konig, and to give Mr. Baber seniority over Mr. Konig 
 on their both being promoted at the same time, the appointment 
 of the former gentleman was purposely dated earlier than that 
 of the latter, and then no one doubted Mr. Baber's seniority. 
 It was not thought seniority would be given by the former 
 services of Mr. Baber, or else both appointments might havo 
 been dated the same day, when they were actually agreed upon, 
 by the Principal Trustees. 
 
 Yours, &c,, &c., A. Panizzi. 
 The Rev. Jos^- Forshall.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Sir Hennj Ellis ; P'irli'nnentary Committee, 1835-fi; Ki'ip rship ; 
 Removal of the Library from Montague House; Tcmiorary 
 Assistants; Catalo'iue ; Garnett ; Winter Jonns ; IVatt-^ ; [''vry ; 
 Additions and Deficiencies 1838 ; Annual Grant. 
 
 LLUSION has already been made to 
 Sir Henry Ellis, who was, at the time 
 of which we write, Principal Librarian, 
 having held this appointment since 
 the 20th of December, 1827. In the 
 year 18UU, Mr. Ellis had 
 entered the service of the 
 British Musenm as a Tem- 
 porary Assistant; and Mr. 
 Edwards, in his work en- 
 titled " Lives of the Fonn- 
 ders of the British Museum,'' 
 observes that " had it never 
 fallen to tlie lot of Henry 
 Ellis to render to the public 
 any service at all, in the 
 w^ay of administering and 
 improving the National Mu- 
 seum," he would still have earned an honourable 
 niche in our literary history. His contributions to
 
 Sm HENRY ELLIS 14:3 
 
 literature are, indeed, very unequal in their character. 
 Some of them are fragmentary ; some might be 
 thought trivial. But very many of them have sterling 
 value." 
 
 He died at the age of 92, on the 15 th of January, 
 1869, having retired in 18 50. 
 
 Between Panizzi and Sir Henry Ellis there was no 
 reciprocal feeling of friendship ; indeed, at times, the 
 former expressed himself so strongly that we prefer 
 not to reproduce his remarks. The first apparently 
 inimical act was Panizzi's decided objection to Sir 
 Henry's Printed Catalogue of the Museum Library ; 
 and we learn from a report, drawn up by Ellis, on 
 the 30th April, 1834, and which Panizzi delighted in 
 cutting up, that as soon as he (Ellis) was placed at 
 the head of the Printed Books Department, in 18 OG, 
 and Mr. Baber advanced to the post of Assistant- 
 Keeper, the preparation of a new Alphabetical Cata- 
 logue of the Library was ordered by the T]*ustees, and 
 the work undertaken by the two Librarians jointly. 
 The former was answerable for the letters A to F, 
 with P, Q, and R, and the latter for the remaining 
 letters. It may be considered a bold statement, yet, 
 this report, instead of containing a correct account of 
 the whole undertaking, was full, from beginning to 
 end, of the most inexact assertions : and these are 
 clearly pointed out by Panizzi, in the shape of mar- 
 ginal notes ; he, indeed, seemed most constant in his 
 great delight of finding faults in the Printed Catalogue 
 itself. On one occasion, whilst in search of a book, 
 he came suddenly on an entry of a French translation 
 of one of Jeremy Bentham's works, in which the
 
 144 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 author's name, having been translated in the title- 
 page of the book into French, was transferred in the 
 same form " Bentham (Jerome) " into the Catalogue. 
 Panizzi's comment on the entry was : " In ])ro])ria 
 mnit, et sui eum non receperunt" a verse in the first 
 chapter of St. John, from the Vulgate, which he may, 
 probably, have learnt when a boy, acting as a server 
 -at mass, under his master the Abbate Fratuzzi ; it is 
 equally probable that he Imew it in no other form. 
 The sentence is an exact translation from the Greel.- 
 
 ^i9 TO. i'Sio^ n-jXOe /cat ol iSioi, avjov ov nrapeXalSov. 
 
 But the Eno-lish version is not so; ''He came unto his 
 ^wn, and his oion received him not." Mr. Major, the 
 present Keeper of Maps, in the British Museum, was 
 at the time sitting in the same room with Panizzi, 
 and seeing him point out the mistake committed 
 by Sir Henry Ellis, in order to court enquiry ex- 
 claimed : " How do you account. Sir, for the words 
 ^' in propria " being used instead of " ad suos," which 
 might have been the version, had the English trans- 
 lation, the only one with which he was then ac- 
 quainted been correct. Panizzi was amazed at the 
 question, and turning round to his friend, exclaimed, 
 " Goodness, he knows all about it, I had never noticed 
 the difference." It is, however, a pleasure to reflect 
 that no very serious results accrued from these dis- 
 putes between the antagonists, and this is to be attri- 
 buted to the circumstance that both were true 
 gentlemen, in the strict sense of the word, and both 
 men of education. 
 
 Whatever differences they may have had, they con- 
 trolled their feelings, and reined in their animosities,
 
 SIR HENRY ELLIS 
 
 145 
 
 guided by the polished hand of education, which, as 
 was instilled into our minds, in our schoolboy days, 
 
 " Emollit mores nee sinit esse feros." 
 The whole case affords a fair example of the influence 
 of gentle blood and good breeding, as opposed to that 
 grossness of ignorance, the sure tendency of which is 
 to cause forgetfulness of our better nature, delivering 
 us bound into the power of unbridled passion, and 
 forcin"- the most trivial disas^reements to issue in 
 petty spite and ill-feeling. Conduct unworthy of a 
 o-entleman was the last thino' that would be found on 
 either side in the case of Panizzi v. Ellis. 
 
 It is devoutly to be -wished that this would happen 
 on every occasion where two men opposed in views 
 meet ; but it has been our lot to see a very different 
 state of affairs, where the disputants were unequally 
 matched on the intrinsic points of education and 
 breeding. 
 
 But before dismissing the subject of quarrels (if 
 such a term is applicable to the jealousies and mis- 
 understandings of educated men), we must refer to the 
 strong antagonistic feeling evinced towards him, 
 whom, in very bad taste, his colleague, Sir F. Madden, 
 was wont to dub the '■^ Foreigner ;'' whilst necessity 
 only compels the production of some evidence of this, 
 and makes us acknowledge our reluctance at laying- 
 such matters before our readers : — 
 
 " Sir, — I received yesterday a communication signed " F. 
 Madden," aping all the forms of a diplomatic note, without any 
 of its courtesy. I forcbore noticing the omission, too pointed 
 to be misunderstood, in a former note of yours. I am now 
 driven to notice it, lest my forbearance be mistaken for weak-
 
 146 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 ncss. If you think you have reason to be displeased with my 
 conduct, I shall be ready to account for it whenever you make 
 up your mind to ask me in a direct and proper manner to do 
 so. This I hope you will not shrink from doing, else it will 
 be evident that, although chary of asking an explanation, and 
 thereby incurring some responsibility, you chose the shelter of 
 ofTicial communication to depart safehj under it fi'om those 
 forms which I suppose you are aware the usages of society 
 prescribe among gentlemen. Such communications will in 
 future be returned. If, however, you will address me in the 
 manner which I have a right to expect, your communication 
 shall be duly attended to. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., A. Panizzf. 
 
 Sir F. Madden, &c., &c., &c." 
 
 Many other disagreements — amonnting by the ani- 
 mosity evmced, to something worthy of a worse name 
 — we gloss over. Mention must, however, be made of 
 the Hev. Josiah Forshall, Keeper of the MSS., after- 
 wards Secretary, with whom Panizzi more than once 
 came into collision. 
 
 Let us now leave this unj)Ieasant topic, and proceed 
 to an account of the Select Committee on the British 
 Museum — more generally known as the Parliamentary 
 Commission of 1835-36 — which forms a turning point 
 in the history of our Museum — not so much on 
 account of anything actually effected by it, as from 
 its marking the era when the national character of 
 the Institution, and its mission as an instrument of the 
 national culture, Avere first clearly recognised and 
 defined. They would, indeed, have been professedly 
 acknowledged at any period of its history ; but the 
 circumstances under which the establishment orio-i- 
 
 o 
 
 nated, and the manner m which it was managed and
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 147 
 
 supported, had invari-ably tended to impress upon it a 
 private and exclusive character. By the public it was 
 principally regarded as a show of curiosities, differing 
 from the Zoological Gardens in the same degree as 
 inanimate differ from living things. The literary and 
 scientific world recosfuised its value for students and 
 amateurs, but had little conception of its function as 
 <i great educational agency. It could scarcely have 
 been otherwise. Sir Hans Sloane's munificent be- 
 quest had bestowed upon the public of his day that 
 which it had neither demanded nor required. The 
 measure of its immediate utility may be estimated by 
 the regulation that it should be inspected by parties 
 <^ not more than fourteen at one timc^ and always 
 accompanied by an official. 
 
 Panizzi's part in the Committee of 18 35-3 G was not 
 prominent, though of considerable importance as 
 respected his peculiar Department. The investiga- 
 tion, nevertheless, brought into the clearest relief the 
 three great ideas with which he entered upon his 
 official duties, and which, though acknowledged in 
 principle, he was left almost alone to maintain and 
 enforce, until they eventually became the accepted 
 principles of the Museum, thereby occasioning a total 
 metamorphosis in the spirit of the Institution, while 
 its administrative constitution remained mialtered. 
 These ideas may be thus defined : — 
 
 /. TJie Mtiseiim is not a show, hut an Institution 
 for the diffusion of culture. 
 
 II. It is a Department of the Civil Service, and 
 shouid be conducted in the sjjirit of other pullio 
 Uejjartmcnts. 
 
 L
 
 148 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 ///. It should be managed ivith the utmost ^possihle 
 UheraUty, 
 
 It may not be irrelevant if we attempt to show how 
 these points had been understood before Panizzi's 
 time. 
 
 In a Minute dated February 27, 1809, Sir Joseph 
 Banks defined a Museum for exhibition as " a col- 
 lection framed for the purpose of administering- 
 instruction in the form of amusement, and thus- 
 endeavouring to awake latent curiosity." He, there- 
 fore, concluded that not only the anatomical paintings 
 in the custody of the Trustees should be transferred 
 to the College of Surgeons, but the Osteological Col- 
 lection also. He further thought that the specimens 
 preserved in spirits, when not capable of bein^- stuffed,, 
 should also be transferred to the same place, more' 
 particularly as " the room where they are kept must 
 unavoidably smell strongly of spirits," and " they are 
 very frequently designated by the opprobrious appel- 
 lation of hobgoblins." It was clearly the view of 
 this representative of science upon the Board that the 
 Museum had no business with anything unadapted for 
 public exhibition. 
 
 With respect to the second point, it is certainly no- 
 reproach to the governing body, or the officers of the 
 Museum, that at the period of its establishment very 
 little work should have been required from the latter. 
 This ensued almost as a matter of necessity from the 
 fact that the Museum was no national foundation, 
 planned with systematic forethought, but a mere lucky 
 windfall. Enough was done if its safe custody was 
 ensured; the extension it was capable of receiving,
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 14& 
 
 entered into nobody's mind. The inevitable con- 
 sequence was that, while the standard of knowledge 
 ciud accomplishments among officers of the Museum 
 has at all times been high, the standard of official 
 efficiency was in its first days very low. So late as 
 1837 an honourable and respected officer could, with- 
 out conscious absurdity, urge as a plea for promotion 
 that he would thereby have less to do. 
 
 A conclusive criterion of the primitive conception 
 of an officer's duty may be found in a Minute of June 
 21, 1759 — the year of the opening of the British 
 Museum : — 
 
 " The Committee think proper to add that the re- 
 quiring the attendance of the officers during the whole 
 six hours that the Museum is kept open is not a 
 ivanton or useless ixiece of severity, as the two vacant 
 hours (if it is not thought too great a burden upon 
 the officers) might very usefully be employed by 
 them in better ranging the several collections, 
 especially in the Department of Manuscripts, and 
 preparing Catalogues for ^publication, which last the 
 Committee think so necessary a work that till it is 
 performed the several collections can be but imper- 
 fectly useful to the public." 
 
 In point of fact, these ''^ Librarians" weve ^'ciceroni." 
 In 1802, after forty-three years, three attendants were 
 appointed to relieve the " Under and Assistant 
 Librarians from the daily duty of showing the 
 Museum," and their salaries were advanced. But it 
 does not appear, says the report of 1807, " that the 
 Under or Assistant-Librarians received any particular 
 injunctions to execute the several duties proposed for 
 
 l2
 
 150 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOXY PANIZZI 
 
 them, nor does it appear by their subsequent conduct 
 that they understood themselves to be under any 
 specific obligation to do any specific duties of that de- 
 scription." " So that," continues the report, " the 
 public has been, and is, at an annual expense of above 
 £2,000 a year for the mere purpose of showing the 
 house to strangers, and providing an attendant upon 
 the Reading Room." This discovery led to consider- 
 able reform ; the Trustees, very naturally, " feeling 
 strong apprehensions that the munificence of Parlia- 
 ment should be checked, if it should think fit to in- 
 quire into the nature and extent of the duties now 
 executed by the officers of the Museum." 
 
 Matters were much improved by 1835 ; but the 
 or2:anisation of the Institution still bore evident traces 
 of its origin in private liberality, and of the miscon- 
 ceptions which had so long prevailed as to its 
 functions. 
 
 It was the constant endeavour of Panizzi to divest 
 it of everything indicating affinity with private insti- 
 tutions, and to impress it more and more with the 
 unique character of a national emporium of the world's 
 treasures. 
 
 The third point which generally characterised 
 Panizzi's administration was one to which the atten- 
 tion of the Committee of 1835-36 was vigorously 
 directed, and in reference to which it was of consider- 
 able service. The regulations for the admission of the 
 public were illiberal. Visitors were excluded at the 
 very times when they had most leisure to attend ; but 
 when, as Sir Plenry Ellis remarked, " the most mis- 
 chievous jjccrt of the ^ojJiilation was abroad" and in
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 151 
 
 holiday weeks the Museum should be closed, '• Iccause 
 the jplacG otherwise would really become unwholesome" 
 The Committee, however, came to a different conclu- 
 sion, and admitting that reforms were necessary, de- 
 cided that the Museum was to cease to be a private 
 establishment. But the immediate cause of the Com- 
 mission in question was the unreasonable complaint of 
 a discharged servant, a Mr. John Millard, employed 
 for some time as supernumerary in the Department of 
 MSS., who had lost his situation through inefficiency. 
 He possessed, it was said, some influence with Lord 
 Brougliam, and Mr., afterwards Sir Benjamin Hawes, 
 M.P. for Lambeth, was induced to take up his case, 
 and obtain its investigation under cover of a general 
 inquiry into the administration of the Museum. The 
 Committee, as at first appointed, March 27, 1835, was 
 inconveniently numerous, and when re-appointed in 
 tlie following session its numbers were considerably 
 curtailed. Mr. Hawes, a man of no great refinement, 
 but of thorough business capacity, and an excellent 
 specimen of the not unfrequent type of popular M.P., 
 who begins as a patriot and ends as a placeman, repre- 
 sented t'le reforming element, together with Dr. 
 Bowring and some other members of a similar stamp, 
 who mostly disappeared after the first session. Lord 
 Stanley (the late Lord Derby) and Sir Robert Inglis 
 represented the interests of the Trustees. Sir Philip 
 Egerton, Mr. Ridley Colborne, and Mr. Bingham 
 Baring were also amongst the most prominent members, 
 Mr. Sotheron Estcourt being chairman. 
 
 The administrative organisation of the Museum at 
 the time was certainly better calculated to invite in-
 
 152 THE LIFE OF SIR A^'TIIONY PANIZZI 
 
 quiry than to sustain it. The offices of the Principal 
 Librarian and Secretary, instead of being united, as at 
 present — and of which more hereafter — were divided, 
 witli very mischievous consequences as regarded the 
 authority of the former officer, and attended by all 
 the evils of divided responsibility. Sir H. Ellis was 
 an excellent antiquary and a most kind-hearted man, 
 but could never, under any circumstances, have been 
 more than the nominal head of the Museum. 
 
 The Secretary was, as has already been remarked, 
 the Rev. Josiah Forshall, and the government of the 
 Museum was in his hands. By a most preposterous 
 regulation, while the inferior officer, the Secretary, 
 always attended the meetings of the Trustees, the Prin- 
 cipal Librarian was never present unless summoned. 
 Mr. Forshall enjoyed the fullest confidence of the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, in whose hands, by a tacit 
 understanding which had become traditional, almost 
 all administrative arrangements were left by the Prin- 
 cipal Trustees. He was entirely opposed to all inno- 
 vation tending to impart a more popular character to 
 the Institution ; and was, in fine, as thoroughly the 
 representative of the j)rinciples on which the Museum 
 had hitherto been administered as Panizziwas of those 
 destined to supersede them. 
 
 Mr. Millard, the trivial cause of the Committee's 
 great effect, did not occupy much of its attention. It 
 appeared that he had been removed for two causes, 
 either of which was in itself sufficient to justify the 
 act : he was incompetent, and his services had been 
 dispensed with. The inferior work on M'hich he had 
 been engaged was discontinued ; he was fit for nothing
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 153 
 
 else. He had been treated with great and, indeed, 
 with immoderate indulgence, having been allowed to 
 remain two years after his virtual dismissal, in order 
 " to give him an opportunity of finding another situa- 
 tion." His case, it appeared, had kept the amiable 
 Principal Librarian awake all night ; the Keeper of 
 MSS. himself, strangely enough, had given him a tes- 
 timonial to the Windham Club. His patron endea- 
 voured to prove his efficiency ; but on July 2nd Sir 
 Frederick Madden, then Assistant-Keeper of the MSS. 
 came down " ivith some instances of Mr. JlillarcTs 
 mistakes, and some questions which I should lilce to 
 put him'' For some sufficient reason the instances 
 were not adduced, the questions were not put, and no 
 more was heard of Mr. Millard. He had, however, 
 made an outlet for the long accumulating dissatisfac- 
 tion with the Museum management, and the Com- 
 mittee found themselves arbiters in contentions 
 affecting every Department in the Institution, Tliey 
 had to digest Mr. Forshall's opinion that " men pro- 
 fessionalbj engaged in literary and scientific pursuits " 
 were unfit for the office of Trustee; and to reconcile 
 Sir Henry Ellis's statement that literary and scientific 
 men looked up to a Trusteeship as the blue ribbon of 
 their calling, with his admission that not one of them 
 had ever obtained it. They had to enquire whetlier 
 Sir Henry had made an adequate examination of the 
 Baron de Joursanvault's manuscripts, magnanimously 
 offered by that nobleman to the English nation for 
 100,000 francs and permission to import 500 pipes of 
 Eeaune wine duty free. If he had not done so, was it 
 because the coUeclion was shelved so high that Sir
 
 15-1 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Henry cciilcl not get at itwitliout a ladder, and was it 
 really a fact that no ladder coiiLl be found in the 
 whole town of Pomard ■? Was it true, as asserted by 
 the Edinlurcjh Beview, that cases of birds had been 
 transferred to the College of Surgeons and subsequently 
 repurchased by the Museum? Or was Sir Henry 
 Ellis's conjecture admissible that certain green glass 
 bottles, of which the transfer was acknowledged, might 
 have been large enough and dirty enough to have been 
 mistaken by the person who wrote that review " for 
 packing cases'?" How much of the Saurian collec- 
 tion bought from Mr. T. Hawkins was plaster l Was 
 the Keeper of Geology justified in affirming that " the 
 principal ichthyosaurus could not be exhibited with- 
 out derogation from the character of the British 
 Museum," and that if it were treated as it deserved 
 " the whole tail would disaj^tpear ?" 
 
 Had the College of Surgeons been obliged to spend 
 £1,000 on Zoological Literature, in consequence of 
 the deficiencies of the British Museum Library ? 
 
 It was admitted that the Museum possessed a fine 
 collection oi ^'^ Megatherium, Ch alic other ium, Anthroco- 
 therium, A7ioplotherium, and Sus dihtviamis'" in plaster; 
 but did it possess genuine fragments of any of these 
 extinct quadrupeds I To be straightforward, were the 
 " saurian and chelonian reptiles " in a confused and 
 nameless state ■? Would the " intelligent visitor " 
 have naturally expected to find " the limited space 
 available for exhibition filled with twenty-eight cats 
 placed together? Had the larger mammalia been 
 mostly devoured by insects, with the exception of the 
 llama's mouth, which had happily withstood their
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 155' 
 
 ravages from consisting of plaster of Paris 1 The 
 brunt of the assault, it will be seen, was borne by the 
 Zoological Department, whose comparatively starved 
 and nesflected condition rendered it a convenient basis 
 for attacks upon the general condition of the Museum, 
 the assailing party being well versed in the axiom of 
 fortification — that a fortress is no stronger than its 
 weakest point. 
 
 The Printed Book Department, the battle-ground of 
 subsequent years, attracted comparatively little at- 
 tention at the time. The public had not yet dis- 
 covered the value, either actual or potential, of such 
 a collection. The ideal of what a National Library 
 should be as yet only existed in Panizzi's head. The 
 general standard was exceedingly low, nor could this 
 be a matter of surprise, when, as he himself pointed 
 out, the Museum Library, after all, contained 40,000 
 more volumes than any library in the modern world,, 
 previous to the French Revolution. 
 
 With all the drawbacks of the Institution, its 
 management was liberality itself, compared to that 
 of even so splendid a library as the one at Vienna, with 
 its accommodation for 45 readers, bringing their own 
 pens and paper. 
 
 The acknowledged defects of the Museum Library, 
 in some degree, served to screen its unacknowledged 
 failings, for the Catalogue was so much behind hand 
 that it was difficult to be certain whether any specified 
 volume was to be found there or not. One important 
 accession had been obtai-ned, the English newspapers 
 were now regularly deposited in the Library, and it 
 was to this that the recent increase of readers was-
 
 15G THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 principally attributable. A late Trustee, Mr. Henry- 
 Banks, had been an incubus on the establishment, 
 " It was extremely difficult to get any assent in his 
 part to any purchase that was of any amount." Mr. 
 Baber had now more of his own way, yet Mdien 
 asked, " Is there that general consultation and cordial 
 intercourse which is satisfactory to you as head of 
 your Department ? " he answered, " Certamly notT 
 His evidence related, in great measure, to the project 
 for a new Catalogue, which had hitherto attracted 
 but little attention outside the Museum. Mr. 
 Hawes did his utmost to extort an admission that a 
 Classed Catalogue would be desirable ; but Mr. 
 Baber, an experienced bibliographer, maintained 
 firmly that such a Catalogue by itself was a delusion. 
 The alphabetical arrangement was the only safe one : 
 an index of subjects, however, might be a valuable ap- 
 pendage to such a Catalogue. It was the one fault 
 of Mr. Baber's evidence and of Panizzi's that neither 
 of them said how invaluable. They were probably 
 afraid of countenancing the mischievous agitation for 
 a Classed Catalogue pure and simple, knowing that 
 years had already been wasted over an impracticable 
 plan of their colleague, the Rev. T. H. Home. 
 Panizzi evidently felt much embarrassed between 
 loyalty to his chief, allegiance to the Trustees, and 
 his o-wn strong sense of the deficiencies of the Library. 
 His evidence, under such circumstances, was a model 
 of tact and discretion. He implied rather than as- 
 serted, and his testimony gains greatly in cogency 
 when read in the light of the reforms subsequently 
 effected by himself.
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 157 
 
 In the question of classed and alphabetical Cata- 
 logues, Panizzi supported his chief, and took care to 
 acquaint the Committee, how much the latter, and 
 the Library, had been damaged by the compulsory 
 withdrawal of Mr. Baber's first plan for a Catalogue 
 in favour of an alternative and inferior scheme. It 
 was not difficult to discover that Panizzi was by no 
 means satisfied with the administration of the Museum 
 as it stood ; at the same time he came to the assist- 
 ance of the Trustees on a subject which had led to 
 much criticism, by pointing out the importance of 
 having men of rank and influence upon the Board, 
 as well as men merely distinguished by literary and 
 scientific eminence. Not his least important contribu- 
 tion to the proceedings of the Committee was the 
 mass of information with respect to foreign Libraries 
 and Educational Institutions, published in the ap- 
 pendices to its report, and mainly collected, directly 
 or indirectly, by himself, either personally or from 
 trustworthy witnesses, during his travels on the 
 continent. These papers embody a vast amount of 
 curious and interesting information from Vienna and 
 Gottingen down to San-Luis Potosi, where " se frata 
 ■de j)oner una lihlloteca, y un miiseo, ^Jcro aim no se 
 'cerijicay 
 
 The report of the Committee was issued on July 14th, 
 1836. 
 
 It was not an elaborate document, and contained 
 no reasons for its recommendations, most of which 
 were of a sensible and obvious kind. The deficiencies 
 and disarrangements of the Collections were attributed 
 with perfect justice to the inadequacy of the funds
 
 158 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 and insufficiency of sjDace. It was suggested that those 
 Trustees whose attendance was infrequent and uncer- 
 tain should receive a hint to retire, and that " for the 
 future " literary and scientific distinction sliould con- 
 stitute a ground of election for the Trust. 
 
 Many were the reforms adopted, to the great advan- 
 tage of the Institution. The principal benefit of the 
 Commission, nevertheless, consisted in the distinct 
 recognition for the first time of the national and 
 educational character of the Museum. 
 
 These observations must, however, be relinquished, 
 interesting as they are, or we might be wandering on 
 far beyond reasonable limits. 
 
 More might be said, and perhaps advantageously, 
 on these seemingly unimportant subjects — yet, oh ! 
 how important to prove the steady progress of the 
 Museum, and that in no small degree owing to- 
 Panizzi's energy — but, as already said, we must re- 
 strain ourselves ; and having subjects of intrinsic 
 interest for the earnest peruser of this book to discuss, 
 our inclination must be foregone. 
 
 When Panizzi entered upon his new office as Keeper, 
 he was fully alive to the important duties whicli de- 
 volved upon him, and was well aware of the arduous 
 and extraordinary task which he was called on to per- 
 form simultaneously with the ordinary business of the 
 Department ; he, therefore, resolved to keep the whole 
 under his own immediate superintendence so far as 
 was compatible with the regulations and wishes of the 
 authorities. 
 
 The Trustees having, in 1837, provided means for 
 removing the Library of Printed Books from Montague-
 
 TEMPORARY ASSISTANTS 159 
 
 House to the new building on the north side of the 
 Quadrangle, it was necessary to appoint a separate 
 staff of assistants, and these were known as " tem- 
 ])orary assistants." 
 
 The operation of moving this mass of books, begun 
 on the 1st of January, 1 838, was successfully performed 
 by efficient subordinates ; but the labour and fore- 
 thought required for the proper re-arrangement of the 
 volumes and the alteration of the press-marks and re- 
 ferences in the catalogues were such as can only be 
 fully appreciated by those who have had some 
 experience in similar undertakings. 
 
 At this time the collection consisted of about 
 160,000 volumes, exclusive of the Royal Library. On 
 Panizzi was thrown, in addition to his other duties, 
 the responsibility of suggesting, examining, and 
 criticising every single article of furniture, fittings, 
 &c., which the Library itself and the Reading Room 
 required. The style of these, as well as the con- 
 trivances then adopted in the Department of Printed 
 Books, were subsequently, so far as possible, copied in 
 other Departments of the Museum, having been found 
 equally economical and useful. The Trustees, under 
 these circumstances, offered to find a person who 
 should undertake the superintendence of the Cata- 
 logue — an outlay which, however, they were not called 
 on to incur, Panizzi having twice declined the prof- 
 fered assistance. The opinion of the Trustees and that 
 of Panizzi, however, in regard to the amount of the 
 work necessarily to be carried out without delay will 
 be best gathered from the two following letters • —
 
 160 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 The Rev. J. Forshall to Panizzi, December 27, 1838. 
 
 "Your letter of the IStli instant leads me, upon readinf'- it 
 attentively, to explain to you that the Trustees did not intend, 
 in the communication to which your letter is a reply, to require 
 from you to undertake the printing of the New Alphabetical 
 Catalogue. They wished to ascertain whether, with the 
 other duties which fall to your oflice, you felt that you could 
 promise that vigorous and constant attention to the Catalogue 
 wliich seems necessary to ensure the proper execution of the 
 work. If you had felt that you could not, the Trustees would 
 in that case have endeavoured to obtain other superintendence. 
 The titles of the books in the King's Library are to be incor- 
 porated with the others." 
 
 Panizzi to the Rev. J. Forshall, January 1, 1839; 
 
 " In answer to your letter of the 27th of last month, and in 
 addition to mine of the 18th, I beg to repeat that I am willino- 
 to undertake the duties mentioned in your letter of the 17th^ 
 and to endeavour to perform them to the best of my powers. 
 I promise to give to the superintendence of the Catalof^ue all 
 the attention of which I am capable ; but it is not for me to 
 say whether it will ensure the proper execution of the work. 
 I feel it due to the Trustees, to the situation I have the honour 
 of holding, and to my own character, not to shrink from the 
 attempt." 
 
 The removal of the books having been proceeded 
 with for six months, it was found on the 23rd of June, 
 that the collection contained, in round numbers. 
 165,000 volumes, of which 450 were extra folios, 15,000 
 folios, 23,000 4tos., 126,000 Svos., &c., &c. Up to that 
 day 47,000 volumes had been removed to the new 
 Library, and placed on the shelves destined for their 
 reception, and at the end of 1839, about 12,000 more 
 volumes remained still in Montague House. 
 
 A singular feature in the carrying out of this 
 laborious task, was that no interruj)tion of the supply
 
 EFFICIENT STAFF 161 
 
 of books to the readers took place. When Piinizzi 
 informed the Trustees of his intentions, the Bishop of 
 London happening to be in the Committee Room, ex- 
 claimed, " It is imimssihle" There is probably no 
 precedent for this display of energy, and the magni- 
 tude of the attempt can only be appreciated by per- 
 sons conversant with the daily use made of a Public 
 Library by students, whose pursuits would have been 
 totally interrupted had the method adopted absolutely 
 required the closing of the Reading Room. The at- 
 tempt was successful, and the works asked for by 
 readers were generally forthcoming, excepting those 
 actually in the course of removal and rearrangement, 
 amounting at no time, on an average, to more than 
 8,000 volumes, or about five per cent, of the whole 
 Library. 
 
 Mention has been made of the " efficient staff,'' 
 this was composed of the following gentlemen: — 
 The Reverend Richard Garnett, Mr. John AVinter 
 Jones, Mr. Edward Edwards, Mr. W. Brenchley Rye, 
 Mr. George Bullcn, and last but not least, the late 
 Sergeant Par^y. 
 
 The Rev. R. Garnett was appointed Assistant- 
 Keeper of the Printed Books, vice Gary, in 1838. 
 He was an excellent scholar, thoroughly versed in 
 German, Italian, French, and Spanish ; had a good 
 knowledge of Anglo-Saxon, and was conversant with 
 several oriental languages. This gentleman died on 
 the 27tli of September, 1850, the sad event being 
 announced to Panizzi by Mr. John Ridout, Panizzi's 
 and Garnett's medical attendant. This coincidence 
 deserves notice, for in reality it relates indirectly to
 
 162 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 the appointment of Mr. Richard Garnett, the present 
 Superintendent of the Reading Room, so well-known 
 to all its frequenters.* 
 
 Panizzi wrote thus to Mr. Ridout : — 
 
 " September 27tli, 1850, 
 
 "Dear Sir, 
 
 I was certainly prepared for the melancholy tidings 
 brought by your note ; 1 am, nevertheless, shocked at seeing 
 it. I did promise I would do what I could for Mr. Garnett's 
 eldest boy, and shall keep my promise, and not without con- 
 fident hope of success. 
 
 When I saw him last Tuesday, Mr. Garnett requested me 
 to receive his salary (£100, due to-morrow) and pay it to his 
 bankers, he signing the receipt, wliicli I was to send him to- 
 morrow morning, the pay day. All this now cannot be. It struck 
 me that at the first moment it might be convenient for Mrs. 
 Garnett to have a few pounds at once, and till she has time to 
 settle her affairs ; but not knowing her enough, I dare not 
 make any offer of assistance. Can you help me in conveying 
 my humble and poor offer to her in a proper and unobtrusive 
 
 manner ? 
 
 With many thanks to you, my dear Sir, for having made me 
 aware of this sad event without delay, 
 
 I remain, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Mr. John Winter Jones had been in the Institution 
 since 1837, and besides ranking next to Panizzi, was 
 also his friend, and stood firmly by him through all 
 the vicissitudes of fortune which attended him ; it 
 will hereafter be noticed that he, in 1856, succeeded 
 Panizzi as Keeper of the Printed Books, and finally 
 in 18C6, as Principal Librarian. 
 
 Appointed let March, 1851.
 
 WATTS 165 
 
 Mr. Thomas Watts, the linguist, was another of 
 the " Temporary Assistants,'' appointed in 1838, who 
 rose to the grade of Keeper of the Printed Books, in 
 succession to Mr. Jones, but did not live long to enjoy 
 his promotion, for he died three years afterwards, on 
 the 9th of September, 1869, aged 58. 
 
 In the autumn of the year 1835, Mr. Watts' atten- 
 tion was attracted to the publication of the Parlia- 
 mentary Commission of 1835-36, previously discussed. 
 He read the evidence with great interest, and ere long, 
 in 1836-37, wrote some valuable comments upon it, 
 which embodied several suggestions for the improve- 
 ment of the Museum service, some of which he had 
 the satisfaction of seeing carried out during his life- 
 time. 
 
 Judging from certain passages which occur in a letter 
 addressed to Panizzi by Mr. Watts, it might almost be 
 inferred that long^ afterwards some sort of ill-feeling ex- 
 isted between the two. Panizzi, as already described, 
 was a strict disciplinarian, and as he seldom allowed 
 himself to be one minute behind-hand at his post, ex- 
 pected from all those under him similar punctuality 
 in attendance, so that the Trustees might not loss any 
 of the time which was their just due. Now it seems 
 that Mr. Watts was accused by Panizzi of arriving 
 late at the Museum and of wasting his time, as proved 
 by the insufficient number of titles written by him for 
 the Catalogue. This Panizzi communicated to him 
 in the shape of a letter ; which, after a few days, 
 Mr. Watts, naturally stung by the rebuke, answered 
 by an epistle of more than ordinary length, extending
 
 1(34 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 almost to eight quarto pages, of small writing, and 
 beginning thus : — 
 
 " I have read repeatedly, with emotions of the greatest sur- 
 prise and pain, the letter from you which I found on my desk 
 on Wednesday morning. I have been for some days at a loss 
 how to reply; but I perceive that a reply of some kind is im- 
 peratively needed. 
 
 The general impression which that letter conveys is that you 
 find me idle and inefficient in zeal and energy, and setting a 
 bad example. To hear such an accusation from any one would 
 surprise me. I know not how to describe the feeling with 
 which I hear it from you. You are the very first person to 
 whom I should have appealed for its refutation. ... It 
 was at your recommendation that the Royal Commissioners* to 
 inquire into the affiirs of the Museum expressed an opinion in 
 very strong terms that my salary should be doubled and my 
 position improved. You made use before them of these emphatic 
 words: — " Mr. Watts has always done his duty arid done it 
 ivell." . . • . How, sir, am I to account for so striking a 
 change in your opinion of me as your letter indicates?" 
 
 He seems to acknowledge that he had actually been 
 in the habit of coming late to his work ; (it was known 
 that at times his health was not good) but promised 
 that in future he would do his utmost to please and 
 satisfy his chief in every possible manner. 
 
 In corroboration of the statement of Watts in the 
 first part of his letter, it may not be amiss to give in full 
 a report which Panizzi addressed to the Trustees about 
 that period : — 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi begs to submit to the Trustees the case of Mr. 
 Watts, a permanent assistant in this Department, who has been 
 absent from his duties for the space of forty-five days, owing to 
 a long illness. His salary is stopped during the time of ab- 
 
 * Here he refers to a later "inquiry."
 
 WATTS 165 
 
 -sence, even when caused by a misfortune to which, as in this 
 <;ase, the very nature of his occupation in the Museum may 
 have contributed. Mr. Panizzi begs that this circumstance 
 and the value of the services of INlr. Watts, to which he has 
 often had occasion to render justice, may induce the Trustees 
 to direct Mr. Watts' salary for the time of his absence to be 
 paid." 
 
 This Report is an excellent proof of Panizzi's con- 
 sideration for those under his supervision, and no 
 further confirmation that the fault found with Watts 
 •arose from his strict sense of duty towards the Trus- 
 tees, and a fearless disregard of bringing on himself 
 ithe enmity of anyone for the simple discharge of that 
 .duty, is required. Perhaps this is better explained in 
 his own words, in answer to Mr. Watts' letter : — 
 
 " I have two principal duties to perform as the head of this 
 Department. The first is to complete the new Catalogue with 
 all possible despatch consistent with accuracy. Until that is 
 done I ou"ht not and will not entertain any other scheme, how- 
 ever plausible, which would inevitably interfere with the rapid 
 progress of that great work. It is for that end, and for that 
 only, that assistance is given to me so far as the Catalogue is 
 concerned, and neither friends nor enemies shall make me tura 
 from the path on which I am bound." 
 
 The next distinguished " Temjjorary Assistant " to 
 he introduced to our readers was John Humffreys 
 Parry, the late Serjeant Parry, who has so recently 
 ■departed this life. 
 
 Mr. Parry was recommended on the 31st of January, 
 1839, to Panizzi by Mr. Forshall, through the follow- 
 ing letter : — 
 
 "The bearer, ]\Ir. HuinlTicys Parry, is a gentleman of whose 
 friends and connections I can bear testimony as being of the 
 highest respectability. He is a young man of talent, intended 
 
 m2
 
 166 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 for the Bar, but left, from family circumstances, much to hi& 
 own resources. He would be glad to have employment upon 
 the new Catalogue. Examine him, and form your own judg- 
 ment as to his fitness. 
 
 Some private conduct of the young man's has accidentally 
 come to my knowledge, which enables me to assure you that 
 he is a person of no common merit in many essential points of 
 character." 
 
 Immediately afterwards, at an interview, Panizzi 
 
 gave him the appointment he sought, and on the 14tli 
 
 of February, 1839, Mr. Parry thus addressed his new 
 
 chief: — 
 
 ** 36, Lower-street, Islington. 
 
 " Sir, — Mr. Forshall has Informed me that I am to receive 
 
 the appointment on the Alphabetical Catalogue at the Museum^ 
 
 and having a few arrangements to make prior to commencing 
 
 my duties, I fear I shall not be able to attend before Monday 
 
 or Wednesday next. I think it right to apprise you of this, 
 
 as Mr. Edwards stated to me your wish that I should lose na 
 
 time, and I am anxious to comply with it." 
 
 AU those who knew the learned Serjeant in after 
 years fully appreciate the geniality of his disposition. 
 Panizzi soon became attached to him, and was not long 
 in discerning his superior qualities. He was a great 
 favourite with all. On one occasion, when all the 
 Assistants were mustered in solemn conclave, to discuss 
 a new rule for cataloguing, some one knocked at the 
 door, when Parry, without leaving time for Panizzi to 
 speak, imitated a person suffering from influenza, and 
 said " Cub id!" None but he would so have dared 
 to beard the lion in his den ; but Panizzi joined in the 
 laughter created by the joke as heartily as the rest. 
 On another occasion Panizzi asked these gentlemen to 
 give their opinion on a portrait of himself. One of 
 
 I
 
 PARRY 167 
 
 them remarked that it looked rather dark, when Parry 
 said, " Oh, I have seen Mr. Panizzi look much blacker 
 than that !" One more instance of his ready wit 
 and we have done. Mr. Parry occasionally absented 
 himself from the Museum, until one afternoon Panizzi 
 sent for him and requested him to discontinue such 
 habits, when he received the following answer: — " I 
 am very sorry, sir, for I was just going to ask you to 
 let me go for the day."* 
 
 The position and the pay of these " Temj)orary 
 Assistants" most of whom in after years became men 
 of distinction, would certainly be considered inade- 
 quate in the present day. 
 
 Previous to the year 1837, the Assistants were 
 temporarily engaged to perform such services as were 
 required in the several Departments ; there being no 
 regular scale of remuneration, but a daily payment 
 ■fixed by the Trustees according to the aptness of the 
 individual for the particular service allotted to him. 
 The rate was 10s., 12s., and 15s., in one instance as 
 high as 20s. for each day whilst actually employed at 
 the Museum. 
 
 In 1837, the Trustees decided that the appointment 
 of these Assistants should be permanent, and fixed a 
 
 * When he left the Museum, Pauizzi introduced him to the late Mr. John 
 For.ster in these terms: — " A very clever gentleman, now a bani.-^ter, Mr. J. 
 H. P., and formerly an assistant in this Library during the course of several 
 years, and who knows more about the Museum than any one I know, called 
 here yesterday, and told mc that he was so vexed at the unfair and ignorant 
 attacks on this Institution that he meant to write something about it. He is 
 accustomed to write for the press, and his politics arc excellent, and equalled 
 by his frank, honest character. It struck me that he would be the yeiy man 
 to assist you. , , , . If you see him you will like him."
 
 168 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 standing scale of remuneration ; the members of this- 
 class were known as " Permanent Assistants." 
 
 In 1838, at the time of the removal of the Library, 
 the " Supernumerary or Temporary Assistants" were 
 enGraired at the rate of £2. 12s. 6d. a week, or 8s. 9d. a 
 day, for every day actually employed. Their number 
 was increased from time to time, to provide the extra 
 labour required in preparing the new Catalogue, and 
 in the additional duties consequent upon the rapid 
 increase of the Library. 
 
 In 1847, a slight change for the better took place 
 in their status. In practice the promotion was from 
 the Su]3ernumerary to the Permanent class of Assis- 
 tants : but there was no recoonised claim to such 
 promotion on the part of the Supernumeraries. In 
 the year 1851, the distinction between the Permanent 
 and Supernumerary Assistants was abolished, these 
 Assistants, in all Departments, being considered as. 
 forming one body, although divided into two classes. 
 In all these and subsequent changes, Panizzi was 
 always the one wdio strove to promote the welfare of 
 his subordinates. 
 
 Panizzi, Thomas AA^atts, J. Winter Jones, Edward 
 Edwards, and John H. Parry, formed a committee 
 for framing the rules for the new General Catalogue 
 of the whole Library ; each of them was separately 
 to prepare, according to his own views, rules for the 
 compilation of the projected work. These were after- 
 wards discussed collectively, and when any difference 
 arose, it was settled by vote. 
 
 The rules so drawn up were sanctioned by the Trus- 
 tees, on the loth of July, 1839, and printed on the 15tk
 
 SUPERINTENDENCE OF CATALOGUE 160 
 
 July, 1841. They were acknowledged at the time and 
 still continue to be the most complete ever compiled^ 
 although attempts have, at various periods, been made 
 to improve upon them : nor has the approbation 
 bestewed upon them been merely of a local character; 
 it has extended throughout Europe and America. The ' 
 work occupied several months, the busy staff often 
 being detained until late at night, on which occasions 
 Panizzi invited his colleagues to share refreshments 
 with him. 
 
 The above rules engaged Panizzi's earnest attention, 
 and on the 18tli of March, 1839, he sent in the follow- 
 ing report to the Trustees : — 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi has the honour to lay before the Trustees tlie 
 Rules, whicli, under all circumstances, he proposes as advisahle to 
 be followed in the compilation of the Alphabetical Catalogue^ 
 accompanied by a number of illustrations. Although he is well 
 aware that such rules must necessarily be affected by the haste 
 with which they have been compiled, he ventures to hope they 
 will be sufiiciently intelligible to the Trustees, and enable them,, 
 even in their present imperfect state, to judge of the principles 
 that Mr. Panizzi should wish to see observed. He is fully 
 aware that many cases may arise unprovided for, and that some 
 of these rules and principles may be liable to objections, which 
 may not perhaps appear in other plans, seemingly preferable, 
 but he trusts that what seems objectionable may, on mature 
 reflection, be found in fact less so. He cannot, at present, da 
 more than entreat the Trustees to take into their patient and 
 minute consideration every single part, as well as the whole of 
 the plan proposed, and then decide as they may think fit, bear- 
 ing in mind that, although these rules may, if strictly followed,, 
 occasionally lead to what may appear absurd, the same objec- 
 tion, to a perhaps greater extent may be urged against any 
 other plan, and far greater evils result from a deviuiion from a 
 principle than from its inflexible application."
 
 170 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 On the 16th of the same month, March, Mr. 
 Baher (Panizzi's predecessor) happened to call at the 
 Museum, when the draft of these rules was submitted 
 to him, and with respect to them he expressed general 
 satisfaction. 
 
 America has been mentioned with special reason. 
 
 The first sfeneral Conference of Librarians was held 
 at New-York, September 15, 16, and 17, 1853, upon 
 ■an invitation, signed by Professor C. C. Jewett, " for 
 the purpose of conferring together upon the means of 
 advancing the prosperity and usefulness of Public 
 Libraries, and for the suggestion and discussion of 
 topics of importance to book collectors and readers." 
 
 At this meeting: the learned Professor made a state- 
 ment to the effect that the scholars of all nations de- 
 manded of Great Britain that the Catalogue of the 
 Library of the British Museum should be thoroughly 
 and efficiently executed, and should be a work of 
 bibliographical authority. 
 
 Professor Jewett had made Panizzi's acquaintance 
 on his visit to London several years before, with the 
 object of studying our Library, and sent to him a 
 special invitation to attend the Conference. How- 
 ever, it was not accepted, and he wrote to Mr. Haywood 
 thus, July 21, 1853 :— 
 
 "As to my going anywhere, I have to tell you of a dream, 
 which 1 should like to become a reality. There is going to 
 be a Congress of Librarians in the United States, which is to 
 open on the 15 th of September next, and where all the great 
 questions connected with the management of a great Library 
 are to be discussed and uniform principles adopted. The 
 Americans have always been my friends, and the principles 
 which wdl prevail are mine. They wish me to go, and I
 
 ADDITIONS TO LIBRAKY. 171 
 
 should like it amazingly; but the expense Is too heavy. I will 
 try, if possible, to get help from the Trustees. Do you tliink 
 it possible, in case of my going, that if the packet is not full I 
 might have a cabin to myself ? " 
 
 The grant for the purchase of Printed Books in 
 1838, being £1 000 more than the preceding years, per- 
 mitted the purchase of some rare and valuable books- 
 For instance : — 
 
 The Translation of Montaigne's Essays by Florio, 
 Avitli an autograph of Shakespere. 
 
 A copy of Luther's Translation of the Bible in 
 German, printed at Wittemberg, in 1550-Gl. (2 vols, 
 folio, on vellum.) 
 
 The first edition of the Pentateuch, in the original, 
 printed at Bologna, in 1482. (vellum, folio.) 
 
 The new Testament in German, printed at Augs- 
 burg, in 1535. (2 vols 8vo, on vellum.) 
 
 A richly illuminated Roman Missal, with the arms 
 of Savoy facing the title-page, richly emblazoned. 
 Printed in Paris, in 1517. (1 vol. folio, on vellum.) 
 
 The lives of Cornelius Nepos (1 vol. 4to, on vellum), 
 printed at Parma, at the Bodoni Press, in 1799 ; and 
 many others of equal importance. 
 
 In the year 1839 it must be noted that the Museum 
 acquired two Latin Bibles, with copious manuscript 
 notes, supposed to be by Melanchthon. 
 
 Besides these noteworthy and valuable purchases, 
 presents were also received, and deserve particular 
 mention. Two, especially, must not be omitted to be 
 named : — 1st. The llesolutions and other papers of the 
 States General of Holland, from 1524 to 1798, with 
 indices, the whole contained in 389 vols, folio, pre-
 
 172 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 sented by H.M. the King of the Netljerlands. 
 2nd. A copy of Cicero's Orations, printed by Adam 
 Ambergau, in 1742. 1 vol. folio, handsomely bound,, 
 presented by the Right Hon. Sir Arthur Paget, 
 G.C.B. 
 
 The work having progressed satisfactorily thus far,, 
 it became necessary to inquire diligently into the many 
 deficiencies in the National Library, and to propose 
 means of supplying them. This was accordingly done 
 in a Report dated 1st of January, 1845. On the IGth 
 of December, the same year, it was forwarded to the 
 Treasury by direction of the Trustees, and in the 
 letter accompanying it the following passage 
 occurs : — 
 
 " The Trustees of the Britisli Museum earnestly hope that Ilcr 
 Majesty's Grovernment will take it into their grave deliberation 
 ■whether the time has not come when it may be desirable, and 
 on all grounds, literary, political, and economical, to enter at 
 once upon a more enlarged and comprehensive scale of expen- 
 diture for the supply of Printed Books. 
 
 Without presuming to enter into other considerations, the 
 Trustees conceive themselves warranted in stating it as their 
 opinion that the present circumstances, as far as the British 
 ]Museum itself is concerned, arc extremely favourable to the 
 entertaining of such a proposition. 
 
 The gentleman at the head of the Department is eminently 
 qualified for the trust reposed in him: he is fully sensible of 
 its importance, is ready to devote his whole time and thought 
 (as indeed he has hitherto done in a most praiseworthy and ex- 
 emplary manner) to make the Library in his charge as com- 
 plete in every department of literature as he can, and at the 
 same time accessible to the public on the easiest terms." 
 
 The Report contains a sketch of the British 
 Museum, and of its arrangement, together with some
 
 KEPORT OP 1845 173' 
 
 suggestions as to its future increase, utility, and im- 
 portance. It shows how and when the Librarj^ was 
 brought to the condition in which it was at the end 
 of the year 1842. The state of the Collection in its 
 several branches is examined, with regard to the 
 various classes of human knowledge, to the various 
 countries where the books were published, and to the 
 languages in which they are written. Means are sug- 
 gested by which the Collection ought to be increased 
 to proportions worthy of the nation ; and, lastly, at- 
 tention is called to the effects which the proposed in- 
 crease would have with regard to its arrangements^ 
 good order, and economy. This elaborate Eeport was 
 begun as early as 1843. After many delays, Panizzi 
 at last obtained consent, on the 4th of January, 1845,, 
 to its being printed privately for the Trustees, to 
 whom individually it was ordered to be transmitted on 
 the 24th of May folloAving. 
 
 It remained disregarded, however, until the autumn 
 of that year, when it Avas brought under the notice of 
 Mr. Goulburn, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and 
 Mr. Cardwell, Secretary of the Treasury. In conse- 
 quence of this step, a meeting of the Sub-Committee 
 on the Department of Printed Books was held on the 
 29th of November, 1845, the Chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer being present, and it was resolved that appli- 
 cation should be made to the Treasury for the annual 
 grant of £10,000 for ten years to come, to supply the 
 deficiencies and exigencies shown by Panizzi to exist. 
 The answer of the Treasury was most favourable : it 
 was followed by a preliminary Parliamentary grant of 
 £10,000, which was but the prelude to many others.
 
 174 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 The letter of the Trustees to the Lords of the Trea- 
 sury, their Lordships' answer, and Panizzi's report were 
 laid before the House of Commons by the Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer, and ordered to be printed on the 
 27th of March, 1846. 
 
 From that year the collection of Printed Books in- 
 ■creased steadily and at a rate unexampled in any other 
 country. This influx of books, the necessity of Cata- 
 loguing, placing, and binding them, to render them 
 available, and the difliculties created by want of sj)ace, 
 added enormously to the already onerous duties of the 
 Keeper. 
 
 Nor was this special grant otherwise than truly 
 necessary ; in fact, it ran short of the sum requisite 
 for purchasing the rarest and best editions ; the com- 
 monest being consequently acquired, and this only 
 tended to increase the bulk, thus reducing it to the 
 level of an ordinary Library, instead of raising it to the 
 rank and splendour of a National Collection, worthy of 
 so great a country as England. 
 
 Interesting and important as is the subject of the 
 present chapter — viz, the gradual development of the 
 resources of the National Institution, and the energy 
 displayed by those whose duty it was to use every 
 endeavour to raise the Museum in grandeur and extent 
 — no great digression is admissible, inasmuch as there 
 is on our hands so great a press of matter that nothing 
 should induce us to lose the thread of our biography, 
 or forget that we have the life of Panizzi under treat- 
 ment, and the history of the British Museum only so 
 far as it bears on his doings and his labours on its 
 behalf.
 
 ADDITIONS TO LIBKARY 175 
 
 Of these we have attempted to give a clear and 
 honest account. As Panizzi was one of those who felt 
 sincerely that " whatever is worth doing at all is worth 
 doing well," and as he was blessed with ability and 
 decision of character to carry out whatever he had in 
 hand, it is pleasant to remark how thoroughly and 
 efficiently he applied liis talents to the benefit of ih& 
 National Institution ; and much as it would delight 
 us to expatiate further on the subject, we must deny 
 ourselves at present, as it is now incumbent on us to- 
 enter into new channels in connection with his life. 
 
 H-»^BiM i3_»i -
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 Bridport Election; Desire to visit Modena ; Mazzini ; Post Office 
 Espionage ; Biographer's Personal Reminiscences; Portland Vase; 
 Psalter, 1457 ; Interview with Francis IV; Libri. 
 
 N the honest endeavour to represent a 
 man as he really was, both in his inward 
 and his outward bearings, the 
 biographer has much difficulty to 
 encounter. It behoves him to repro- 
 duce a life with special regard to dates, with no 
 matter likely to confuse a reader, or to press too 
 heavily on his understanding; but this biography 
 claims an especial degree of attention, inasmuch as 
 the principal person concerned, though actually absent 
 from his best-loved locale, was proving the interest 
 he took in affairs at home by his assiduous care of the 
 duties with which he was entrusted. Panizzi pos- 
 sessed no more power of ubiquity than other men ; 
 still such was his energy that only a close observer 
 could follow his movements, and his wonderful activity 
 often made him appear to be in many places at the 
 same time, and induced the belief that he was, at all 
 events, performing a dual character. 
 
 These observations are made simply to warn the 
 reader against mystification as to Panizzi's movements,
 
 BRIDPORT ELECTION ITT 
 
 related in the pages which follow — pages it is now 
 incumbent on ns to pen — for whereas he has lately- 
 been treated of more especially in his official capacity, 
 our position must be changed, and he must be re- 
 garded from a political and personal point of view. 
 Indeed, the phases in Avhich so remarkable a man may 
 be contemplated, are so varied that it requires con- 
 sideration whence to take our first observation. 
 
 However, having before us his own correspondence 
 (and what can be more corroborative of a man's per- 
 spicuity than his own written expressions on a subject?), 
 a letter bearing date October 1, 1841, clearly sets 
 forth the political tendencies of Panizzi. In reference 
 to the Bridport election, then on the tains, he writes 
 in a spirit so rich in tone, so lively, sensible, and 
 witty, that nothing can induce us to debar our readers 
 from the enjoyment of his remarks. His manner 
 of defending AVarburton's "^;?fr/fy," and his friend's 
 innocence in being deceived by a " rascally attorneij" 
 are too good to be passed over, and not only shows 
 acute insight into the matter, but is a testimony to the 
 contempt he bore for underhand dealing, under any 
 <.'ircumstances, and in any sphere of life : — 
 
 *'B. M., October 1, 1841. 
 " Dear Haywood, 
 
 As to political news of importance I have none to 
 -give you. From the newspapers you will have seen tliat 
 Graham is not a favourite with the Times, and it seems to mc 
 that Peel is not likely to agree with all his colleagues. But 
 this is prophecy, and I wish to give you history — that of a 
 small political transaction, the Bridport election. I have it 
 from a friend who was once a colleague of Warburton, and who 
 is still trcs lie with hlra.
 
 178 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 A Mr. Mitchell (or Maxwell?), a rich Eadical, put himself 
 forward at the last general election with Warburton, but on 
 distinct interests, ready to win the election by money. He 
 wrote to an agent there, known as a good hand at this sort of 
 thing, and authorized him to carry the election and never mind 
 the expense. The agent, an attorney, carried it as ordered,, 
 and spent £5,600. The successful candidate refused to pay 
 the odd £600. After all means had been resorted to to induce 
 liim to pay, the rascally attorney tlireatened this fool, his client^ 
 that if he did not pay he would turn King's evidence, and tell 
 all the story, and give all the proofs of how the election was 
 carried, to the Tories; and not getting his money, he was as 
 good as his word, and a case was laid before Austin that left 
 no doubt both members would be unseated, for about 150 of 
 the bribed electors had voted for W. as well as for liis col- 
 league. Moreover, although W. himself had kept clear of all 
 this, his agent having been requested a loan of £200 by the 
 agent of M., had lent them to liim, and it could be proved that 
 the sum was spent in bribing voters for tlie Liberal candidates. 
 Some of the best of Warburton's friends being strongly com- 
 promised, and M. behaving very ill, and insisting upon keeping 
 his seat, Warburton, to save them, came to the agreement with 
 the Tories that he should retire and they desist from the peti- 
 tion presented against him, but following up that against his 
 colleague M., who, there is no doubt, they say, will be un- 
 seated, when Warburton will be allowed to succeed him with- 
 out opposition from tlie Tories. As soon as the petition is 
 tried, W. is to let people know in some public manner that 
 there is nothing against liis purity. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 In the year 1842 it was Panizzi's desire, after 
 twenty years' absence, to visit his native country, and 
 the attempts he made to do so, and the ready assist- 
 ance which the English Government afforded him
 
 CANA'ING 179 
 
 may be easily estimated from the following official 
 letters : — 
 
 ' Foreign OITicc, June 14, 1842. 
 
 I am directed by the Earl of Aberdeen to aclcnow- 
 ledge the receipt of your letter of the lOth of April last, re- 
 questing the assistance of Her Majesty's Government to obtain 
 a promise from the Modenese Government that, in the event 
 of your visiting the Austrian dominions, tliey would not re- 
 quire the Austrian autliorities to deliver you over to those of 
 Modcna; and I am to inform you, in reply, that the Modenese 
 Government have given to the Government of Her Majesty the 
 assurance that they will not demand your surrender from the 
 Austrian authorities, reserving, however, to themselves the 
 power of requiring your removal in the event of your forming 
 iusoicious relations with Modenese subjects. 
 
 I am, &c., &c., 
 
 Canning." 
 
 " Foreign Office, July 19, 1842. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 I am directed by the Earl of Aberdeen to inform you that 
 
 Prince Metternich has assured Her Majesty's Ambassador at 
 
 Vienna that you are at liberty to prosecute your travels in the 
 
 Austrian empire without incurring the danger either of being 
 
 delivered up to the ^Modenese Government, or of meeting with 
 
 any molestation on the part of the Austrian authorities. 
 
 I am, &c., &c., 
 
 Canning." 
 
 These documents sufficiently prove the opinion en- 
 tertained of Panizzi in this country, and the facilities 
 pro\dded for the adoption of the course he had 
 planned for the attainment of the wish he had at 
 heart ; but by a subsequent letter from the Foreign 
 Office, dated 26th October, 1842, we can conclusively
 
 180 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PAXIZZI 
 
 prove that he was unable to accomplish his object, 
 for in this official document we read that a " Note 
 Verbale" had been delivered to Her Majesty's repre- 
 sentative at Vienna, to allow the applicant to prose- 
 cute his travels under certain conditions — conditions 
 which the circumstances at that expiration of time 
 most probably made him feel unwilling to comply with. 
 The following is the letter in question : — • 
 
 " ^ylth reference to Viscount Cannino-'s letter of the 19tli of 
 July last, informing you that you were at liberty to prosecute 
 your travels in the Austrian dominions for the purpose of visit- 
 ing the great libraries of Austria, I am directed by the Earl of 
 Aberdeen to transmit to you a copy of a " Note Verhalc,' 
 which has been delivered to Her ]\IaJc?ty's Ambassador at 
 Vienna relative to the conditions under which you will be per- 
 mitted to enter the Austrian dominions. 
 
 1 am, &c., Sec, 
 
 n. U. Addingtox. 
 
 In another letter, dated ord November, we find 
 that Panizzi's wish to be unfettered by the " Noie 
 Verlale''' is unnoticed by the authorities of the 
 Foreign Ofhce, and that, however m.uch they might 
 feel disposed to use their influence in his favour, still, 
 entertaining due respect to foreign authority, they 
 declined to interfere again in the matter, and there- 
 fore it must be concluded, having no further corres- 
 pondence, either on the part of the applicant or the 
 Foreign Office, that the opinion of the latter prepon- 
 derated, and that the anxious hope of the former 
 proved abortive. 
 
 From the year 1842 to 1844 there is little substan- 
 tial evidence of Panizzi's private movements. Not-
 
 Gladstone's letter 181 
 
 withstanding his apparent activit}', we know what ho 
 had at heart, and how difficult he found it to obtain 
 success in the attainment of his wishes. In a letter 
 from no less a personage than Mr. Gladstone, dated 
 12th January, 1S44, strong sympatliy in tlie endeavour 
 to pass as a free man to Italy is evinced 
 
 " Whitehall. 
 " I have spoken to Lord Aberdeen on the subject of your 
 note. He lias tlie subject in liau'l, and also at heart; he will 
 use every effort in his power to obtain you a free permission, 
 and he by no means despairs of success. . . ." 
 
 That Panizzi waited, and waited in vain, for the 
 accomplishment of his purpose, is evident from a 
 second letter from the same distinguished gentleman, 
 dated 4th June, 1844, and what more valuable testi- 
 monial could a man have than this 1 " / on!// wish 
 the Anst?'ian Government knew you as well as ive do 
 — none of these difficulties ivould occur ^ 
 
 Less than two months afterwards Panizzi seems to 
 be ailing in health ; so, at least, it must be inferred 
 from a letter dated British Museum, 6th of August, 
 1844, wherein he states that he is suffering from a 
 painful swelling in the right wrist, and where, also, 
 lie repudiates the imputation of goutiness. The letter 
 is so characteristic, that, with very slight abbrevia- 
 tions, we append it for the perusal of our readers : 
 
 " My dear Kutherfurd, 
 
 I am sullering from a painful swelling in the right 
 wrist, that leaves me hardly streiigtii to hold the pen. Lord 
 Melbourne consoles me with assurintr me that it is o-out. I 
 
 don't believe it, and I will not I am going to write an 
 
 article on the Post-Oilicc, for Welch, and one on the Jesuits
 
 182 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHO^^Y PANIZZI 
 
 and the French University, and another on Algiers. What 
 an industrious boy I am ? About Algiers I have got such a 
 number of pirblications as would astonish you, of course I 
 mean about the French possessions in Algiers that I intend 
 writing, not about Barbarossa. I hope to take down two in 
 MS. with me, and shall expect you to read them before they 
 are printed, which will do me more good than the reading of 
 
 Arnaldo now printed will do to you I cannot write 
 
 more, Brougham came here the other day, shouting, laughing, 
 joking, and jumping like a boy, and pressing me to stay at hia 
 place when I go north ; but 1 don't think I shall have time. 
 He is there now, comes back for the O'Connell business at the 
 end of the montli, and goes back to Westmoreland till the 15th 
 or 20th of October. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 This is an appropriate peidod of our history for the 
 introduction of the well-known Giuseppe Mazzini, or 
 
 the '■'• Frofeta^' as he 
 was commonly 
 called by his wor- 
 shippers, amongst 
 vvhom Panizzi is 
 certainly not to be 
 reckoned. It would 
 be superfluous to 
 enter into details 
 about this notable 
 character ; his writ- 
 ings, and jDcrhaps it 
 mav be added, his 
 private life also, are 
 already familiar to most of us. 
 
 {
 
 MAZZIXI 183 
 
 Thoiio-h Paiiizzi did not am-ee with Mazzini's 
 violent views as to Republicanism, there is no doubt 
 that they were for some considerable time on intimate 
 terms. Besides being a politician and a patriot of the 
 most enthusiastic kind, Mazzini was also a literary man 
 of some note, and shared Panizzi's intense admiration 
 for the works of Dante, and still more those of Ugo 
 Foscolo, as already related. Farini's opinion of Maz- 
 zini exactly tallied with Panizzi's — that he was a man 
 of no common talent, remarkable for perseverance in 
 his plans, for resolution under suffering, and for pri- 
 vate virtues ; but in the last crisis of the Italian 
 nation he had confounded patriotism with self-love, 
 or rather with selfish pride, and chosen to risk seeing 
 the temple of Italy burned down, because she would not 
 dedicate to him its high altar. Amongst our papers 
 are various letters in the handwriting of Mazzini, and 
 one especially noteworthy, written in 1840, wherein 
 he recommends a friend (as a reader) to the Reading 
 Room of the British Museum, and in this letter 
 occurs a sentence worthy of reproduction : — " I re- 
 ceived safely the papers I lent you. I perceive that 
 by the tone you do not agree with me. I trust soon 
 to be able to come and see you, and talk over mv 
 future plans." 
 
 That Panizzi, in after years, disagreed " iu toio " 
 with his friend's principles is notorious ; but the 
 actual origin of their estrangement will for ever 
 remain a mystery. In November, 1814, an article 
 appeared in the " North British Review," wTittcn by 
 Panizzi, and entitled " Fost-OJ/ice Usjrioiiac/e." The 
 opening of Mazzini's letters at the Post-OfHce. and
 
 184 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 their perusal by the anthorities, formed the subject 
 of this treatise, and those revehxtioiis immediately 
 aroused John Bidl to a pitch of honest indignation — 
 *' higldy creditable to the moral feeling and sound, 
 good sense of the nation." We learn from this 
 article that Mazzini's suspicions were first awakened 
 by observing that his letters were doubly stamped ; 
 the stamp of 2 o'clock in the afternoon, for instance, 
 superseding that of 12 at noon. Having read in an 
 Austrian paper that the English authorities had 
 undertaken to watch the proceedings of the Italian 
 refugees in Great Britain, the idea struck Mazzini 
 that it was not improbable that recourse might be 
 had to opening his letters. This was communicated 
 to Panizzi, who strongly dissuaded Mazzini from 
 giving credence to such strange suspicions regarding 
 the English Government. He spurned this well-meant 
 counsel, posted letters directed to himself and to 
 others, in the presence of witnesses, and found that 
 v/hilst the other letters were regularly delivered, his 
 own were as frequently delayed ; he sealed them with 
 wax, placing the impression in a particular position, 
 and then discovered that that position of the seal had 
 been changed. Another artifice was resorted to. 
 Grains of sand were enclosed in letters: tliey reached 
 other parties safely, but had disappeared from the 
 letters directed to himself. This, on the 14.th of 
 June, lSd-1, induced Mr. T. S. Duncombe, Member for 
 Finsbur}', to present a petition from lour gentlemen, 
 iivhig at No. 47, Devonshire Street, Queen Square, 
 alleging that their letters had been delayed and 
 opened by the authorities at the Post-Officp. Sir
 
 BUNCOMBE 
 
 185 
 
 James Graham, the Home Secretary, did not deny 
 that he had issued his warrant for the adoption of 
 8iich a course, adding, moreover, that a power was 
 given by Statute to the Secretary of State to open 
 letters in transit through the Post-Office. This led 
 to some members of the Liberal side taking up the 
 subject wdth much warmth, and denouncing such 
 proceedings as despotic and perfectly unconstitu- 
 tional. Their own action was not altogether left 
 undefended by the Ministers. Mr. Buncombe, though 
 unsuccessful, showed no disposition to let the matter 
 rest here, and ultimately succeeded in the formation 
 of a Committee of both Houses, composed of some of 
 the most eminent amongst their respective members. 
 A report was printed, showing that the warrants of 
 tlie Secretary of State in previous cases were issued 
 only on peculiar emergencies. There was no other 
 vi'sult from this affair, except that a Bill was intro- 
 <kiced by Lord Radnor in tlie Upper House for the 
 abolition of the power complained of; it was not, 
 however, carried beyond the first reading. 
 
 The correspondence between Panizzi and Mazzini 
 was by no means frequent, and soon after this dis- 
 graceful scandal we find him sending to Panizzi 
 proofs of tlie well-known printed letter addressed to 
 Sir James Graham, and asking his advice on the 
 matter. 
 
 So far has been traced the acquaintance of these 
 two men from documentary evidence ; but the bio- 
 grapher can bring forward personal reminiscences of 
 this extraordinary man. Often has he heard Panizzi 
 relate how, on a certain journey, whilst waitmg for a
 
 186 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 seat ill the stage coach riiniiing between France and 
 Italy, one morning early, almost before daybreak, he, 
 on taking his seat, recognised close to him the figure of 
 a man, in blue spectacles, and carefully enveloped in 
 his long Italian cloak. It was no other than his 
 quondam friend Mazzini, who, finding his incognito 
 discovered, whispered " Per amor di Dio^ Signor 
 PanizziH!" (For the love of God, Signor Panizzi !!!) 
 As might be expected, Panizzi assured him of his 
 perfect safety. The frontier was passed, after a most 
 scrutinizing search by the French and Piedmontese 
 authorities. 
 
 The bioo-rai:>her also remembers one afternoon, 
 about the year 18 GO, whilst walldng down Fleet 
 Street, in the company of Panizzi, being desired to 
 look towards the left, on doing which, he perceived a 
 man of very dark complexion, in a shabby black 
 coat, with a silk kerchief wound round and round 
 his neck, without collar, waistcoat buttoned high, 
 and with downcast eyes, standing by the side of one 
 of the small arcli-\vays of what was but recently 
 Temple Bar. Panizzi observed, " That is Mazzini." 
 No bow, no sign of recognition passed between them. 
 That the subject of tliis memoir never afterwards 
 communicated with his compatriot would be a devia- 
 tion from the truth, for in April, 18G4, when Gari- 
 baldi visited London, on the day, or soon after, it was 
 publicly announced that the Italian hero intended to 
 leave England, the present writer was the bearer of a 
 note, penned by Panizzi, from whom he received in- 
 structions to deliver it safely into the hands of 
 Mazzini. This occurrence took place early in the 
 
 1
 
 THE POKTLAND VASE 187 
 
 morning; so early, indeed, that day liad scarcely 
 dawned when he left his friend's residence at the 
 British Museum, where he was then staying. 
 
 This is but a slight sketch of the connection be- 
 tween Panizzi and Mazzini, from whicli it may be 
 gathered that no great warmth existed between the 
 two, for the latter was too impetuous to consort wdth 
 the former, who was imbued with common sense as 
 well as with patriotic motives in all his actions. 
 
 Let us now confine ourselves more immediately to- 
 Panizzi himself, and whilst giving particulars of the 
 various occurrences at this period, the destruction of 
 the famous Portland Vase, must not be passed over. 
 
 On the 7 til of February, 1845, Panizzi, at about a 
 quarter to four, when descending the staircase of the 
 Museum, leading from the room where the vase stood, 
 to the outer door, observed the perpetrator of this 
 singular piece of barbarity in the act of running away;, 
 and he used to relate, witli the greatest emotion, how 
 delighted he should have been to stop him (as he 
 might have done), had he known the man's dastardly 
 conduct, and to have inflicted on the spot that 
 chastisement which the law was j^owerless to ad- 
 minister. The suddenness and unexpectedness of 
 the deed probably saved the rascal from an immediate 
 attack ; he had seized an ancient brick kept in the 
 room, and deliberately aimed it at the treasure, nor 
 would he, on being questioned at the time, give any 
 account of the motives which liad prompted him 
 to commit so wilfully mean and base an act. His 
 name was William Lloyd, a native of Dublin. No 
 time was lost in conveying him to Bow Street, where
 
 1S8 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 lie was remanded by the sitting magistrate. The 
 utmost punishment the magistrate, Mr. Jardine, was 
 able to inflict — £3, or two months in default — was 
 absurdly inadequate (as true believers in art know 
 only too well) to so signal an offence. Tlic money 
 was moreover paid very soon after by some perverse 
 sympathiser, and the offender was set free.* 
 
 So much then for the Portland Vase and its 
 ignominious and cruel fate ; at the time of its occur- 
 rence the affair caused a great stir. 
 
 In the month of June, 1845, Panizzi made an 
 application to the Trustees to grant him twelve weeks' 
 holidays, in lieu of the usual annual vacation; on the 
 very excusable plea that, for several years past, extra 
 official duties had obliged him to forego the greater 
 porlion of his allowed and legitimate leave. He was 
 promptly, and ^vith the consideration that all servants 
 of the Trustees have ever experienced on such special 
 and reasonable applications, whether for the sake of 
 their health or for visiting foreign countries, and thus 
 acquiring valuable knowledge — granted the twelve 
 weeks' holidays. 
 
 *■' This world-renowned vase appears to have been a cinerary urn, as it was 
 filled with ashes, and the reiuidns of bones were discovered within it. It 
 was enclosed in a marble sarcoi^hagus, which was in a sepulchral vault at a 
 j)lace called "idonte Grano." According to some accounts, the time of the 
 <liscovcry was at the close of the sixteenth century, whilst others assert 
 tli.it it was dug up by order of Pope Urban VIII. (Uarboriui) between 1623 
 and 1G24. The sarcophagus was placed at the entrance of the Museum 
 Canitoliiium, and the vase in the Barberiui Palace, where it remained for 
 niDie than a century. It was at last purchased by Mr. Bayers, who parted 
 with it to Sir William Hamilton. On the 10th of September, 1784:, it was 
 cxliibitod at the Society of Aiiii(|aaries, London. Tiie Ducliess of Portland 
 subsequently purchased it, and from her it derived its title. It was deposited 
 in ihe British Museum in 1810 by His Grace the Duke of Portland. The 
 •vase is still exhibited, the innumerable fragements having been put together 
 by the late John Doubleday, an Assitant in the Museum.
 
 PSALTER OF 14-57 189 
 
 These commenced on the oOtli of June, and we 
 append a letter from Panizzi to Lord Kutherfurd, 
 dated from Ischl on Julv 28th ; — 
 
 " Here I am from Vicuna on my way io Venice. I am 
 not going to the Modencse regions. You sliaU hear a gr-eat 
 deal about that and other matters on ray return. Sir Robert 
 G-ordon (Ambassador), though a Scotchman and a Tory, has 
 behaved with the very greatest kin(hness to me, and has acted 
 with great energy. I have done all he wished, which was in 
 every respect what I \vished, and I bcHcve him as pleased 
 with me as I am with him. Yesterday and to-day I have been 
 among the most beautiful scenery I ever saw in my life — even 
 iuchiding Scotland.' 
 
 The time, thus allowed, was not dedicated alto- 
 gether to private enjoyment, most probably quite the 
 reverse. Panizzi went abroad with the intention of 
 \ isiting the leading libraries of Germany, taking on 
 his way to Vienna, Stuttgart, where the famous 
 Psalter * of 1457 was said to be for sale. It 
 had been discovered in 1842 in the Library of the 
 C'oUegiatstift, at EichstZldt, in Bavaria, by the anti- 
 <|uarian, J. Hess, through whose interest it was trans- 
 ferred, in 1843, to Stuttgart in exchange for another 
 rare volume, the " Acta Sanctorum." The Keeper 
 of the Printed Books was, as it may easily be 
 imagined, eager to purchase the volume, and on the 
 11 til of June he wrote the following report : — "Mr. 
 Panizzi has the honour to report that a copy of the 
 
 =■• The Look is of great imiiortancc. It was priuted in Mentz, by Fast and 
 .Schceffer. It is the first priuted Psalter ; the lir-t book printed with a date ; 
 and containing the first specimens of printing in colours, as shown in the 
 initial letters. A copy, bequeathed by Mr. Gicu^illc, is now to be seen in 
 the KiD'^'s Lioiaiv, British Musciun.
 
 190 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 First Psalter (1457) not long since discovered, and now 
 in the Royal Library of vStuttgart, may be obtained 
 for the British Museum, if what Mr. Panizzi has 
 heard may be relied upon. It is said that the 
 Government of Wiirtemberg might be disposed to 
 part with it to a Puhlic Lihrary, but to no one else. 
 Mr. Panizzi intends visiting Stuttgart partly for the 
 purpose of seeing this volume — the most important 
 by far, as well as the rarest of all early monuments of 
 typography." 
 
 The recommendation of Panizzi was that the sum 
 of six hundred guineas should be offered, for, to use 
 his own words : " The copy now in the Royal Library 
 at Paris, luanting six leaves, sold by auction in 1817, 
 for 12,000 francs, or £480. It is made up of two 
 copies, and is otherwise objectionable. The funds of 
 the Royal Library at Paris being then low, Louis 
 XVIII. himself paid the above price, and presented 
 the volume to that institution." 
 
 It is hardly necessaiy, though the volume did not 
 iind its way to the British Museum, to say that the 
 Trustees did not hesitate a moment to sanction the 
 purchase for the sum recommended. 
 
 The main object, on this occasion, being that of 
 visiting his native place, Panizzi's official position 
 must be temporarily ignored, and this point of view 
 kept in sight. On the 24th of June of the year 1845, 
 he received a friendly note from the Austrian Ambas- 
 sador in London, requesting him to call at the 
 Embassy, in order that he might submit to him a dis- 
 patch from Prince Metternich, and another from the 
 Minister of Police, Count Sedlnitzky, stating that he
 
 THE DUKE OF MODEXA 191 
 
 might with safety proceed to the Austrian Empire. 
 Early in July he arrived at Vienna, as has already 
 been noticed, and was there received with marked 
 attention by Her Majesty's Ambassador. The Duke 
 of Modena was at the time on a visit to the Emperor 
 of Austria, and through Sir Robert Gordon, Panizzi 
 obtained an interview with Francis IV. Before the 
 meeting took place, Panizzi wrote to a near relative 
 of his. Signer Pros^iero Cugini, to the effect that the 
 Duke had accepted all he had heard of him Avith 
 unusual grace, expressing, at the same time, his 
 desire for an interview, and also, what must have 
 astonished Panizzi most, that he would have been 
 alloAved to go unmolested to Brescello. His delight 
 can easily be imagined. On the 21st of July he had 
 the gratification of an interview with the Duke, who, 
 being now in his 66th year, was perhaps a little less 
 blood-thirsty tlian when Panizzi left him in the year 
 1821. Francis's love for Jesuitism and his cunnino^ 
 never seems to have abandoned him, even to the last ; 
 he died in the following year. The meeting was all 
 that could be desired ; and, as may be conceived, the 
 conversation turned at once on the political state of 
 Italy. On this subject Panizzi was too open-hearted, 
 even to the extent of forgetting the prudence which 
 should have permeated his words and actions ; he 
 clearly and distinctly told the Duke that his mode of 
 Government was Avholly hateful to his visitor, though 
 he had no feeling of enmity towards the Duke himself 
 personally, and that perhaps there remained even a 
 sense of gratitude. However, in spite of this, they 
 parted apparently good friends, and with tlic full
 
 192 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 assurance that Panizzi was at perfect liberty to go ta 
 Motlena, or wherever he pleased. 
 
 His license was, however, based on false pretences ; 
 no such liberty was in reality granted. Indeed, it 
 was never intended to be carried out, or if so, to bo 
 under the most unpleasant restrictions. Our warrant 
 for this assertion is not only gathered from Panizzi's 
 own words, but from incontrovertible and stern facts. 
 On the 7th of August Panizzi wrote from Venice to- 
 Cugini : — 
 
 " I must not, and cannot, now enter into particulnrs of tlie 
 reasons wlilch have determined me not to enter the Modenesc 
 States. What 1 suffer on account of it, God knows ! but I 
 had sooner die than accept such a vile promise as the one con- 
 ceded to me. You must have noticed how prudently I have 
 conducted myself, and how gratefully I should have accepted 
 such indiilaence — an induhfcnce which I believed to have 
 been graciously given. In the word of lionour of your Gover- 
 nors 1 have no faith. I will not go to Modena, where I have 
 
 ' heard, a week ago, that there are orders against me, and whicli 
 
 ' have been issued by the Duke himself." 
 
 He then proceeded to Mantua, where he arrived on 
 the 19th of August, and was met by some of his 
 relatives. From this place he addressed a note to the 
 Modenese authorities, demanding an explanation ; 
 the answer sent was short and discourteous. 
 
 It was so pre-arranged long before Panizzi and hii 
 former sovereign met ; for on the 9th of July, eleven 
 days before the meeting, an order had already reached 
 Eeggio to watch the visitor, to note liis associates, 
 and to send a full account of all that transpired to- 
 Modena.
 
 PANIZZl'S JOUKXKY lOo 
 
 He was, however, not to be baulked of his pro- 
 jected visit to Parma, where he went by a circuitous 
 route, in order to avoid touching the soil of his native^ 
 State. Here he was met by all his old acquaintances,, 
 not a few of whom travelled all the way from Bro- 
 scello to Parma to see him. The names of these 
 Brescellese were taken down, and sent to the Police 
 Office at Modena. On his return to London he wrote 
 to Lord Rutherfiird : — 
 
 " What kindness ! what recollections ! what a country I 
 But as to the Government, I do not wish it to be known tliat 
 I speak with disparai^ement of the Italian rulers, as I ivisli to 
 (JO there again, Xothing new here, except that Mons. Thiers 
 comes from Lisbon to Lord Ashburton's, at the Grange, in ten 
 or twelve days." 
 
 We must pause for a while to congratulate Panizzi 
 on his safe return, and to quote the good wishes of 
 Samuel Eogers and Dr. Shepherd on so auspicious an 
 occasion : — 
 
 " 19th October, 1845. 
 
 If you are in town will you do me the great favour to 
 breakfast with me on Tuesday next, at ten o'clock ? If I hear 
 nothing I shall venture to hope, for I long to hear of your 
 travels. 
 
 Yours ever, 
 
 St. James's Placo. S. Eoget:.^." 
 
 "Gateacre, 
 
 October 20di, 1845. 
 *' My dear Panizzi, 
 
 A scamp of an attorney who thrust himself into some trifling 
 employment in Sir Francis Burclett's celebrated contest for 
 Middlesex, on sending him his bill, after charging for a jour- 
 ney to Acton and another to Ealing, &c., &c., &c., closed with
 
 194 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 tlio follov/ini;' item : — ' To extraordinary mental anxiety on 
 your account, £500.' After this precedent I have a good 
 mind to charge you a good round sum for mental anx'ety on 
 your account, ■which I suffered when, some weeks ago, I 
 lieard a vague report that you were on 3'om- way to Modena, 
 for I have sucli a horror of the petty Italian despots that I 
 could not persuade myself tliat you were safe when in the 
 power of the Duke. Lord Brougham, however, set my mind 
 at rest wlicn I arrived at his Cumberland chateau, on the 23rd 
 ultimo, by informing me that he had, on his late visit to Lon- 
 don, learnt at the Museum that you were on your return to 
 England, having kept your neck out of the noose ; and jMr. 
 Charles Preston, who called here yesterday, tells me that you 
 are well and hearty, and very busy in doing the hospitalities 
 to ]M. Thiers. By the bye, there is much truth in the critique 
 on Thiers' great work in the last Quarterly, but the article is 
 written in a tone and spirit of which, as an Englishman, I am 
 ashamed. 
 
 Pray oblige me by giving me a full and particular account 
 of your interview with the Duke of Modena, and tell me how 
 far you penetrated into Lombardy. I presume you ran no 
 risk in the Austrian territories. . . . 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 Wm. Shepherd." 
 
 Before closing this interesting portion of our nar- 
 rative, a letter from Vienna, October 17th, must be 
 quoted ; it will be read with interest : — 
 
 " I availed mvself of a late conversation with Prince Met- 
 ternich to express to him your gratification and thanks for the 
 kindness and civility whichyou have met with during your recent 
 tour in Lombardy, in consequence of the recommendation from 
 the authorities here, and he appeared pleased that you had had 
 all facilities. I am convinced that, as the ice has been broken^ 
 the same facilities would again be afforded to you should 
 business or pleasure induce you to return. — Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. C. M.VGENIS."
 
 SIGXOR LIBRI 195 
 
 A few facts relatins: to Simor Libri must not be 
 omitted. Inclmation might lead us to suppress them, 
 but our duty as faithful recorders of truth points to 
 another direction. A biographer who has the heart 
 and the will to introduce into his narrative the events 
 of the life he is depicting, fearless of comment, is to 
 be commended ; and as such we do not intend to pass 
 without notice the Libri case — a case which indeed, 
 next to Panizzi's sentence of death, was the most 
 anxious event of his life. 
 
 Signer Libri, a man of extraordinary talents, espe- 
 cially distinguished as a mathematician, was a Tuscan 
 by birth. He settled in Paris, and whilst there, in 
 addition to his political avocations, aided by his able 
 pen the Government of Louis-Philippe, and conse- 
 .quently became the bosom friend of Mens. Guizot. 
 
 As a purchaser of books he contrived to amass a 
 collection of rare volumes, which he afterwards sold 
 publicly to much advantage. Shortly after the revo- 
 lution of 18-18 rumours were afloat that he had been 
 .the robber of Public Libraries. 
 
 It is not our intention to enter for one instant into 
 'the merits of the case, or to make any statement bear- 
 ing on Signer Libri's innocence or guilt. Certain it 
 is, that this most unpleasant affair gave rise to much 
 discussion at the time ; and Panizzi has often been 
 heard to say that, had he not been known, as he was, 
 to be a man of strict truth and honestv, he himself 
 would never have dared to defend such an accusation 
 as had been set up against his friend. As already in- 
 timated, we have no plea to offer except that of faith- 
 ful biographers for touching on so delicate a subject. 
 o
 
 196 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Paiiizzi was certainly not alone in his opinion ; he was 
 supported by many others, and those men of distinc- 
 tion, amongst them Guizot, Merimee, and other per- 
 sonages now living. 
 
 M. Guizot wrote thus to Panizzi on the subject : — 
 
 " 1 Decenibre, 1849. 
 
 Je suis tres occupe de M, Libri. Je trouve unique, scanda- 
 leusement unique, qu'on ne lui communique pas toutes les 
 charges, qu'on ne lui donne pas toutes les facilites, et tous le 
 temps necessaires pour y repondre. Quand les mauvaises 
 habitudes judiciaires viennent en aide au mauvais vouloir des^ 
 ennemis tout est deplorablement difficile, . . . . . Je 
 ferai tout ce qui sera en mon pouvoir pour que justice lui soit 
 rendue, et j'espere qu'en derniere analyse justice lui sera ea 
 effet rendue." 
 
 Enough has been said, however, on this painful 
 subject, and it is to be hoped our readers may take 
 the same lenient view of it as these notable indi- 
 viduals. 
 
 This chapter can scarcely be better brought to a 
 conclusion than by an original and characteristic letter 
 of Panizzi's, which is added as a specimen of terse 
 writing, and as showing his detestation of intolerance 
 in religious matters, as well as for the spirit in which 
 it is worded, so full of undisguised feeling, and so 
 worthy of its open-hearted writer: — 
 
 "B. M., 14th July, 1846. 
 " My dear Ruthcrfurd, 
 
 Many thanks for your letter of Sunday last, written, I 
 suppose, between Churcli time. Maitland, the editor of the 
 W. B., had already given me some insight, but very dim, intO' 
 the amalgamation Avhlcli has taken place to oppose IMacaulay
 
 LETTER 197 
 
 and Craig. As I have said a thousand times, the Britishers are 
 the devil and all when they mix up together their religion and 
 their politics, and if Lord John will not have His Satanic 
 Majesty about his ears, he will interfere with religion of all 
 sorts as little as he can, but let the gentlemen of each party 
 fight it out among themselves, and be damned. We say in 
 Italian that ' chi lava la coda all'asiiio consuma I'acqua e il 
 saponc,' and he throws away his pains who tries in England^ 
 Scotland, and Ireland to conciliate religious sects. Look at 
 the abominable conduct of the dissenters a2;ainst the Whiirs in 
 general some years ago, at that of the Free Kirk people at 
 Olasgow against their imworthy Lord Rector, and, just now at 
 Plymouth, at tliat of dissenters against Ebrington. I saw him 
 last night, just after his return and arrival in town. He told 
 mc that their conduct was abominable, and that at one time 
 they threatened serious mischief. The fellow who distin- 
 guished himself was a man of the name of N '^' "^ * who had 
 hitherto proposed Lord E. He had himself mismanaged some 
 Dock Bill, and wanted to throw the blame on Lord E., to 
 whom he had, however, between that occurrence and the elec- 
 tion, written in the most friendly terms, and asked a favour 
 from him to procure the promotion of a son of his who is in 
 the Excise. Wood tells me that Ebrington wrote to him 
 strongly, and that he answered a sort of cold, official letter — 
 as usual — whicli Ebrington sent to tlic father. This made 
 him angry, and it seems now tlic fellow denies having applied; 
 "but Wood has got the letter addressed by X * * * to Ebring- 
 ton, who is going to send it to Plymouth to expose that 
 wretch. Mr. EUice wrote lo mc and told me he was ixoin^- to 
 assist at your instabulation, or installation, as he called it. I 
 answered to ]\Irs. EUice for him, but I have heard no more 
 from either. Everybody says here he ought to come back> 
 else he will be thought displeased and in a pet. Moreover, as 
 I wrote to Mrs. EUice, Lord Grey told me — no doubt that I 
 should repeat it as I did — that he wanted to see EUice. As I 
 am a man of peace, I should like them to meet. Dundas's ap- 
 02'
 
 198 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 pointment is not approved by the Bar, and will do harm. Not 
 that he is not, of course, highly respected, esteemed, and liked, 
 both for his talents and personal manners, but because — no 
 matter whether on account of bad health, or any other reason 
 — business has almost entirely left him, whereas Romilly makes 
 £5000 a year. Moreover, he has done nothing in the House, 
 at least for the party, and they think it wrong he sliould share 
 the honours and the spoil. I have not heard lie has accepted, 
 but I suppose there is no doubt of it. His answer from York, 
 where he was, must have been here yesterday. There is some 
 screw loose about the sugar duties. The protectionists will 
 support Lord John, and you may depend on this — if he will 
 not insert in his second resolution, which I have not seen, 
 some abstract principle, which they say is in it now, about the 
 harm of protection in general. If those objectionable words 
 are kept in the resolution they will oppose him. Now, I 
 believe they ought to be kept in good humour as much as pos- 
 sible, and certainly at the sacrifice of uncalled-for abstract pro- 
 positions. Lord Ponsonby is to go to Vienna, though he says 
 he does not. Now, I know he knows, and his nolo episcopari 
 sort of tone is all humbug. He wishes to go particularly ; he 
 thinks there he may settle matters with the Papal Nuncio, and 
 be sent thence Ambassador to Eome — the aim of his ambition. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi. 
 Peel has cut his leg sadly in washing his feet, by the break- 
 in gr of the tub." 
 
 o 
 
 The versatility of thought displayed in this letter, 
 the rapidity with which its author speeds from sub- 
 ject to subject, and his clear and decided views, are 
 worthy of close observation. 
 
 . J
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 Thiers; Spanish Marriages; Downfall of Lord Me}lourne''s Adminis- 
 traticn ; Corn Lawsj Coolness between Punizzi and Thiers. 
 
 .AEONGST the 
 eminent men 
 whose friend- 
 ship Panizzi 
 had the good 
 fortune to enjoy, not the 
 least was M. Adolphe Thiers, 
 who must ever be regarded 
 as one of the ablest and 
 most honourable, if not the 
 most successful of European statesmen. Thiers and 
 Panizzi first met about 1840. Frequent association 
 community of friends, similarity of tastes, and 
 especially the interest felt by both in political affairs, 
 soon united them in a friendship both intimate 
 and lasting, which bore its fruits in due season. 
 Thiers, writes Panizzi to Lord Rutherfurd, Oct. oO^ 
 184-3, has taken up all my time when here. 
 It was I who brought him and Lord Pahnerston 
 together, and I haye sent him away quite pleased 
 with the reception. "\Ve shall talk about it, and you 
 will be amused — if you answer my letters — with what 
 
 C^'^-
 
 200 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 I shall tell you of him and from him, and about him." 
 Certain communications from Lord Clarendon to 
 Panizzi contain acute and pertinent remarks on the 
 illustrious Frenchman. For ourselves, we have 
 always believed that an intimate feeling of Anglomisos 
 (to coin a word somewhat milder in significance than 
 AngIoj)hoMaJ materially influenced Thiers. Himself 
 the very incarnation of the Gallic indoles, it is not to 
 be wondered at that he looked on the most prominent 
 and obnoxious traits of English character as antago- 
 nistic and repulsive. Englishmen seemed to him the 
 collective impersonation of a Sabidius, or of a Dr. 
 Fell; but however much he might have disliked 
 the English as a race, he was ever ready, owing to 
 his candour and love of truth, to render full justice to 
 England as a nation, whilst the facility with which 
 he made intimate friends in this country is too well 
 known to require illustration in these pages. The 
 following letters are, however, suggestive : — 
 
 " Bowood, Oct. 12, 1845. 
 *' My dear Panizzi, 
 
 I am exceedinfrlv ol)liG;cd 
 to you for your information in re 
 Thiers, whom 1 sliould liave been 
 delighted to ask to The Grove, but 
 I fear there will be no chance of 
 catcliinj]: him durino- his short 
 stay, as previous arrangements 
 will not permit of our inviting 
 him before the 2oth. He really 
 flits about Europe like a flash of 
 lir-htninfif, and if he means to know 
 anvthino; about this country and 
 its inhabitants he ou;rht not to come only for a week at the
 
 clarendon's letters 201 
 
 •deadest time of the year, though to be sure that is only in har- 
 mony with his usual system. Don't you remember his famous 
 note to Ellice when he (E.) was Secretary of the Treasury ? 
 ''■Moil cJier Ellice, je veux connaUre a fond le systeme financier 
 ^e VAnyleterre quand pourrez vans me donner cinq minutes?* 
 Lord Lansdowne has asked him to come here, and if he does 
 not I sliall try and find him on Wednesday on my way through 
 London to join Lady C, whom I left at Gorhambury with her 
 father, who is still very ill. When we are re-established at 
 the Grove I need not say how much pleasure it will give her 
 and me to see you there. We heard from Charles that you 
 were well and prosj^erous, and had returned more devotedly 
 attached than ever to the Duke of Modena. 
 
 Yours, &c., &e., Clarendon." 
 
 *Bowoocl, Oct. 14, 1845. 
 " My dear Panizzi, 
 
 We were all in great hopes that Thiers would have 
 •come here to-day, but as he docs not I must stay over to- 
 ■morrow, for it would really be grief to me that he left England 
 •without my seeing him. It is quite a " bo7mc fortune " for 
 Thiers, and important, moreover, to the relation between the 
 two countries, that he should have fallen into your hands here, 
 for there is no one so capable of properly directing his enquiries 
 and opinions, and I am sure there is no born Englishman from 
 whom he would receive with confidence and belief the sort of 
 facts you will put before him. There is a great deal of avenir 
 in Thieis, and he is still destined to exercise much influence 
 upon the opinions of his countrymen, and if he could make 
 himself personally cognizant of the feelings of the English to- 
 wards France, and become sure that there is not among us a 
 germ even of hostility or jealousy with respect cither to the 
 greatness or the prosperity of France, I think he might do 
 much to allay that spirit of hatred towards us which his own 
 works and a portion of the press under his control have already- 
 done much to excite. It would be an undertaking worthy of 
 him, because it would tend to advance the best interests of
 
 202 TUE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZt 
 
 civilisation, to put Anglophobia out of fashion in France, but 
 for that he should be able to speak with authority and con- 
 naissance de cause, and I will defy even his cleverness to know 
 this country, or to carry away any correct perceptions of it ii> 
 a transitory visit, such as he is making. For m}'- own sake,. 
 and being most desirous to show him any civility, I wish hp- 
 had come a little later. 
 
 Yours, &c., &e., 
 
 Clap.endon." 
 
 These letters cannot foil to be read with interest^ 
 coming from so appreciative a man as Lord Chiren- 
 don, pointing distinctly as they do to his intimate 
 friendship with Panizzi, and expressing his hopes 
 that Thiers wonld be cured of this " Anglo-phobia," 
 or, to nse our own modified term, " An<>lo-misos,"" 
 with his very true remark : " I'll defy even his 
 cleverness to know this countrv, or to carrv awav any 
 correct perceptions of it in a transitory visit, such as. 
 he is making." 
 
 In politics, though Panizzi's opinions (albeit some- 
 what modified by lapse of time, and by his inter- 
 course with the greater English statesmen) were 
 probably still of a deeper revolutionary tinge than 
 his friend's, the two men Avere in the main of one 
 mind. The prominent question of the day was that 
 tissue of petty chicanery commonly known as The- 
 SimnisJi Marriages — a miserable intrigue — which 
 caused considerable commotion at the time, and in 
 due course produced consequences of a gravity out of 
 all proportion to its intrinsic importance. 
 
 To recapitulate its history in this place, and at 
 this period, would be impertinent ; with the aid of a 
 shght introduction, and a few connecting remarks,,
 
 SPANISH MAREIAGES 203- 
 
 enough of the nature of the transaction for the pre- 
 sent purposes may be gathered from the correspon- 
 dence of Thiers and Panizzi, as given beh)w. 
 
 The affair seems to have come under serious diplo- 
 matic notice about the be"innin": of 1842, when 
 Queen Isabella was in the twelfth year of her age. 
 For a rough sketch of its origin, let the following 
 suffice. M. Guizot, apprehensive that if a Prince of 
 other than French or Spanish blood were to share 
 the throne of Spain, France might be j^laced as it 
 "Were between two fires, and patriotically wishing to 
 make Spain, so fiir as possible, dependent upon his 
 own country, insisted on limiting Queen Isabella's 
 choice of a husband to the descendants of the Bour- 
 bon Philip V. ; at the same time, however, disclaim- 
 ing any intention of including among the aspirants to- 
 the Queen's hand any son of the King of the French. 
 
 The candidates spoken of at the time were — 1st. 
 Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, brother of the 
 Queen of Portugal, and by no means a stranger to 
 French blood, whose claim, if it can be so called, 
 though causing the greatest disquiet to M. Guizot,. 
 ■was more a subject of conversation than reality. In- 
 deed, except for a kind of counter-intrigue of a sus- 
 picious character, purj^orting to be in his favour, this 
 competitor, can hardly be said to have been in the 
 race. 2nd. Prince Metternich's candidate, the Count 
 de Montemolin, son of Don Carlos, who, although 
 within M. Guizot's conditions, had but little chance- 
 of success from the bei>innin2:. The third Candida- 
 ture was that of Count de Trapani, brother of the King 
 of Naples, whose chance, as it turned out, was about
 
 "204 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY TAXIZZI 
 
 equal to that of Count de Montemolin. To complete 
 the list followed Don Francisco d'Assise, Duke of 
 Cadiz, and his brother Don Enrique, Duke of Seville, 
 sons of the Infant Don Francisco de Paula. 
 
 The design of the French Minister was communi- 
 - cated by M. Pageot, whom he sent for that purpose, 
 to Lord Aberdeen, then Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 
 The EnMish INlinister heard, with considerable as- 
 tonishment, and with no little indignation, the un- 
 warrantable proposal to restrict the Spanish Queen's 
 selection of her consort. He replied, however, that 
 in a matter of a nature so entirely domestic it was 
 not the wish of this country to interfere. M. Pageot 
 thereupon endeavoured to obtain from the Foreign 
 Secretary an expression of a like disinclination to 
 intervene in case Queen Isabella were to fix her 
 choice on her cousin, the Due d'Aumale. The 
 answer to this invidious hypothesis was that it w^as 
 based upon a very different footiug, and involved the 
 question of the maintenance of the balance of power 
 in Europe, as settled by Treaty. 
 
 As a matter of fact, Mons. Guizot had thus ex- 
 pressed himself to the Cabinet of England : — " We 
 thought fit to apprise you, as the Ministry of one of 
 the Great European Powers, of our intentions in re- 
 gard to a political matter, which you may possibly 
 consider of European interest, but in which we, on 
 the other hand, take leave to hold the interest of 
 France to be paramount to all others ; and, inasmuch 
 as, in such matter, we, the Government of France, 
 have laid down a course of action, from which, so 
 far as lies in our power, we wiU suffer no departure.
 
 SPANISH MAKRIAGES 205 
 
 We respectfully request you to give your adhesion to 
 our design, or, if that be impossible to you, at least 
 to remain im2:)artial and inactive." 
 
 Such a policy, subtly conceived, and springing from 
 ■outre-cuidance, might Avell arouse patriotic indig- 
 nation, and in no one would it be more likely to 
 awaken this spirit than in Lord Clarendon. His 
 lordship's censure of Lord Aberdeen's conduct, how- 
 ever, expressed in the following letter to Panizzi, 
 •seems, to say the least of it, a little severe : — 
 
 *' The Grove, December 23rc!, 1815. 
 
 " Mv dear Panizzi, 
 
 I should have sinccrclv rco;vettcd if Palmerston had even 
 thought he had reason to complain of any one of his friends 
 •during the late odious transaction ; but I am particularly glad 
 that tlie matter should have been discussed between you and 
 him ; for, as you wcdl knew my opinions long before any 
 question of a change of Government, respecting his return to 
 the Foreign Oflice, and tlie groundless appi'ehensions which 
 Thiers entertained upon that subject, you had the opportunity, 
 as I am sure you had the good will, of removing any annoy- 
 ance which a parcel of stupid newspaper articles (written pro- 
 bably for tliat purpose) respecting himself and me might have 
 occasioned last week. IMy firm belief is that energy such as 
 Palmcrston's is at this moment greatly needed at the Foreign 
 Office, and that it would tend, far more than the present sys- 
 tem, to an entente really cordial between us and France. I 
 liave over and over again told Lord Aberdeen that his pre- 
 dilection for Guizot, and consequent partisansliip in France 
 was endangering the peaceful relations between the two coun- 
 tries ; because, on the one hand, it rendered hostility to Fng- 
 land a natural and necessary weapon of attack against Guizot, 
 and, on the other, this imposed on him the obligation to 
 '*^ faire des niches a rAngleterre,'" in order to prove his inde-
 
 206 
 
 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 pendcnce and keep his portcfeuille. It was impossible for 
 Lord John to do without Pahnerston, and equally so to expect 
 he would siubmlt to take any other ofHce than the Foreign at 
 the presumptuous dictation of that mauvais coucheur, Lord 
 Grey. With respect to Ellicc, I believe that the " out of 
 doors " calumnies are groundless. He is as incapable of wil- 
 fully concealing anything it was his duty to have communi- 
 cated as I feel I should be myself. I never saw more efficient 
 zeal than he manifested throughout the whole of the transac- 
 tions ; and, as I was present when he heard from Lord John 
 of the objection raised by Lord Grey, and was witness to thc^ 
 readiness with which he volunteered to go and bring him to- 
 reason, it is impossible to suppose he was playing a double 
 part ; but he ought to be made acquainted with these reports, 
 and I am sure he will have no difficulty in effectually disprov- 
 ino- them. The reason upon which the embryo Government 
 was broken up Avill, I am afraid, appear invalid and insufficient 
 to the public ; but, for my own part, I cannot regret the re- 
 sult. The undertaking was too vast for the slender m^eans 
 upon which Lord John could rely for success ; he could only 
 hope for a doubtful and unlicarty support ; but, having once- 
 embarked in the struggle, he would have been held respon- 
 sible for all the consequences of failure. After a time, how- 
 ever, 1 am sure that the country will be glad that the measure 
 should remain in the hands of the only man capable of carry- 
 ing it, and, deal with it as he may, he must advance Liberal 
 principles, and must break up his party. 
 
 Ever yours truly. 
 
 Clarendon," 
 
 These are strong denunciations, strongly expressed ;; 
 yet, no doubt, Lord Clarendon felt keenly that Lord 
 Aberdeen's " predilection " for Guizot was " endanger- 
 ing the peaceful relations" between England and 
 France, and his laudation of Lord Palmerston bears, 
 equal proof of tlie sincerity of his impressions.
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 207 
 
 Be it said, with all submission, that Ave might 
 have gone further with Lord Aberdeen and fared 
 worse. 
 
 It is perfectly true that the vigour and decision of 
 character so conspicuous in Lord Palmerston was not 
 invariably to be found in Lord Aberdeen. Still, if 
 there was vigour, there was also a certain amount of 
 violence occasionally apparent in the policy of tlic 
 former. Granting fully that Lord Palmerston might, 
 by a more decided show of opposition than was 
 offered by his predecessor in office, have crushed the 
 Sj)anish Marriages plot in its inception, aiid grant- 
 ing all that is said in Lord Clarendon s letter as to 
 the effisct likely to be produced by Lord Aberdeen's 
 course of action (or inaction) on the " entente fior- 
 diale,''' we may be allowed to suspect that, under 
 then existing circumstances, a peril of a different 
 kind, and a more serious, miglit have arisen from 
 direct interference on the part of the English Govern- 
 ment ; and that the coldness between the two coun- 
 tries, already caused by the audacity and double- 
 dealing of the King of the French and his minister, 
 might have been exchanged for a more acrid feeling, 
 possibly even subversive of the peace still subsisting 
 between England and France, and involving even the 
 peace of Europe. 
 
 It only remains to be noted here that the effect of 
 the underhand policy pursued all along by the French 
 Government AAas the simultaneous marriages of 
 'Queen Isabella to Don Francisco d'Assise, and of her 
 sister, the Infanta Luisa Fernanda, to the Duke do 
 Montpensier, on the lOtli of October, 1S4G. The
 
 208 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 diplomatic correspondence on the subject ceased soon 
 after that event. 
 
 The following is the first letter written by Thiers: 
 to Panizzi on the important question : — 
 
 " Lille, le 26 OctoLre, 1846. 
 
 " Mon cher Panizzi, — 
 
 Voila bien longtcinps que je ne vous ai donne 
 de mes nouvelles, et quo je n'ai repu des votres. Je n'ai pas 
 Ol^]inairement grand'chose a vous dire; je suis occupe, vous 
 I'etes, et c'est une explication suffisante d'un silence qui n'est et 
 ne sera jamais de I'oubli. Cc que vous aviez prevu est arrive* 
 Les Whigs sont an pouvoir, et je souhaite qu'ils y restent. 
 Mais que vient-il done d'arriver eiUre nos deux pays? Ce- 
 nouvel incident m'afllige tres-viveinent, car je ne vois de- 
 politique veritablemcnt bonne que dans I'union de la France et 
 de I'Angleterr-c. Hors de la, il n'y a de triomphe que pour les 
 oppresscurs des peuples et de I'esprit humain. Peut-etre, a 
 force de fautes, serons-nous obliges, les uns et les autres, de- 
 nous appuyer sur des amis qui ne seront pas les meilleurs, mais 
 ce sera un malheur veritable. J'etais pour le maintien do 
 Falliance meme avec les Tories, a plus (orte raison avec lc& 
 Whigs. Le jour oil Lord Pahnerston, parlant tres-noblemcnt 
 dela Pologne, a dit quo si les traites de 1815 n'etaient pas. 
 respectes sur Ic Danube ils cesscraient d'etre respectables sur Ic 
 Khin, il a fait ressortir toute I'utilite, toute la fecondite d& 
 ralliuncc dc la France avec I'An^lcterrc sous les Whiirs. 
 
 Pour moi, je deplore qu'on ait choisi ce moment pour se- 
 brouillcr. Jc n'aiinc pas a fairo des concessions aux depens de- 
 mon pays, mais le jour ou un Ministre de I'Angleterre parle dc 
 la sorte, et rompt si ouvcrtement avec la coalition Europeenne,. 
 ce jour-la jc serais plus dispose a faire des concessions a aucuu 
 autre. ]\Iais rompre pour un mariage, quand I'Angleterre 
 n'insistait pas pour un Cobourg, me confond ! 
 
 Cependant il faut savoir la verlte. II circule les versions lea 
 plus contradictoires. La Princesse de Lieven jette tout sur les.
 
 THIEKS 209- 
 
 Whigs, et dit, dans son salon, que rien de pareil n'aurait eii 
 lieu avec Lord Aberdeen. M. Guizot fait dire que Lord Pal- 
 morston a manque aux engagements pris, et qu'il a, des lors, 
 ete delie dc ceux qui avaient ete contractes a Eu. Voycz 
 Lord Palmerston, puisquc vous etes lie avec lui; dites-lul do 
 vous communiquer a vous, et pour moi, la verite pure. H ne 
 faut me dire que des fiiits d'une exactitufle incontestable. 
 
 Le danger de la situation, c'est que Ic ministere va jou3r le 
 jeu odieux qu'il reprochait a I'oppositioii, et que pour m? part 
 je n'ai jamais voulu jouer, celui d'exciter le sentiment populaire 
 contre I'Angleterre. Si le Cabinet Britanaique a eu des torts, 
 ce jeu sera facile. II faut done savoir ex-tcteinent la verite, et 
 dans ces choses-la il ne sert guere de la dissimuler, car elle res- 
 sort bien vite des documents. Voici la question sur laquelle il 
 faut etre exactement fixe. 
 
 Quels engagements avait-onpris veciproquement a Eu? 
 
 Etait'On bien convenu de renoncer a un Cobourg, et de ne 
 marier le Due de Montpensicr a I'infante qu'apres que la reine 
 aurait eu des enfints? 
 
 Serait-il vrai que la diplomatic Anglaise agissait a Madrid 
 contrairement a ce double enci;a2;ement? Que des lors le 
 Cabinet Fran^ais aurait pu se croire degage? 
 
 Est-il vrai que M. Gfuizot aurait adresse a Lord Palir srston. 
 une depeche lui annonpant sos nouveaux projcts, lui declarant 
 qu'il se considerait comme libre, et que Lord Palmerston serait 
 domeure plus d'un mois sans repondre? 
 
 Voila des points sur Icsquels il faut bien savoir la verite. 
 
 Tachez de savoir ce qu'il y a de vrai dans ce qui s'est pagje 
 a Madrid. 
 
 Je de:^ire avoir un historlque complct et vrai de toute 
 I'afFaire. Je desire savoir aussi comment I'Angleterre pose 
 aujourd'hui la question, et oij git la difficulte entre les deux 
 pays. Y a-t-il une solution raisonnable, egalement honorable 
 pour les deux Cabinets ? 
 
 Comment les Tories prcnncnt-ils la question.^ En font-ils 
 une affaire de parti contre les Whigs, ou bien une affaire du
 
 210 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 pays, commune a tous? Enfin, quel est ravenir de votre 
 politique intericure? Lord John Russell se maintiendra-t-il? 
 Pour moi, je fais des vocux en favour des Whigs. Je suis 
 revolutionnaire (dans le bon sens du mot) et jc souliaite en tout 
 pays le succes de mes analogues. Adieu, et mille amities. Jc 
 vous prie dc m'ecrire pas moins que vingt pages sur tout cela, 
 Comme je n'aime pas que Ton colporte mes lettres, je vous prie 
 de garder celle-ci pour vous et de me repondrc par la poste, ou 
 a Lille jusqu'au 25 Octohi'e, ou a Paris si vous mettez votrc 
 lettre a la boite passe le 25. Je crois que la poste seulc est 
 sure. Adieu encore, et mille amities, 
 
 A. Thiers. 
 Lille (D^'partement du Nord.)'* 
 
 To this Panizzi replied in a letter which, for its 
 detailed and lucid statement of facts, may really be 
 looked upon as a useful work of reference. Nor will 
 the reader, we imagine, be inclmed to think the com- 
 ments of the writer on the doings of Guizot and of 
 his accomplice (for so we will venture to call him), 
 Count Bresson, French Minister at Madrid, one whiu 
 ►too severe : — - 
 
 Nov., 1846. 
 
 Mon cher Monsieur et Ami, 
 
 Les pieces que vous trouvcrez ci-jointes ont ete im- 
 primees pour etre porte'es a la connaissance des legations 
 britanniques a I'etranger: j'ai eu le bonheur de m'en procurer 
 un exemplaire que j'ai le plaisir de vous envoyer, avec la 
 certitude que vous en ferez im usage reserve, et qu'elles vous 
 mettront a memo de juger la conduite des deux Gouverne- 
 ments Francais et Anglais; par la date de la derniere depeche, 
 vous verrez que je nc pouvais pas vous les envoyer plus tot. 
 
 J'ajouterai aux faits principaux, que vous trouverez con- 
 ■signes d'une maniere authentique dans ces pieces, le recit de 
 •quelques autres circonstances, sinon tout a fait aussi impor-
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 211 
 
 tantes a connaitrc, an moins tres-Intere?santes, et sur I'authenti- 
 cite dcsquclles vous pouvez egaleinent compter. 
 
 Cc fat en 1842 que le roi envoya vers le Gouvernement 
 Anglais le ]Murechal SebastianI, pour obtenir son consentemcnt 
 aw mariage dc la Reine d'Espagne avec iin descendant de 
 Philippe V. Lc Roi tcnait beaucoup a persuader a ce 
 Gouvernement que la France ne lui pardonncrait jamais de 
 permettre un mariage quelconque dont rcffet serait de fldre 
 monter sur le trone d'Espagne tout autre que le descendant 
 d'un Bourbon de la branclie Espagnole. Le Gouvernement 
 Anglais, des lors, adopta la ligne de politique de laquelle il ne 
 s'est jamais ecarte apres: II exprima son indifference a ce 
 que la Eeine choisit son epoux parmi non-seulement les princes 
 issus de Philippe V., mais de toute autre maison qui aurait 
 €te plus agreable a S. M. Catholique et a son peuple, excepte 
 seulcment un Prince Franf!ais. En so limitant a un descendant 
 de Philippe V., le Koi excluait, par ccla meme, scs propres 
 infants aussi bien que ceux des autres maisons princleres; le 
 Gouvernement Anglais, au contraire, limitait scs objections 
 aux premiers seulcment. 
 
 Pendant toutes les negociatlons qui eurentlieUjSoital'egard 
 «du Comte de Trapani que de Montemolin, la conduite de 
 I'Ancrleterrc ne s'est jamais dementle. 
 
 Lors de la vlsite de la Reine d'Angleterre au Chateau d'Eu, 
 ■en 1845, S. M. Britannique aussi bien que Lord Aberdeen ac- 
 ■cepterent la proposition ibrmelle ct absolue, qui Icur fut faite 
 par le roi ct son ministre de leur propre gre, a savoir : que la 
 Heine d'Espagne n'epouserait pas un enfant de France (est-cc 
 que cette phrase f'eodale vous fait frissonner), et que dans tout 
 cas le Due de Montpensier n'epouserait pas I'lnfante avant que 
 la Reine sa sccur n'eut mis au monde DES ENFANTS (au 
 pluiiel). Isi la Reine Victoria ni Jjord Aberdeen se lierent plus 
 qu'ils ne I'etaient auparavant, soit a limiter le choix dc la 
 Reine d'Espagne a, un descendant de Philippe V., a qui le Roi 
 des Franpais tcnait toujours, soit a, admcttrc que I'lnfante 
 •epouserait — meme apres que la condition proposee par Louis 
 P
 
 212 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY P.\NIZZI 
 
 Philippe et son Minlstre aurait ete remplie — le Due de- 
 Montpensler, sans objection de la part de I'Angleterre. Lord 
 Abei'deen admettait implicitement que ce mariage serait I'objct 
 de negociations ulterleures, apres que la Eelne Isabelle eut eu 
 des enfants ; il ajoiita memo en propres termes que cette con- 
 dition prealable diminuait ies objections du Gouvernement 
 Anglais; ce qui veut dire que Ton en avail encore. Lord 
 Aberdeen fit part de ce qui s'etait passe a Sir K. Peel, qui 
 approuva particulierement la reserve que son collogue Ministre 
 des AlFaires etranfjeres avait mise dans sa conduite. Je vous 
 dis cela pour vous mettre a ineine de juger de runifbnnite des 
 vues des homraes d'Etat de lAngleterre sur cette question. 
 
 11 parait que, peu de temps apres, la Rcine Christine s'etant 
 querellee avec Louis-Philippe ou bien en ayant fait mine, se 
 d6terinina a marier la Eeine Isabelle avec le Prince de 
 Cobourg. 
 
 Je crois que Christine n'etait que Tagent de Louis-Philippe, 
 qui voulait fane tomber le Vjiouvcrnement Anglais dans un 
 piege, pour avoir un pretexte de briser sa parole, alleguant que 
 le Couvernement Anglais fiivorlsait sous main le mariage de la 
 reine a un autre prince qu'un descendant de Philippe V^. 
 Mais, de bonne foi ou non, le fait est que Christine mit sur le 
 tapis le mariage (,'obourg. Les pieces ci-jointes entrent dans 
 des details tres-importants sur cet episode. Le Gouvernement 
 Franpais fut averti, avec la plus grande franchise, de ce qui se 
 passait par Lord Aberdeen. M Bulwer lui avait ecrit que 
 Christine I'avait envoye chercher et I'avait prie de lui 
 donner son avis sur la redaction d'une lettrc quelle le cliaro-ea 
 de vouloir bien envoyer au Prince de Cobourg alors a Lis- 
 bonne, a qui clle allait proposer sa fille ainee en maria"-e. M.. 
 Bulwer avait de bonne foi donne I'avis qu'on lui avait 
 demande et s'etait charge do la lettre, comme ami et non pas 
 comme Ministre d'Angleterre. Non-seulement Lord Aberdeen 
 informa M. de Sainte-Aulaire sur-le-champ de ce qu'il venait 
 d'apprendre, non-seulement il donna des ordres positifs a M.. 
 Bulwer, de se garder bien de toute demarche qui pouvait faire
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 213 
 
 croire que I'Angleterre avait la molndre preference pour le- 
 Prlnce de Cobourg, mais il desapprouva la conduite de M. 
 Bui wer duns cette occasion en termes si severes que M. Bulwer 
 en fut bles!ie au point d'envoyer sa demission de Madrid, que 
 Lord Aberdeen ne crut pas a propos d'acceptcr. 
 
 M. Bresson se permit de reproclier aux ministres espagnols 
 (et, je crois, a Christine elle-meme) leur conduite d'une 
 maniere qu'on aurtut eu droit d attendre plutot d'un caporal de 
 la vieille garde, que d'un representant de Louis- Philippe ; il 
 alia jusqu'a inenMcer le Gouvernement Espagnol d'une declara- 
 tion de guerre, si la reine epousait autre qu'un prince approuve 
 par Louis-l*hillppe. Ce pauvre Isturiz en informa en trera- 
 blant Lord Aberdeen, qui repondit par une lettre de 25 Juin 
 dont on parle dans la depeche de Lord Palmerston du 31 
 Octobre(p. 19). JVspere pouvoir vous en envoyer une copie. 
 Cependanr, Istuiiz lui-nieme etait un des principaux agents 
 dans cctte intrigue. A Madrid, des amis tres-intimes de Chris- 
 tine firent tout ce qui leur fut possible pour engager le Gou- 
 vernement Aiiglai<iase declarer pour le Prince de Cobourg: on 
 ofFiit carte blanche a I'Angleterre pour qu'elle mit le prix 
 qu'elle jugeiaii convenable a la concession de son appui. A 
 peine le minittere actuel avait ete forme a Londres, qu'Isturiz 
 s'adressa non oHicielleinent a une de scs connaissatices, qui en 
 fait part, pour le prier de faire tout ce qu'il pouvait pour ces 
 noces Cobourg, la oonclusion desquelles, disait-il, dependait 
 absolument de I'Angleterre ; mais ni Lord Palmerston ni I'autre 
 ministre ne voulurent entendre parler de cela ; on se declara 
 toujours neutre et iiuliflerent. 
 
 Dans la premiere page de la premiere depeche de Lord Pal- 
 merston, on parle d'une depeche du 19 Juillet, a laquelle on 
 fait encore allusion, soit par M Guizot (pag. 9), soit par Lord 
 Palmerston dans sa seconde depeche (pag. 16), et dont MM. 
 Guizot et Bresson ont fait un usafre indigrne, comme vous 
 verrez par les pieces imprimees. Vous en recevi'ez, je me flatte, 
 un3 copie sous pen de jours. Afin que vousjugiez de I'etendue 
 <le cette indiguiie ct du pcu de conliance que Ton pcut placer 
 
 p2
 
 2 J 4 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 dans la parole de votre ministre dcs Affnrcs etrang^rcs, il faut 
 que vous sacliicz que la scconde pavtic de cette depeche con- 
 tenait des observations sur la conduite illerrale, inconstitution- 
 nelle et dcppotique du Gouvernement Espagnol, M. de Jarnac, 
 cliaro-e d'alluires du roi dcs barricades, desapprouva ces obser- 
 vations, et si M. Bresson n'a pas fait un usage public ct ofliclcl 
 d'un document si confidentiel, comme M. Guizot dit, il s'en est 
 au moins servi en cacliette pour faire du tort a un Gouverne- 
 ment liberal qui avait confie la depeche a I'honneur d'un 
 ministre ami, aupres du Gouvernement auquel cette depeclie ne 
 devait pas etre connue. (Ju'en dites-vous, revolutionnaire ? 
 
 La depeclie dc Lord Palmcrston du 22 Septeinbre fut com- 
 muniquee a. M. Guizot le 25 du memo mois par Lord Nor- 
 manby, qui etait pret a en discuter la substance. En lui 
 annoncant les mariages dc la Eeine d'Espagne et de sa soiur 
 quelques jours auparavant, M. Guizot avait promis a Lord Nor- 
 manby que les mariages, quoique annonces en meme temps, 
 n'auraient pas lieu en meme temps. Lord Normanby exprima 
 grand plaisir en apprenant cette determination de votre 
 Gouvernement, et cela donnait quclque lueur d'esperance que 
 Ton pourniit encore I'entendre quant au mariage de I'lnfante. 
 II en fit part au Gouvernement Anglais, ayant pris d'abord la 
 precaution de faire lire sa depeche a M. Guizot. Apres avoir 
 lu la depeche du 22 Septembre, M. Guizot observa a Lord 
 Normanby qu'une telle piece meritait toute I'attention du 
 Gouvernement Fran^ais, et qu'il ne se sentait pas autorise a en 
 discuter le contenu, avant que d'avoir pris les ordrcs du Eoi. 
 Lord Kormanby observa que, dans ce cas, il se flattalt que le 
 depart du Due de Montpensier, pour Madrid, serait ajourne. 
 M. Guizot re-pondit que les mariages etant irrevocablement 
 arretes pour le 10 Octobre, il fallait absolument que S. A. R. 
 partit le jour fixe. Les mariages ! ajouta Lord Normanby, 
 ' vous voulez dire celui de la Eeine ! — Non, non, de la Eeine et de 
 sa soeur,' repliqua M. Guizot. Lord Kormanby rappelle Ji M. 
 Guizot sa promesse que les mariages seraient annonces, mais 
 n'auraient pas lieu en meme temps. Le Ministre des Affaires
 
 ENGLISH POLICY 21-> 
 
 etrangeres taclie d'abord d'oubllcr sa promessG ; mais comme 
 cette pauvre ressource ne lui reussltpas, il conclut: ' D'ailleurs, 
 les deux manages ne seront pas celebres en ineme temps : la 
 reine sera mariee la premiere. Vous n'avez pas encore reussi 
 a chasscr tous les Jesultes de France : c'esfc a vous, mon ami, 
 u leur iaire quitter au moins 1' Hotel des Afialres etrangeres, et a 
 envoyer leurs maximcs apres eux. 
 
 Le Marquis de Lansdowne, en lisant la depecTie de Lord 
 Normanby, qui rendait compte de ce tour de passe-passe de 
 M. Guizot, en fut si etonne, que le papier lui tomba de& 
 mains : il pouvait a peine croire a ses propres yeux, lui qui 
 avait si frequemment entendu M. Guizot sermonner sur la 
 bonne foi et la droiture en politique qui le possedaient, et 
 qui avait jusque la pris M. Guizot au serieux. 
 
 Ce qui se passa, lorsque Lord Palmerston donna communi- 
 cation de cette depeche a ]\I. de Jarnac, merite toute votre 
 attention. Les Wiiigs entrerent au ministere au commence- 
 ment de Juillet. Lord Palmerston eut a etre reelu d'abord, 
 et ne fut proprement installe qu'apres le milieu de ce mois. 
 Le 20 Juillet, M. de Jarnac eut sa premiere entrevue, pour 
 affaires, avec Lord Palmerston, qui lui dit que le Gouverne- 
 ment n'avait encore pu donner a la question du mariage de 
 la Keine d'Espagne toute I'attention qu'elle meritait : — que 
 cependant lui. Lord Palmerston, aussi bien que ceux de ses 
 collegues auxquels il en avait parle, nommement Lord Lans- 
 downe, Lord Clarendon, et, avant tout, Lord John Eussell, 
 etaient du meme avis que Lord Aberdeen ; que Ton ne verrait 
 pas de bon ceil le mariage de la Reine avec un fils du Eoi 
 des Franpais ; mais que, quant aux autres candidats, on etait 
 indifferent. Lord Palmerston ajouta que le Comte de Jarnac 
 verrait toute la pensee du Gouvernement, autant que lui, 
 Lord Palmerston, pouvait en juger, en lisant la depeche qu'il 
 allait lui communiquor, envoyee le jour precedent a M. Buhver. 
 C'etait la depeche du 19 Juillet. Comme M. de Jarnac 
 commenfa par se plaindre de ce que Ton mettait sur la 
 meme ligne le Prince de Cobourg et les Infants Don Enrique
 
 21 G THE LIFE or SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 ■et Don Francisco, Lord Palraerston observa, entre autres 
 choses, que le Prince de Cobourg pouvait etre considere 
 plutot trop lie a la France qu a I'Angleterre, et que s'il y 
 avait quelqu'un qui avait droit de s'opposer a ses noees avec 
 Isabelle II., ce serait bien I'Angleterre. M. de Jarnae tira 
 alors de sa poche une lettre tout a fait privee de M. Guizot, 
 qui le priait de tacher de persuader au Gouvernement 
 Anglais de recommander les deux Pi'inces Espagnols exclu- 
 sivement. Lord Palmerston dit que si Ton se deterininait a. 
 donner la preference a quelqu'un, ce serait toujours a Don 
 Enrique. INI. de Jarnae se montra tres-content de cela. M. 
 Ouizot paraissait etre dans les memes sentiments a, Paris et 
 s'en exprima ainsi a, Lord Normanby. C'est a cette lettre 
 ecrite par lui a M. de Jarnae, lettre qui n'avait aucun 
 ■caractere ofliciel, qui ne fut pas consideree officielle, dont on 
 ne donna point de copie au Ministre Anglais, que M. Guizot 
 fait allusion, lorsqu'il dit (pag. 7) qu'au mois de Juillet il 
 avait propose au Cabinet de Londres d'agir de concert, pour 
 se plaindre peu apres que Lord Palmerston ne lui repondit 
 que plus d'an mois apres a cette proposition. La proposi- 
 tion, si e'en etait une, etait une proposition verbale, et M. de 
 Jarnae reput de Lord Palmerston, au moment meme qu'il la 
 fit, une reponse de la meme nature, c'est-a-dire verbale. Ce 
 ne fut qu'apres avoir ete encore invite a joindre ses de- 
 marches a celles du Gouvernement Franpais, pres la Cour de 
 Madrid, en faveur des deux Infants, que Lord Palmerston 
 deciara, comme Lord Aberdeen avait fait precedemment, que 
 I'Angleterre considerait Don Enrique celui des princes qui 
 convenait a la Peine. La raison en etait que M. Isturiz et 
 les Minisfres Espagnols, aussi bien que les agents Franpais, 
 B'etaient beaucoup egayes sur le compte de Don Francisco en 
 le peignant impuissant, sans esprit et liai par la Peine, qui 
 s'en moquait. On alia meme jusqu'a se vanter, de la partde 
 Marie-Christine et de ses confidents, que Ton avait tout fait 
 pour en degouter la Peine et que Ton avait reussi a souhait. 
 Est-cc que des hommes d'honneur pouvaient, apres cela, le 
 
 I
 
 ENGLISH POLICY 217 
 
 recommander a la Reine comme un mari capable de la rendre 
 heureuse, elle et FEspagne ? Ce role etait reserve a M. 
 Bresson : et il s'en est tire en homme qui en etait digne. 
 
 La Reine des Francais tut chargee par le Roi de faire 
 agreer le mariage du Due de Montpensier a la Reine Victoire : 
 mais elle n'y a pas reussi. S. M. Britannique en exprima 
 rondement son opinion a Louis Philippe, qui lui fit repondre 
 par la Reine des Beiges. Les intrigants, qui ne manquent 
 pas plus dans ce pays-ci que dans les autres, tachent de faire 
 leur mieux — et je crois avec quelque succes — pour faire 
 changer de direction a cette indignation qui du Roi parait a 
 present se tourner en partie centre M. Guizot. 
 
 Cette lettre, que j'espere vous comprendrez malgre mon 
 Franpais, vous sera remise par un ami auquel je puis me fier. 
 Ne vous Jiez pas a voire poste. Repondez-moi s'il vous plait, 
 que I'Ambassade d'Angleterre envoie votre lettre, pour moi, 
 50US convert, a Lord Normanby lui-meme, qui n'a pas d'idee 
 4u sujet de notre correspondance, mais qui, me connaissant 
 personnellement, voudra bien, je n'en doute pas, avoir la 
 bonte de me la faire parvenir. 
 
 Dites-moi bien franchement ce que vous pensez de tout 
 ceci, et soyez certain que je ne manquerai pas de vous faire 
 connaitre ce que j'apprendrai d'important relativement a 
 ■cette malheureuse aftaire. 
 
 Adieu, mon cher ami ; croyez-moi toujours. 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Tlie plot nithin a plot, in favour of Prince Leo- 
 pold, caused Guizot mucti alarm and discomfort. 
 The place of its origin lie took to be Lisbon, It 
 •'.vas, he conceived, if not strongly backed by British 
 influence, at least virtually, though passively, sup- 
 ported by the English Cabinet. In this respect, look- 
 ing on him as one Avho was likely to guage the 
 diplomacy of others by his own measure, and, more- 
 over, as being moved by the independent, and, it must
 
 218 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 be confessed, imprudent line taken at the time by the 
 Eritish Minister at Madrid, he need not be too harshly 
 judged. 
 
 Panizzi's theory, however, as to Queen Christina's 
 part in the afi'air, seems to go a little too far. To 
 suppose her to have been the direct agent of Louis- 
 Philippe in so ingenious a plot, and to be employed 
 simply in carrying out his designs, is to impute even 
 too much cunning and iniquity to the King of the 
 French (who, it must be borne in mind, afterwards 
 denied categorically any complicity in the matter), 
 and to give too little credit for independence of 
 character to the Queen Dowager. There are many 
 reasons why Christina, a born intrigante, at a dis- 
 tance from Paris, and in her own country, finding 
 that she had, for a time at least, the game in her own 
 hands, should have been inclined to play it in her own 
 way, give it an independent turn, and, at the same 
 time, provide against chances of failure, without 
 laying herself ojDen afterwards to the charge of 
 rashly deviating from the course which she had really 
 come to Spain to follow. It requires no great stretch 
 of imagination to conceive any amount of underhand 
 dealing on the part of the principal actors in the 
 Spanish Marriages ; but we are disposed, after all, 
 to take for truth what Guizot himself says in his 
 *' Memoires," of this episode of the intrigue, or that 
 which, considering his position, may be accepted as 
 pretty much the same thing, what he firmly believed 
 to be the truth. Of course his wrath may have been 
 simulated, and his joy at perceiving additional advan- 
 tages in the counterplot well concealed ; but that
 
 SPANISH MAREIAGES 219" 
 
 eitlier he or his master directly instigated it, may well 
 be doubted. 
 
 Having received no answer from Thiers, who, as he 
 subsequently says, was very much engaged at the 
 time, Panizzi wrote again, m continuation of his 
 strictures on Guizot's nefarious proceedings, in forcing 
 on the Montpensier marriage ; — 
 
 *' Ce 14 Janvier, 1847. 
 " Mon clier Monsieur et Ami, 
 
 Vous etes bien decide a ne plus m'ecrire, quoique 
 vous m'ayez solennellement promis de repondre a ma derniere 
 longue lettre. J'ai remis, d'un jour a I'autre, a vous eerire 
 moi-meme, attendant toujours de voir paraitre une lettre de 
 votre main a mon adresse ; mais hier, en recevant le sizieme 
 volume de votre Histoire, j'ai suppose que votre silence etait 
 cause par vos travaux historiques ; et, comme je n'ai pas un 
 beau volume a produire qui puisse excuser mon silence, je 
 vais le rompre. Ajoutez a cette raison, qui ne vaut pas 
 beaucoup, que je viens de recevoir quelques documents qui 
 merit ent d'etre passes a votre connaissance ; je me hate done 
 de vous les communiquer. 
 
 Je vous ecrivis dans le temps que le Gouvernement Espa- 
 gnol, efTraye des menaces insolentes de M. Bresson, fit 
 demander a Lord Aberdeen si I'xVngleterre permettrait a 
 Louis-Philippe de forcer la Peine a epouser la personne qu'il 
 plairait au Poi des Francais de dieter. Je vous envoie la 
 reponse de Lord Aberdeen au Due de Sotomayor, Ministre 
 d'Espagne a Londres, datee le 22 Juin, 1846; par elle vous 
 pourrez juger des termes de la communication du Gouverne- 
 ment Espagnol au Cabinet de Londres. 
 
 Dans ma lettre, je vous promettais aussi de vous envoyer 
 copie d'une depeche du 19 Juillet, 1846, adrcssee par Lord 
 Palmerston a M. Buhver, communiqnee confidentiellement 
 par le Premier a M. de Jarnac, et dont M. Guizot fit un usage 
 si indigne en la portant a la connaissance du Gouvernement
 
 220 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR AJSTHONY PAJNiZZI 
 
 Espagnol, et en criant a I'anarchie et au sans-culottisme, 
 parce qu'on donnait des conseils moderes et favorables h una 
 liberie sage au Gouvernement imbecile et despotique que la 
 France (la France de Juillet ! ! !) soutient en Espagne. Vous 
 trouverez ci-joint un extrait de cette depeche. "Vous re- 
 niarquerez sans doute le passage dont on s'est servi comme 
 preteJcte pour hater le mariage du Due de Montpensier 
 C'est parce que Lord Palmerston annonrait un fait, — c'est-a- 
 dire que le Prince de Saxe-Cobourg etait un des candidats 
 pour epouser la Peine d'Espagne, en declarant en meme 
 temps que TAngleterre n'avait aucune preference pour aucun 
 de ces candidats, — c'est parce que Lord Palmerston annoncait 
 ce fait, que Ton a cru devoir faire epouser a I'lnfante le Due 
 de Montpensier ! et cela apres que le mariage du Prince de 
 Saxe-Cobourg avec la Peine ^tait devenu impossible, Sa 
 Majeste ayant deja accepte la main de son cousin ! 
 
 Lord Palmerston a fait offrir tout dernierement au G ouverne- 
 ment Francais. par Lord Normanby, une copie officielle de 
 ces deux depeclies (22 Juin et 19 Juillet, 1846), afin qu'elles 
 pussent etre communiquees aux Chambres avec le reste de 
 la corres2:)ondance. On a refuse cette oft're, avec la meilleujre 
 grace et de la maniere la plus polie du monde. 
 
 Vouz trouverez ci-jointes )es deux dernieres dcpeches sir" 
 cette affaire par M. Guizot et Lord Palmerston. Celle du 
 dernier, tres-recente, ne me parait pas trop menager vot«e 
 successeur. 
 
 A present que j'ai tenu ma parole etquej'ai faitce que vous 
 na'avez demande, tenez la votre de votre cote, et ecrivez-moi une 
 longue lettre, ?nais tout de suite, afin que je puisse faire con- 
 naitre a vos amis ici, au moment de la reunion du Parlement 
 (le 19) la marche que vous et vos amis comptez suivre. C'est 
 en repondant franchement a la confiance dont on vous donne 
 des preuves si fortes, que vous en inspirerez davantage. Je ne 
 puis pas toujours chercher a penetrer ce que I'on pense, sans 
 avoir rien a dire en rctour. Du reste, vous etes le meilleur 
 juge de ce qu'il vous convient de faire.
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 221 
 
 Avez-vous vu M. Greville ? II m'a dit qu'il ir.iit vous voir 
 ■et vous saluer de ma part. J'apprends, par le Times du 12, 
 qu'on le suppose charge d'une negociation non oflEicielle pour 
 renouveler I'entente cordials. La derniere lettre de Lord Pal- 
 merston a ete ecrite apres le depart de ]M. Greville. M. Grreville 
 est alle a Paris pour complaire aux invitations tres-urgentes de 
 Mme de Lieven. Comrae le Times disait que M. Greville 
 est ' I'ami intime de M. Thiers,' est-il alle a Paris pour vous 
 faire donner ' I'accolade fraternelle ' a M. Guizot ? Ecrivez- 
 moi ce que vous pensez de cela ; dites-moi si vous avez beau- 
 ■coup cause avec M. Grreville de cette aflfaire et ce qu'il en 
 pense. Tout ceci m'interesse beaucoup. C'est inutile de 
 repeter que vos lettres, comme les miennes, sont stricte- 
 ment confidentielles. Eappelez-vous bien de n'envoyer votre 
 reponse que sous couverte directement a Lord Normanhy. 
 •Croyez-moi toujours. A. Panizzi."' 
 
 Mons. Guizot, though successful in the end, was 
 luiable to carry out his design for marrying the Queen 
 of Spain, after his own and his master's mind, within 
 the space of a few weeks or months. Some years 
 ehipsed ere the slow course of the S])anish Mar- 
 riages reached its climax. INIeanwhile, a great poli- 
 tical incident liad occurred in this country. In the 
 summer of 1846 Sir Robert Peers ministry had re- 
 signed. Lord Palmerston had succeeded Lord Aber- 
 deen at the Foreign Office. The new Foreign 
 Minister continued, with respect to the Spanish in- 
 trigue, his predecessor's line of conduct throughout, 
 albeit his expressions of indignation at Guizot's 
 duplicity may have been a little stronger and sterner 
 than Lord Aberdeen's. For this, however, it must be 
 allowed that, as the affair progressed, there was 
 -ample reason. 
 
 By this time the list of candidates for the Queen's
 
 222 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 hand had been considerably reduced. There re- 
 mained but two within the imncijple of the descen- 
 dants of Philip v., the Duke of Cadiz, and his 
 brother, Don Enrique, Duke of Seville. To the last 
 of these, Lord Palmeiston, but simply as an outsider,. 
 gave the preference, as the only Spanish Prince who- 
 is Jit, ly Ms personal qualities, to he the Queens hus- 
 band. Don Enrique, however, was a little too 
 liberal and progressive in his principles to be accepted 
 by the opposite party. Finally, after a long course 
 of unseemly manoeuvring and double-dealing, the 
 marriage of Queen Isabella with Francis, Duke of 
 Cadiz, was brought about, and at the same time, by a 
 violation of good faith, such as blushing history has 
 seldom had to record, the Duke de Montpensier's 
 marriage with the Infanta took j)lace. 
 
 An excellent commentary on the various phases of 
 this wretched intrigue, and on the conduct of those 
 concerned in it, will be found in the subjoined cor- 
 respondence between Thiers and Panizzi. In answer 
 to the charges brought by the latter against Guizot, 
 Thiers replies with very summary treatment of the 
 French Minister, both politically and personally. 
 The sketch of Louis-Philippe's character, in the first 
 quoted of these letters, is admirably drawn. The 
 policy, however, of the great monarch of the barri- 
 cades, made up of audacity and cunning, was on the 
 whole so skilfully conducted, though so little likely 
 to be enduring, as to our mind to justify a more sig- 
 nificant epithet than that of a mere umpire. 
 
 What, however, stands out most conspicuously in- 
 this same letter is the sound, practical, and common-
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 223 
 
 sense view taken by Thiers of the claim to actual and 
 substantial importance of the Spanish Marriages; 
 his justification of the British Cabinet's policy of non- 
 interference (and, with it, of Lord Aberdeen's con- 
 duct) in a matter in no wise vital to England ; and 
 his far-sighted estimate of what might have been the 
 consequences to Europe had more serious measures 
 in opposition to the plot been adopted. It would 
 have been an evil day that had seen the four greatest 
 European powers ranged in two directly opposite, if 
 not, indeed, openly hostile camps ; whereof England 
 and Prussia should have occupied the one, and France 
 and Austria the other. The jSjxmish Marriages 
 was a comedy, and decidedly unworthy of exaltation, 
 at least for the time being, to the rank of an Euro- 
 pean tragedy, 
 
 "Paris, le 12 Janvier, 1847. 
 " Mon clier Panizzi, 
 
 .Te veux depuis longtemps vous 
 ecrire, mais je suis enfonce dans 
 mon travail d'impression qui ne 
 m'en laisse pas le temps. Je 
 quitte ce travail pour les discus- 
 sions de la Chambre, et je vous 
 donne les premiers moments de 
 cette diversion. II n'y a rieu 
 ici de nouveau, mais je n'en veux 
 pas moins vous dire quelques 
 mots de la situation. Auparavant, 
 voici mon avis sur les pieces que 
 j'ai lues. 
 
 Je trouve la conduite de M. 
 Guizot fort claire: il a manque 
 de bonne foi; il a menti ; il s'est 
 conduit la comme nous le voyons se conduire tous les
 
 224 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 jours h la Chambre; mais ce qui est clair pour moi ne peut 
 le devenir pour le public qua grand renfort de preuves. 
 II faut qu'oii connaisse les depeches de Lord Normanby, dans 
 lesquelles les mensonges de M. Guizot sont, a ce qu'on dit, 
 mis au grand jour de la maniere la plus frappante. Ce n'est pas 
 tout que de prouver que M. Gruizot a menti, il faut prouver 
 que le Cabinet Anglais a ete sincere, et pour cela il faut que- 
 les depeches a M. Bulwer et a M. de Sotomayor. prouvanfc 
 qu'on n'a pas poursuivi le mariage d'un Cobourg a Madrid, 
 soient connues. Je suis sur que I'opinion publique en 
 France condamnera le Cabinet Franpais s'il est evident quil 
 s'est conduit dune maniere deloyale. L'evenement de 
 Cracovie a deja prouve qu'il n'y avait que peril, fausse 
 politique, duperie pour les nations libres, ou aspirant a le 
 devenir, dans la brouille de la France avec I'Angleterre. Les 
 alliances avec les CoursduNord sont rangeesparmilesutopies, 
 ou les arriere-pensees contre-revolutionnaires. Si a cela on 
 ajoute la preuve que M. Guizot, outre la finite de rompre I'alli- 
 ance la veille de Cracovie, a conimis celle d'agir deloyalement, 
 son compte sera fait et regie devant le public. Pour moi, qui 
 souhaite hardiment la chute d'une politique egoiste et 
 contre-revolutionnaire, je serai enchante de voir M. Guizot 
 disparaitre de la scene politique. Je n'ai aucun interet per- 
 sonnel ici, car le roi appellera M. Mole, et n'aura jamais re- 
 cours a moi que dans une extremite perilleuse, laquelle n'est 
 heureusement pas probable ; mais que ce soit ]\I. Mole ou un 
 autre, je le soutiendrai s'il inaugure une politique moins 
 infidele a la cause de la Revolution, et plus propre a nous 
 faire bien vivre avec I'Angleterre. Ce resultat peut sortir de 
 la crise actuelle, si on se conduit bien. Les agents de M. 
 Guizot disent ici et a Londres que ni le pays ni le Roi n'aban- 
 donneront jamais M. Guizot. C'est une absurdite, debitee 
 par des gens a gages, mais denuee de tout fondement. Le 
 pays applaudira a un changement de ministere. La Chambre 
 des Deputes represente des interets prives, elle ne represente 
 pas des opinions. Le pays eclaire a le sentiment que la
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 225' 
 
 politique actuelle est sans coeur et sans lumiei-es. Quant au 
 Koi, il abandonnera M. Guizot plus didicilement qu'un autre, 
 car M. Gruizot s'est completement donne a lui, et soutient 
 son Gouvernement personnel avec le devouement d'an homme 
 qui n'a plus d'autre role possible. Mais quand le Roi croira 
 la question aussi grave qu'elle I'est, il abandonnera INI. Guizot. 
 Le Roi est un empirique en politique : I'une de ses idees 
 favorites, c'est que, moyennant qu'on sache attendre, surtout 
 dans les pays libres oh tout est mobile, on a cause gagnee. 
 II emploie cette recette comme les medecins voues a 
 I'eau chaude et a la saignee; il I'emploie pour toutes 
 les maladies. II ne croit pas a la solidite des Whigs ; il 
 croit que I'un de ces jours naitra une question qui emportera 
 celle des mariages, et qu'il aura acquis une Infante sans 
 perdre M. Guizot. Le jour ou il croira les choses plus 
 stables qu'on ne les lui peint de Londres, et oii il craindra 
 serieusement pour ses rapports avec I'Angleterre, il abandon- 
 nera M. Guizot. II ne tient a personne. II a eu plus de 
 gout pour moi que jjour personne, parce qu'il savait que je 
 detestais I'emeute, que je n'hesitais guere quand il fallait 
 agir, et que je croyais a la necessite de la royaute d'Orleans. 
 Mais des que j'ai contrarie ses pencliants de prince illegitime 
 voulant se faire legitime par des platitudes, ilm'a quitte sans 
 "un regret. M. Guizot, au fond, ne lui inspire confiance que 
 sous un rapport : c'est une effronterie a mentir devant les 
 Chambres qui n'a pas ete egalee dans le Gouvernement Repre- 
 sentatif, effronterie appuyee d'un langage monotone ma is 
 tres-beaul Comme intelligence et devouement, le Roi pense 
 de M. Guizot ce qu"il faut en penser. Quand il croira les 
 Whigs solides et la question serieuse, il se decidera a un 
 changement de personnes, soyez-en certain. Mais il faufc 
 mettre bien en evidence les faits et la mauvaise foi de M. 
 Guizot. Quant au traite d'Utrecht, c'est le moins opportuti 
 de toutes les parties de la discussion. Outre que personne 
 en Europe ne juge le traite viole par un manage qui ne cree 
 qu uue simple even ualite, ceci donne au Cabinet Anglais un
 
 226 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 aspect de jalousie a I'egard de la France qui n'est pns 
 bon. Veillons bien a une chose, e'est a rapprocher les deux 
 peuplcs, autant que Ics deux Gouvernements. N'allons pas 
 leur creer des sujets de brouille qui au fond ne sont pas 
 serieux : im prince de plus ou de moins sur le trone d'Espagne 
 ne fcra rien quant aux influences. Le Due de Montpensier, 
 oule Prince de Cobourg, n'aurait pas, j'en suis sur, en dcvenant 
 propre mari de la Eeine, sensiblement change la politique 
 ingouvernable do I'Espagne. C'est une folieque de pretendre 
 diriger I'Espagne. Pour moi, je n'y voudrais pas voir la 
 contre-revolution, parce que ce seralt une tendance inevltable- 
 nient hostile, ct antipathique d'une maniere permanente ; 
 mais sauf ccla, je suis d'avis que tout nioyen employe pour 
 domincr Madrid, a la distance de Paris ou de Londres, est une 
 folic, ou une duperle. II ne fliut done pas voir dans ce mariage, 
 collateral, que d'allleurs on ne pent pas detaire, une cause de 
 brouille permanente ; autrcment tout devient inarrangeable. 
 La France et I'Angleterre aux prises, tout est perdu pour la 
 bonne cause en Europe. Pour moi, j'ai a cet egard une con- 
 viction inebranlable. 11 y a eu un mauvais proced6, il faut 
 s'cn plaindre en le prouvant bien, et ne pas pousser la querelle 
 au-dcla. Prouver la mauvaisc foi des uns, la bonne foi des 
 autrest voila ce qu'il faut. Je suis sur qu'il en resultcra la 
 chute de la detestable politique qui nous gouvcrne. 
 
 Les ministeriels disent ici que Lord Palmerston voulait 
 tcllement un Cobourg qu'on avait promis au Due de Elan- 
 sares, pour la Peine Christine, sept ou huit millions si I'afTaire 
 reussissait. lis disent aussi, pour rassurer la Chambre, que 
 Lord Palmerston est a bout de voie, et qu'il a envoye ici M. 
 Charles Greville pour negocier la paix. Tons ces bruits sor- 
 tent du salon de la Princesse de Lieven. M. Greville, du 
 reste, a Tattltudc la plus convenable, ct jure ses grands dieux 
 •qu'il n'a pas de mission. Vous voyez, mon cher ami, qu'on 
 ne se fait pas faute de mensonges. Pour moi, en voyant 
 •I'etat de I'ltalie, de la Suisse, de rAllcmagne, je souhaite 
 ardemment que la cordialite renaisse entre la France et
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 227 
 
 I'AngleteiTe, Si Ics deux Cabinets restent longtemps en pre- 
 sence I'un de rautrc, tels qu'ils sont, le Cabinet Anglais 
 prendra I'habitude de tvaiter les affiiires a Berlin, le Cabinet 
 Franpais prendra I'habitude de les traiter a Vienna, car il n'y 
 a pas deux eoeurs qui s'entendent mieux au monde que celui 
 •du Eoi Louis-Philippe ct du Prince de Mctternich (remarquez 
 cependant que le second est dans son role) ; et quand on aura 
 vecu longtemps dans des relations difFerentes, I'alliance sera 
 definitivement rompue. Pour moi, je ticns que ce sera pour 
 I'Angleterre, autant que pour la France, le plus grand des 
 malheurs. 
 
 Adieu, mon cher ami; ecrivez-moi de temps en temps. 
 
 Je vous tiendrai au courant de mon cote. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 
 In the next letter quoted, being the answer to the 
 first written by Panizzi, Thiers seems to have con- 
 ceived a more probable solution of the Queen's 
 mother's share in the Coburg counter-plot than his 
 correspondent. Her real motives and purposes must, 
 it is to be feared, be for ever relegated to the unre- 
 liable realms of conjecture. It is amusing to read 
 Thiers's account of how the evil influence of the in- 
 trigue extended so far as to threaten — happily only 
 threaten — a rupture in the Liberal party in France. 
 The true moderation of Thiers, and his sound common 
 sense again shine forth conspicuously in the following 
 letter : — 
 
 *' Paris, le 17 Janvier, 1847. 
 "Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 J ai prevenu vos desirs, et je vous ai ecrit ces 
 jours derniers une longue lettre sur tout ce qui interesse en 
 ce moment les esprits politiques et les bons citoycns des deux 
 pays. 
 
 Je connaissais deja les deux dernieres pieces que vous m'avcz 
 €nvoyees. Elles etablissent clairemcnt la verite et ruincnt 
 
 Q
 
 228 TUB LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FAXIZZI 
 
 I'echafaudage de nos gens de Cour. Voici ce qui m'apparaifc 
 de tout ceci. 
 
 La Eeinc Christine voulait un Prince de Cobourg et le 
 demandait ardemment. 
 
 La Cour des Tuileries voulait avant tout ecarter un Prince 
 de Cobourg (dans un interefc ministeriel et electoral, car on 
 craignait I'effet de ce mariage sur I'opinion publique, fort 
 prevenue a cet egard) et desirait, sans I'oser faire, le mariage 
 du Due de Montpensier avec I'Infante. 
 
 Le Cabinet Anglais ferait a la France I'abandon du Prince 
 de Cobourg, reconnaissant que ce clioix mettrait en fausse 
 position la France, I'Espagne et I'Anglcterre ; mais il tendrait 
 vers rinfant Don Henri, dans le desir de renverser les moderes 
 et d'amener les progressistes. 
 
 Voilii, selon moi, les voeux de cliacun. 
 
 II m'est demontre jusqu'a, revidence que Lord Palmcrston 
 n'a pas agi autrement que Lord Aberdeen, et que leur tlieme 
 a I'un et a I'autre a ete celui-ci : La Reine d'Espngne estlibre ; 
 elle fera bien, dans I'interet de scs relations avec la France, de 
 choisir I'un des deux Princes Espagnols, et, entre les deux, 
 i'lnfant Don Henri. 
 
 Lorsque la depeche de Lord Palmcrston, du 19 Juillet, a 
 ete communiquee a M. Gruizot, on I'a envoyee a Madrid, et on 
 a decide la Reine Christine en faveur de I'lnfant Don Franpois, 
 par la crainte d'avoir I'lnfant Don ^Henri et les Progressistes. 
 Je crois que c'est la Eeine Christine qui a propose le mariage 
 Montpensier, pour n'avoir pas I'lnfont Don Henri comme gendre 
 de sa seconde fille. Ici, pour s'excuser, on pretend que la 
 Reine Christine a voulu que les deux mariagcs fassent lies 
 ensemble, et qu'on a ete oblige de consentir au second pour 
 etre assure du premier. Mais personne ne sait au juste com- 
 ment les deux mariagcs ont ete ofTcrts et acceptes. Ce qui est 
 evident, c'est que la crainte de Don Henri a ete employee 
 pour decider la Reine Christine. On a ensuite pris son parti 
 a I'improviste, et tandis que le 28 Aout on promettait a Lord 
 JN'ormanby Taction commune a Madrid, on lui annonpait, le
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 229 
 
 l^^ Septembre, que tout etait fini. On s'etait mis dans une 
 position a ne sortir d'affaire que par des mensonges. 
 
 Volla ce qui est clair pour moi. Le theme des engage- 
 ments d'Eu, auxquels on a manque, parce que ces engage- 
 ments, tenus par Lord Aberdeen, ont ete violes par Lord 
 Palmerston, est un theme absurde, mais dans lequel on per- 
 sistera. 
 
 Jusqu'ici les pieces produites a Paris n'eclaircissentpas la 
 question. D'abord, peu de personnes les ont lues ; tres-peu, 
 parmi celles qui les ont lues, sont capables de les com- 
 prendre. On s'en fie a ce que disent les hommes les plus 
 competents. Or, les ministeriels ont en cela I'avantage, car 
 ils affirment, et les opposants, nayant pas connaissance de 
 toutes les pieces, sont reduits a contester les affirmations des 
 ministeriels, en disant que les pieces sont tronquees. Jus- 
 qu'ici done il ne fait pas jour encore. Le gros public ne lira 
 que les discours de M. Guizot, de Lord Palmerston, de M. de 
 Broglie, de Lord Aberdeen, de M. Thiers. Ce sont ces dis- 
 cours qui feront son opinion ; il faut meme reduire la ques- 
 tion au vrai; Les deux personnages en action, M. Guizot et 
 Lord Palmerston, decideront I'opinion, plus que personne, 
 par leurs discours. Celui qui mettra le mieux les faits au 
 clair aura le plus d'inlluence: peut-etre Lord Aberdeen, 
 comme arbitre entre les deux, sera-t-il aussi fort ecoute. 
 
 II se passe ici, dans I'opposition, un fait qui a peu d'im- 
 portance en lui-meme, mais qui fournit beaucoup de bavar- 
 dages. II y a dans tous les partis, mais surtout en France, 
 des seconds qui veulent etre les premiers. Je suis fort, moi, 
 avec Odilon Barrot ; a nous deux, nous decidons la conduite 
 de I'opposition. MM. Billaut et Dufaure, deux avocats fort 
 mediocres, le premier fort intrigant, le second morose et 
 insociable, fort mecontents de ne pas etre les chefs, ayant le 
 desir de se rendre prochainement possibles au ministere, ont 
 profite de I'occasion pour faire une scission. L'alliance avec 
 I'Angleterre n'est malheureusement pas populaire. J'ai 
 depuis quinze ans beaucoup de peine a la soutenir. J'ai 
 q2
 
 230 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 amene I'opposition a I'accepter, et revencment de Cracovie 
 m'a fort aide, tout dernierement, a fermer la bouche aux par- 
 tisans de I'alliance contre-revolutionnaire avec la Russie. 
 Mais c'est neanmoins une tache laborieuse que d'amener les 
 esprits a I'Angleterre. MM. Billaut et Dufaure ont imagine 
 de I'etendard d'une scission, en adoptant le theme suivant : 
 Eesistance a I'Angleterre, approbation des mariages Espagnols, 
 etc. . . . Notez que ces deux messieurs, vulgaires et 
 ignorants comme des avocats de province, n'ayant jamais 
 regarde une carte, sachant a peine oil coulent le Rhin ou 
 le Danube, seraient fort embarrasses de dire en quoi I'alli- 
 ance Anglaise est bonne ou mauvaise. Mais lis font de la 
 politique comme au barreau on fait de I'argumentation ; ils 
 prennent une these ou une autre, suivant le besoin de la 
 plaidoirie qu'on leur paye, et puis ils'partent de la, et parlent, 
 parlent. ... lis ont, de plus, trouve un avantage dans 
 la these actuellement adoptee par eux, c'est de faire leur cour 
 aux Tuileries : et de se rendre agreables a celui qui fait et 
 defait les ministres. Du reste, ils esperaient amener grand 
 monde a eux, mais ils ne sont pas 15 sur 180 membres de 
 I'opposition. Ils n'en seront pas moins un grave sujet d'em- 
 barras et donneront du coeur a nos ministres pour nous 
 accuser d'etre livres a I'Angleterre, quand nous plaiderons la 
 cause du bon sens et de la vraie politique. 
 
 Quant a moi, j'ai gout a braver les passions de cour et les 
 passions de rue; je me crois dans le vrai quand j 'en tends 
 crier contre moi les laquais de la royaute et les laquais de la 
 canaille, les uns disant que nous sommes les ennemis du Roi, 
 parce que nous blamons des mariages imprudents ; les autres 
 disant que nous sommes livres a I'Angleterre, parce que nous 
 soutenons que la brouille de la France et de I'Angleterre est 
 le triomphe du despotisme en Europe. Je suis convaincu, 
 plus que jamais, de la necessite de I'union des deux pays. Je 
 desire cette union sous tous les ministercs Tories ou Whigs, 
 mais ]e la crois plus fructueuse sous les Whigs. Mal- 
 hem-eusemcnt on nous rappellera 1840, et on nous dira que 
 
 I
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 2ol 
 
 nous avons mauvaise grace de defendre les auteurs du traite 
 du 15 Juillet. Tout cela fait une position compliquee, diffi- 
 cile, qui ne m'effraye pas, mais qui me degouterait de me 
 meler des affaires, si ma dignite personnelle ne m'obligeait 
 pas a rester a mon poste. 
 
 Le mini store aura la majorite : cela n'est pas douteux. II 
 ne pourra perir que par les evenements. Le ministere 
 anglais, s'il dure, aura la plus grande infliience sur le resultat. 
 Quand le Roi croira les choses stables en Anofleterre et la 
 question serieuse, 11 abandonnera M. Gruizot. Mais comme 
 il faudra sacrifier dans M. Gruizot son amour-propre et son 
 gouvernement personnel, il mettra plus de temps a ceder que 
 de coutume. Je crains seulement que dans I'intervalle les 
 deux pays n'aient eu le temps de se brouiller. 
 
 Les ministres se vantent beaucoup, en effet, que M. Greville 
 est venu leur porter des paroles de paix. J'ai vu M. Greville, 
 il a dine chez moi. II a nie toute mission diplomatique, il 
 m'a paru tenir un bon langage, que je trouve cependant 
 nuance de torysme. Voici le ton de ses discours : Lord 
 Palmerston a raison contre M. Guizot ; mais il faut oublier le 
 passe et s'entendrc. En somme, il parle comme parlent a 
 Paris les ministeriels raisonnables, qui disent : M. Guizot a 
 eu tort, mais il faut n'y plus penser. Je trouve cela naturel, 
 preferable assurement a une rupture de la France et de 
 I'Angleterre ; mais je voudrais voir tomber du meme coup la 
 politique qui livre I'ltalie, la Suisse, TAllemague a nos 
 ennemis, qui n'a d'enirailles que pour les interets de Cour, et 
 a qui tout sentiment eleve est etranger. Je ne suis pas, 
 quant a moi, tres-lie avec M. Greville. Je le trouve sense, 
 aimable, gracieux pour moi; mais je ne parle avec lui de la 
 Princesse de Lievcn que pour en dire des choses qui ne 
 tendent pas a me rapprocher de M. Guizot. Du reste, M. 
 Greville vit chez Lord Normanby. 
 
 Jc finis en vous disant qu'il faut demasquer les mensonges 
 de M. Guizot, mais ne pas tenir un langage qui sente la 
 jalousie contre la France. Avouer qu'on a voulu Don Henri,
 
 232 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 et les progressistes en Espagne, est tres-naturel, tr^s-slncere 
 et tres-bon. Je crols que c'est la verlte, et qu'un INIinistre 
 Anglais peut en convenir. Je vous ecris tout ceci pour vous 
 seul. Vous n'imaglncz pas tout ce que debitent ici les 
 ministeriels. lis pretendent que je suis en correspondance 
 avec Lord Palmerston, a qui je n'ai jamais ecrit de ma vie, et 
 qui ne m'a jamais ecrit non plus. 
 
 Adieu, mon cher ami ; au revoir apres la bataille. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 
 In the preceding and in the following letters, 
 allusion is made to an act of political iniquity, on 
 which subject, as it happened in a remote corner of 
 Europe, and at a considerable distance of time, it 
 may not be amiss to refresh the reader's memory. By 
 the Treaty of Vienna, it was stipulated that Cracow 
 should be for ever a free and independent town, under 
 the protection of the three powers — Russia, Prussia, 
 and Austria. In 184G an insurrection broke out in 
 the toAvn, and the insurgents set up a Provincial 
 Government. They were promptly defeated, and 
 Cracow again became subject to the three powers. 
 For a time things went on as before, but the ramifica- 
 tions of the Spanish plot had extended a little further 
 than the plotters either intended that they should or 
 imagined that they could. Taking advantage of the 
 shattering by Guizot and his master of the entente 
 Gordiale between England and France, the three 
 powers concerned with the protection of Cracow, 
 coolly proclaimed, without consulting their fellow 
 signatories to the Treaty, that, so far as regarded that 
 unfortunate town, the provisions of the Treaty were 
 annulled, and Cracow was forthwith annexed to 
 Austria as an integral part of the empire. Separate
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 233 
 
 protests against this act of spoliation, were, as a 
 matter of conrse, made by both France and England ; 
 but, equally as a matter of course under the circum- 
 stances, the protests were separate, and as such had 
 no influence on the action of the three confederates. 
 
 "Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 Je vous envole quatre exemplah-es du Moniteur, 
 car c'est par le Moniteur que je vous prie de faire connaitre 
 mon discours. II est indignement rendu dans les divers jour- 
 naux. II n'a ni sens, ni clarte, dans les comptes-rendus inex- 
 acts que les journaux en ont donnes. Envoyez done ces 
 quatre 3Ioniieurs, Fun a Lord Palmerston, les autres a qui 
 vous jugerez utile de les faire parvenir. 
 
 II y a un mot que j'ai dit, et dont on voudra m'excuser. Le 
 texte vrai repondra a tout. J'ai dit que les Whigs etaient 
 detestes de I'Europe. Cela est vrai ; c'est le motif qui doit 
 nous porter a nous unir les uns et les autres. J'ai dit cela 
 pour faire scntir a la France que les Whigs et nous etions des 
 freres en Jesus-Christ, c'est-a-dire en revolution. J'ai laisse 
 echappcr un mot que j'ai repris : c'est que Lord Palmerston 
 etait odieux a I'Europe, c'est-a-dire aux trois Cabinets signa- 
 taires de Facte de Cracovie. Vcillez a ce qu'on n'abuse pas 
 de ce mot. 
 
 Quant a moi, j'ai voulu, hier, rendrc un service a I'alliance 
 des deux pays, a Fhumanite, a la civilisation, que les Whigs, 
 unis aux Liberaux Franfais, peuvcnt seuls sauver. Je suis 
 epuise de fatigue. Je ferai mon devoir jusqu'au bout. Mille 
 ct mille amities. A. Thiers. 
 
 Repondez-moi que vous avez repu ce paquet. Pourriez-vous 
 faire que les journaux antrlais traduisisscnt mon discours sur 
 le Moniteur. Je vais faire imprimer mon discours a part ; je 
 vous en enverrai des exemplaircs." 
 
 In his next letter Thiers indulges in forebodings 
 which, though under the circumstances most reason-
 
 234 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIK ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 able, were fortunately unfuliilled. The trickery of 
 Giiizot revealed in his contrivance of the Sjyanish 
 Marriages^ might well give rise to coolness between 
 England and France, but was, happily, not likely to 
 be the foundation of any deep feeling of rancune^. 
 still less to be requited by a mauvais tour on the 
 part of the English Cabinet :— 
 
 *' Mon cher Panlzzi, 
 
 Je vous ecris quclques mots pour vous iaire con- 
 naitre la situation et le changement qu'elle vient de subir. Les 
 discours de votre tribune ont produit ici un efFet singulier. Le 
 sentiment de toutle monde c'est que tout est fini ; on va jusqu'ii 
 dire que vous n'aurez pas de discussion a votre tribune sur I'af- 
 faire des marlages. Je vous prie de me dire ce qui en est, et 
 de me le dire par le retour du courrier. Nous passerions pour 
 des boute-feux, et, ce qui est pire, nous le serious, si la qucrelle 
 s'apaisant nous venions la ranimer. Quant a moi, je re- 
 prochais surtout a, nos ministres d'avoir roinpu Falliance avcc 
 les Whigs, pour la miserable affaire des manages. Si cette 
 sotte affaire ne nous a pas brouilles, ce dontje m'applaudis 
 fort, notre grief est sans valeur, et il serait ridicule d'attaquer 
 M. Gruizot pour une telle chose. Nous aurions une sotte tour- 
 nure si nous venions faire grave une affaire qui ne Test pas. 
 Je crains seulement une chose, c'est que la rancune reste au 
 fond, tandis que les termes se seront adoucls. M. Guizot 
 triomphera de la douceur du langage, qui I'autorise a dire 
 qu'il a su resister sans rompre avec I'Angleterre, et nous 
 payerons dans quelque temps, par un mauvais tour de votre 
 Cabinet, le pretendu triomphe des marlages ! Cecl paralt fort 
 probable. Quoi qu'il en soit, nous ne pouvons, nous, rallumer 
 un feu qui s'eteint. Pour mol, qui trouvals la situation 
 difficile, vu la tournure des clioses, je serai charme d'etre dis- 
 pense de me meler a cette discussion. Ecrlvez-mol, un mot qui 
 puisse m'arriver mercredi oujcudi, avant I'ouverture de notre
 
 aPANISII MARRIAGES 235 
 
 discussion Dites-moi surtout si, en effet, il n'y aura pas de 
 debut dans votre Parlement sur les affaires espagnoles. 
 
 Tout a vous. 
 
 Dimanche (1847.) A. Thiers." 
 
 The concluding letter of Thiers on the great quest- 
 ion shows that, however open he may have been to 
 our charge (which may be unfounded) of a natural 
 abhorrence of the English, yet that such dislike was 
 by no means inconsistent with a full appreciation and 
 staunch recognition of the advantages to be derived 
 from their political co-operation. He appears, in this 
 letter, to attribute just a little too much importance 
 to Mr. Greville's so-called mission. This was scarcely 
 a matter of sufficient consequence to excite the suspi- 
 cion of so experienced a statesman. 
 
 " Paris, ce Dimanche, 7 Fevrier, 184:7. 
 " Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 VoUa notre discussion sur les mariages espagnols terminee. 
 On a beaucoup attaque I'Alliance Anglaise, mais je I'ai plus 
 vivement defendue ; j'ai cherche surtout a la populariser en 
 lui donnant son veritable motif, la defense de la liberte du 
 peuple, et de Findependance des Etats Europeens. Je crois 
 pouvoir dire que dans la Chambre des Deputes I'immense 
 majorite comprend ct souhaite rAlliance Anglaise, et deplore 
 la conduite de M. Guizot. Son imprudent discours d'avant- 
 hier a confondu tout le monde ; son attaque si rude centre 
 Lord Palmerston (^imprudemment, coiipahlement), son dementi 
 de mauvais gout a Lord Normanby, ont generalement surpris, 
 De toutes parts on se demandait ce qu'il voulait, et par quels 
 motifs il etait dirige. Alors on est revenu sur I'origine meme 
 du debat, et sur la faute qu'il avait commise, lorsque je lui 
 offrais de ne pas discuter, de vouloir lui-meme une discus- 
 sion. Craignant en eflet de jouer le role de boute-feu, 
 qui n'est et ne fut jamais le mien, j'avais precise entre
 
 ■236 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 lui et inoi la situation. — Convenons, avais-je dit, que 
 nous nous tairons, pour ne pas provoquer entre la France 
 et I'Angleterre plus d'irritation qu'il n'y en a, et qu'il soit 
 clair que ni I'un ni I'autre ne recule. — Pas du tout: M. 
 Guizot n'a rien voulu admettre, et s'est obstine a repondre 
 qu'il n'invoquait pas mon silence, et qu'il etait pret a discuter. 
 Mors j'ai ete force d'ouvrir la lutte pour ne pas paraitre 
 reculer. Aujourd'hui que tout le monde comprend la gravite 
 de ce qu" il a dit, on lui reproche son imprudente morgue, et 
 I'aveuglement avec lequel il s'est jete dans le debat. On est 
 fort impatient de savoir comment tout cela va tourner chez 
 vous. Beaucoup de gens croyaient et disaient que M. Guizot 
 avait I'esperance de la retraite de Lord Palmerston, et d'une 
 desunion dansle Cabinet Whig ; d'autres affirment (et je suis 
 sur que ceux-ci ont raison) qu'il a voulu venger le Koi des 
 attaques dont il est I'objet en Angleterre, afin de se I'attaclier. 
 Voici en effet ce qui est certain. Le Eoi est devenu fort 
 douteux pour M. Guizot. M. Guizot lui-meme, malgre sa 
 morgue, commence a douter de la solidite de I'appui royal. 
 Je suis certain de ce que je vous dis ici. Des confidences 
 tres-Eurement informees ne m'ont laisse aucun doute a cet 
 egard. Avant-hier j'ai pu me convaincre d'un cliangement 
 notable par mes propres yeux. J'etais invite au spectacle de 
 la Cour avec 7 ou 800 personnes, par consequent sans faveur 
 aucune ; mais j'ai repu un accueil qu'on ne m'avait pas fait 
 depuis bien des annees, et c'est toujours ainsi quand on 
 commence a s'ebranler. Quoi qu'il en soit, il n'y a pas un 
 hommo sage qui ne trouve insense le langage de M. Guizot. 
 
 Je voulais, dans ma derniere, vous dire un mot de M. 
 Greville. Je no sais ce qu'il est venu faire ici, mais il a fini 
 par m'etre tres-suspect. Je I'ai un pen raille le jour de son 
 depart, et il en etait pique. II a passe sa vie chez Mme. de 
 Lieven, chez M. Guizot, et tenait ici le langage d'un pur 
 Guizotin. M. Guizot etait, suivant lui, un personnage 
 inviolable, et il fallait n'en rien dire. Je lui ai dit : " Mon 
 cher Monsieur Greville, vous etes une eponge tombee dans
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 237 
 
 le liqulde Lieven, et quand on vous presse, il n'en sort que ce 
 liquide. Prenez gai'de ! ce n'est que du liqulde de vieille 
 femme." — Je crois franchement que M. Grreville n'est pas 
 bien sur, et qu'il avait quelque commission particuliere, je ne 
 sais pour qui, mais qui n'irait pas dans le sens des vieux 
 revolutionnalres comme vous et moi. 
 
 Je fais toujours des voeux pour que la coterie Europeenne 
 dont M. Guizot est I'instrument, et qui a pour but de corn- 
 primer Suisses, Allemands, Italiens, soit battue partout, a 
 Paris et a Londres. Mille et mille amities. A. T. 
 
 J'espere que vous ne mettrez plus M. Greville au nombre 
 de mes agents diplomatiques. 
 
 Avez-vous repu un paquet affranchi de Bloniteurs? Re- 
 pondez-moi bien vite et dites-moi ce qui en est d'nn bruit re- 
 panduici par le Ministere et les Holland, que le Cabinet Whig 
 est divise. Tout a vous. 
 
 Nos petits scissionnaires qui avaient fait un systeme pour la 
 circonstance, dirige centre lAngieterre, ont ete battus a plate- 
 couture ; ils sont converts de ridicule. 
 
 Ecrivez-moi pour me dire quel jour vous aurez repu cette 
 lettre." 
 
 The affair of the Sjjanish Marriages, so far as re- 
 lates to the incidents of the plot itself, and the 
 manner in which it was worked out, has subsided into 
 a matter of no interest, and, save in the material 
 pages of history, has lapsed into oblivion. People 
 have even ceased to discuss the curious question 
 \vhether or no the marriage of the Duke de Montpen- 
 sicr was a violation of the treaty of Utrecht. One 
 meagre pleasure, however, remains, to read oi the 
 various minor difficulties which, in addition to the 
 vis inertice of the British Government and the 
 Coburg countermine, M. Guizot, in the course of his 
 machinations, was called upon to encounter.
 
 238 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Some of these he attributes to the peculiar tem- 
 perament of the people with whose domestic affairs 
 he was meddling : — 
 
 *' C'est le caractere," says he, " des peuplcs du midi, surtout 
 des Espagnol?, que le long regime du pouvoir absolu et 
 I'absence de la liberie politique n'ont point eteint en eux 
 I'ardeur des passions, le gout des emotions et des aventures, et 
 qu'ils deploient avec une audacieuse imprevoyance, dans les 
 interets, les Incidents et les intrigues de leur vie personnelle, 
 la fecondite d'esprit et I'energle dont ils n'ont pas appris a 
 trouver dans la vie publiquc I'emploi reflechi et la satisfaction 
 mesuree." 
 
 And again, writing to Bresson : — 
 
 " Je ne connais pas I'Espagne, et je suis fort porte a croire 
 qu'elle ne resemble a aucun autre pays." 
 
 Mons. Guizot was free from some of the more pro- 
 minent characteristics of his countrymen, and was by 
 nature formed for a cool and keen observer and dis- 
 criminator. Had he used his observation to the 
 fullest extent, he might have ascribed the peculiari- 
 ties of Spanish temper to some other, and more 
 original cause, than that to which he assigns them ; 
 and, had he combined comparison with that observa- 
 tion, might possibly have been led to the unpleasant 
 conclusion ; — Simia quam similis tur_pissiina bestia 
 nobis. 
 
 There is within these realms a people, in blood 
 closely akin to Frenchmen and Spaniards, to whom 
 certain noble qualities, attributed by M. Bresson to 
 the latter, might not unjustly be' ascribed : — " La 
 jalousie, I'ambition, et la vengeance, m'ecrivait-il (lell 
 Mars, 1844) sont les principaux mobiles des hommes 
 qui figurent ici sur la scene politique. Je ne fais 
 
 II
 
 SPANISH MARRIAGES 239 
 
 exception pour aucun parti ; hair, ae satisfaire et se 
 Yenger, ils ne voient rien au dela." 
 
 In fact, the great Celtic race, in its several divi- 
 sions, is the same throughout the Avorld — alike unpo- 
 litical and ungovernable. Reform succeeds reform ; 
 revolution, revolution ; all is labour in vain, spent 
 •only on forming material for fresh change. Not that 
 we should blame the race for declining to accept even 
 good government from any alien authority had it 
 either the wisdom or the power to construct for itself 
 a stable administration, or the foresight to submit to 
 the necessary control of the authority so created. 
 
 The Sj)anish Marriages affair, though of itself 
 the meanest and most miserable of plots, nevertheless 
 left results behind, the ultimate effect of which has, 
 perhaps, not even yet been felt. Nemesis, however, 
 was not long in overtaking the perpetrators of this 
 striking example of chicanery. The accomplishment 
 of the intrigue — the first overt act, the first great 
 achievement of the reactionary policy adopted by the 
 King of the French and his Minister, both at home 
 and abroad, and notably in the affairs of Italy, as well 
 ••as of Spain, was, it is no exaggeration to say, one of 
 the main causes of the downfall of the former, as it 
 was the direct cause of his falling despised and unre- 
 .gretted of all. 
 
 Mons. Guizot records in his " Memoires " (Vol, VIII., 
 p. 571) a proceeding on the part of certain members 
 •of the Liberal party which caused him much sur- 
 prise, but of which he acce^its an explanation that 
 mii^ht probably not have been equally satisfactory to 
 -everybody.
 
 240 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 " Le lendemain, 22 Fevrier (1848), non pas I'opposition 
 toute entierc, mais cinquante-deux de ses membres firent con- 
 naitre quels etaient les nouveaux et graves devoirs qu'ils se 
 proposaient de remplir; ils deposerent, sur le Bureau de la 
 Chambre des Deputes, une proposition pour la mise en accu- 
 sation du Ministere, a raison de sa politique, exterieure et 
 intericure, dans tout le cours de son administration." 
 
 It is beyond our present range to travel so far 
 into subsequent history, but mention must not be- 
 altogether omitted of the intimate connection be- 
 tween the S]}anish Marriages and an event of far 
 greater importance than the Revolution of 1848, the 
 war between France and Germany in 1870-1, origi- 
 nating in the vacancy on the Spanish throne. 
 
 Touching the Revolution of 1848, there is but one 
 letter of Thiers to Panizzi, and this bears more on 
 the immediate incidents of the abdication, and on the 
 culpable weakness of the King himself, than on the 
 causes that led to his dethronement . — 
 
 " Paris, 20 Mars, 1848. 
 
 " Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 Je vous remercie de votre aimable souvenir. J'ai 
 traverse, depuis que nous n'avons plus eu de communications, 
 d'affreuses vicissitudes. J'ai vu tomber la monarchie de 1830 
 par le sot entetement de Louis-Philippe, et la folic imprevoy- 
 ance de ses ministres. Apres avoir refuse au parti liberal 
 toute satisfaction raisonnable, apres s'etre reduit a la triste 
 necessite de verser le sang pour defendre un odieux systeme, 
 on avait dans Paris 16,000 hommes de troupes, disperses de 
 Vincennes a Chaillot, dont 4,000 seulement aux Tuileries 
 (point decisif). 
 
 Ceux-ci avaient dix cartouches par homme, et point de 
 vivres. Ce que je vous dis je I'ai vu de mes yeux. Le Eoi 
 m'a appele quand il n'etait plus temps de le sauver, c'est-a-
 
 SPANISH MAERIAGES. 241 
 
 dire au milieu de la nult qui a precede sa chute. Je ne lui 
 ai .pas dissimule Textremite du peril, qui ne laissait presque 
 aucune esperance. 8i dans ce moment il avait fait les conces- 
 sions necessaires, peut-etre aurions-nous pu arreter I'insurrec- 
 tion ; mais il ne m'a accorde la dissolution de la Chambre des 
 Deputes qu'a dix heures du matia (il m'avait appele a trois 
 heures de la nuit) et il a ete oblige d'abdiquer a onze lieures. 
 II a toujours fait toutes les clioses trop tard, et quand elles ne 
 valaient plus rien. On dit que M. Gruizot fait Ic fier a 
 Londres. II a bien tort, car il a joint a un systeme absurde- 
 ment provocateur une imprevoyance fabuleuse dans les mojens 
 de defense. 
 
 Je suis reste par honneur aupres du Roi jusqu'a la derniere 
 minute. Je me suis retire apres, et j'ai failli etre egorge par 
 la populace, qui trois heures auparavant criait: vive Thiers I a 
 tue-tete. Je suis depuis demeure en repos, et j'y demeurerai 
 tant que je pourrai. 
 
 On me porte dans mon departement ; j'ai deja refuse de 
 I'etre dans plusleurs autres departements. Je crois que je serai 
 elu, sans en etre certain, car ce nouveau suffrage universel 
 recele un inconnu impenetrable. 
 
 Je me laisse porter par devoir, car je m'attends aux plus 
 affreuses scenes dans la future Assemblee. 
 ^ Paris est materiellement tranquille, vous et Ellice pouvez 
 venir sans danger. Les etrangers ne courent aucun peril. 
 
 Nous essayerons de fonder une republique raisonnable (si 
 mes amis et moi sommes elus), car nous sommes d'avis que la 
 monarchic est impossible aujourd'hui, et nous croirona avoir 
 beaucoup fiiit si nous pouvons donner au pays une Eepublique 
 bien constituee. 
 
 Le principal danger est dans les fausses idecs inculquees 
 dans la tetc des ouvriers. C'estla ce qui est le plus a craindre. 
 Si on parvient a leur faire entendre la raison, la France pourra 
 §tre sauvee. 
 
 Tout a vous, 
 
 A. Thiers."
 
 "242 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Another letter from Thiers, though not written to 
 Panizzi, having some connection with this subject, 
 demands attention, inasmuch as it notices the state of 
 France a year after the Revohition, the unpatriotic 
 and disgraceful conduct of the Beds, and the 
 struggles and endurance of the Constitutional party, 
 ere peace and order could be re-established in the 
 country. 
 
 Amusing reference is herein made to his friend : —   
 
 « Paris, 29 Juin, 1849. 
 
 " Mon clier Ami, 
 
 Voila plus de huit on dix jours que je cherche un 
 moment pour vous ecrire sans parvenir a le trouver. Nous 
 avons eu de telles affaires depuis nos dernieres communica- 
 tions, que le temps m'a toujours manque. Vous n'avez pas 
 idee des scenes qui ont precede le 13 Juin. La violence des 
 montagnards depassalt tout ce qu'on pent imaglner. Je les 
 ai pris corps a corps dans la personne de Ledru-Rollin, et 
 c'est entre deux hulssiers gardant la tribune que j'ai pu 
 parler. Pousses au pled du mur dans I'Assemblee, lis ont Ic 
 lendemain tente leur folle insurrection, et lis se sont heu- 
 reusement perdus. Aujourd'hui nous sommes certains (pour 
 assez longtemps) de la tranqullllte materielle. Le desordre 
 ne peut pas I'emporter sur la force. C'est une grande con- 
 quete ; mais 11 faut assurer par les lois notre avenir. C'est 
 la une besogne des plus difficiles et des plus epineuses. 
 Notre Constitution est absurde, nos lois electorales desas- 
 treuses; heureusement nous avons une bonne et sage majo- 
 rite, qui est disposee a se tres-bien conduire. II y a done 
 des moyens de salut a travers beaucoup de chances de pertes. 
 En definitive, nous avons beaucoup gagne, et je crois que 
 d'icl a quelque temps nous n'agiterons plus I'Europe. C'est 
 quelque chose de pouvoir dire d'un malade qui vous est chcr, 
 qu'il y a chez lui un mieux sensible. 
 Par Ions de nos projets. 
 
 I
 
 SPANISH MARKIAGES 243 
 
 IMalgre ce scelerat, ce montagnard, ce jesulte, ce rouge de 
 Panizzi, nons voulons partir en Juillet et etre a Londres du 15 
 au 20. Nous y passerons deux ou trois jours, apres quoi nous 
 partirons pour I'Ecosse. Notre motif e'est de ne pas avoir la 
 pluie, qui est odieuse partout, mais surtout dans le Nord. 
 Nous voulons voyager tres-simplcment, pour ne pas epuiser 
 notre bourse modeste; mais cependant, ces dames ne peuvent 
 sc passer de deux femmes de chambre, et moi d'un valet de 
 chambre : ce qui fait trois domestiques. Quant aux toilettes, 
 Ic deuil nous dispense d'en porter beaucoup, sans quoi Mme. 
 Thiers me donnerait des soucis a cet egard. 
 
 Mais il fiuit, que ce projet vous convienne et reponde a vos 
 combinaisons personnelles. Si vous n'etiez pas dispose a alle, 
 dans votre domaine d'Ecosse a cette epoque, du 20 juillet au 
 10 aout, il ne fiuidrait pas vous deranger et nous le dire fran- 
 chement. Agissez avec nous en toute liberte. II faut qu'il 
 soit bien entendu que si vous ne pouvez pas allcr dans votre 
 cottage ecossais, vous nous le disiez a I'avance, et que vous ne 
 changiez pour nous aucun de vos projets. 
 
 Tout a vous de coeur. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 
 The remaining letters of Thiers to Panizzi, quoted 
 below, are of less importance, and briefer than those 
 which enter into their correspondence on the great 
 Spanish question ; they chiefly consist of miscellaneous 
 matter, although politics have still a fair share of 
 space. We propose to place before the reader merely 
 tliose which touch upon personal and domestic 
 
 relations : — 
 
 «' Paris, Mai 1847. 
 "Mon cber Panizzi, dites-mol si vous pourriez vous charger 
 de la commission suivante. 
 
 On va vendre a Londres, en vente publique, ime collection 
 d'une vingtaine de tableaux, fort beaux, ct rocueillis en Italic 
 par un Anglais tres bon connaisseur 
 K
 
 244 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOIsT PANIZZI 
 
 Devore de la fatale passion des tableaux, j'en voudrais 
 aclieter deux ou trois. 
 
 AUez-vous quelquefois dans les ventes pul3liques, ainsi que 
 nous le faisons a Paris ? 
 
 Voudrlez-vous aclieter ces deux ou trois tableaux, pour 
 mon compte ? 
 
 Je vous dirais les prix, qui peuvent monter a deux ou trois 
 mille francs en tout, et que vous tirerez sur moi par les 
 Rothscliild. C'est dans les premiers jours dc Juin que la 
 vente a lieu. Dans le cas oil vous me dirlez oui, je vous 
 enverrais les indications, c'est-a-dire le catalogue anglais, avec 
 le numero des tableaux que je desire. 
 
 Nous venons de renvoyer trois ministres, pour apaiser la 
 Chambre qui n'est pas apaisee. Je crois, sauf la decision 
 souveraine des evenements, que le ministere Guizot tire a sa 
 fin. Mille amities. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 "17 Juin. 
 
 " Mille pardons, mon cber Panizzi, de toutes vos peines. 
 
 J'attends mes trois tableaux avec impatience. Les Eothschild 
 
 sont ce que vous dites. Mes trois mille francs, avec I'appoint, 
 
 sont prets pour payer votre traite. Adieu, et mille tendresses. 
 
 Je vous aime vous savez combien. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 
 "Paris, ce 25 Juin, 1847. 
 *' Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 J'ai repu mes trois tableaux en bon etat, sauf le cadre 
 
 du Murillo, legerement endommage. Les trois sont bien 
 
 ceux que j 'avals designes. Je soutiens qu'ils sont ravissants, 
 
 car j'ai la pretention de m'y connaitre, et de plus, tres-jieu 
 
 cbers. Le Peternof est le plus parfait de ce maitre. J'attends 
 
 toujours votre traite pour la solder. Je ne I'ai pas encore 
 
 repue. M. L * * * est un malhonnete. Les rois de I'argent 
 
 sont ainsi faits. Je voudrais bien vous aller voir cet ete, voir 
 
 Ellice et tutti qiianti, mais je n'ai pas un moment a moi. II 
 
 faut que j'aille voir mes electeurs, que je n'ai pas visites
 
 COMMENTS ON ENGLISH POLICY 245 
 
 depiiis des annecs, que jo traite trop cavalierement, et qui 
 commencent a me bonder. II faut, en outre, que j'aille 
 accomjDagner jMme. Thiers aux Pyrenees. Tout cela ne me 
 laissera pas le temps de respirer. Ce n'est pas tout : j'ai deux 
 volumes d'histoire a terminer ! Voila tous mes esclavages I 
 Plaignez-moi, et prencz en pitie la destinee humaine. Je 
 souris quand on parle liberte. Nous sommes esclaves de mille 
 lois, sans compter les lois physiques qui nous font graviter vers 
 le centre de la terre comme des pierres, qui nous empechent 
 de voler comme des oiseaux, nager comme des poissons, en 
 nous reduisant, pour aller un j)eu plus vite, a etendre des 
 lames de fer sur la terre, Je suis morose, comme le latin 
 Lucrece, en songoant a cette vie. Si quelque chose pouvait 
 me rejouir, ce serait I'abaissement croissant de ces ministres de 
 la contre-revolution. lis sont comme un vaisseau qui a uno 
 voie d'eau, et qu'on voit s'enfoncer de minute en minute. 
 Adieu, je vous aime. A. Thiers." 
 
 The first of these letters, relating to a political 
 question of the day, was written by Thiers on the 
 fall, for the second time, of Lord Melbourne's ad- 
 ministration, and the consequent accession of Peel to 
 power. 
 
 It is amusing to recall how, on the previous over- 
 throw of the Government of Lord Melbourne, a certain 
 periodical, of Tory and Conservative proclivities, and 
 of undoubted ability and influence, confidently pre- 
 dicted the eternal exclusion from power, thenceforth, 
 of the defeated Minister, and the impossibility of his 
 return. The fact that the succeeding Government of 
 Peel lasted but a few short months, by the end of 
 which time Melbourne was reinstated, was a proof of 
 the prophetical skill possessed by the writer in the 
 magazine. On the second occasion, however. Peel ob- 
 tained a somewhat firmer and more durable scat. 
 k2
 
 24G THE LIFE OF SIR AXTHOIs^' PANIZZI 
 
 The just appreciation shown in this letter, not only 
 of the political bearing of events at the time, and of 
 the character of Peel himself, but generally of the 
 ordinary moderation in the tone of English politics, 
 is not invariably conspicuous in the comments usually 
 made on England by foreign critics. 
 
 The supposition or assertion of Monsieur Guizot's 
 despair at the end of the letter was probably a parting 
 shot at a political rival. 
 
 "Paris, 16 Decembre, (1845.) 
 " Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 Yoila bien longteraps que je veux vous ecrire, 
 sans en trouver le temps. D'abord, je vous prie de remercier 
 M. C. de ses oiseaux que j'ai manges avec ma famille 
 et mes amis, et qui etaient excellents. Je ne veux 
 pas dire que j'ai mange ma famille et mes amis, mais les 
 oiseaux. Enfin vous voila prets a manger les Tories, 
 je fais des voeux pour qu'il en soit ainsi. II ne faut 
 pas renoncer a rallianee, meme avec les Tories, mais elle me 
 semble bien plus solide avec les Whigs, grace a I'uniformite du 
 principe. Cependant j'ai peur que mes amis manquent de 
 resolution. 8'ils laissent passer cette occasion de prendre le 
 pouvoir, je ne sais pas quand ils pourront le reprendre. C'est 
 une bonne fortune sans pareille pour battre le parti anti-refor. 
 miste. S'ils laissent M. Peel reprendre son role de conserva- 
 teur demi-reformiste, il le continuera a son profit et gloire, et 
 il faut reconnaitre qu'il conviendra fort a I'esprit moyen de 
 notre temps, justement defini juste-milieu par Louis- Philippe. 
 Dussent vos amis echouer au Parlement, a leur place je tente- 
 rais, sauf a porter la question devant les electeurs. L'Angle- 
 terre est un pays trop legal, pour qu'il y ait du danger a. 
 convoquer le pcuplc electoral sur quelque question que ce soit. 
 Au surplus, je fais des voeux bien plus que je ne donne de con- 
 seils, car on pent diflicilement avoir un avis sur un pays qu
 
 PHILIPPE-GUIZOT 247 
 
 n'est pas le votre. On nous dit que Lord Clarendon doit etre 
 ambassadeur Ici ; nous en serions tous encliantes. Ce serait le 
 meilleur moyen de faire fleurir ralliance. On a parle aussl 
 de Lord et Lady C * * * * . Celle-ci est une personne des plus 
 mal choisies pour Paris. Elle est remuante, bel esprit, brouillee 
 avec les trois quarts de la societe de Paris pour ses imperti- 
 nences, et amie de la Princesse de Lieven uniquement. Je vous 
 prie de me garder le secret, en ne disant cela que la ou cela 
 peut etre utile. Je ne veux pas me brouiller avec cette redou- 
 table lady. A defaut de Clarendon, Lord Beauvale serait on 
 ne peut mieux venu. Mais en etes-vous a faire des ambassa- 
 deurs ? je n'en sais rien. M. Guizot est au desespoir de la 
 chute des Tories. Mille tendresses. 
 
 A. T." 
 
 The next letter, from which the date of the year 
 is absent, may be assumed, from the mention in it 
 of the grande entrej)rise of Peel, to refer to the 
 repeal of the Corn Laws, and in that case must have 
 been written in the year 1846. 
 
 This assumption appears to be fully borne out by 
 the further mention oi PhiUjyi^e-Guizot. 
 
 " 26 INIars. 
 *' Mon clior Panizzi, 
 
 Je sais que vous avez approuve mon dernier discours 
 Ad Philippum. Celui-ci a ete fort mecontent, ce dont je me 
 soucie peu, car je ne veux ni le flatter ni le blesser. Je vais 
 a mon but qui est la verite, et ne regarde ni a droite ni a 
 gauche. Nous attendons ici la fin de votre grande entreprise, 
 ;ivec une extreme curiosite. On dit que jNI. Peel se retirera 
 apres. Soit, si vos amis doivent arriver. On vous craint et 
 on vous deteste ici {vous veut dire Whigs), et on fait des 
 vceux ardents pour le maintien de M. Peel, et comme on 
 <jroit ce qu'on desire, on annonce volontiers le maintien de 
 M. Peel. On veut dire PhiUppc-Guizot.
 
 248 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Dites-moi ce qu'il en faut croire. On so flatte volontlers 
 que les Whigs arrivant, Lord Palmerston n'en sera pas. 
 
 Je vous adresse 50 exemplaires de mon discours que je 
 vous prie de distribuer, 25 en habit habille, 25 en habit 
 neglige. Vous les distribuerez a votre gre. Je vous prie de 
 les faire arrlver notamment a MM. Russell, Palmerston, Ellice, 
 Clarendon, Macaulay, Lansdowne, Lord Ashburton, Peel, 
 Aberdeen, Lady Harriette, etc. Vous suppleerez a ma 
 memoire. 
 
 La belle Contessa Taverna est partie, nous laissant dans la 
 
 tristesse du coeur. 
 
 Adieu, et mille tcndresses. 
 
 A. Thiers." 
 
 *' Je clicrche une voie pour vous faire arrlver mes 50 ex- 
 emplaires. Si je ne la trouve pas, vous feriez bien de me 
 I'indiquer courrier par courrier." 
 
 In another epistle Thiers makes amusing allusion to 
 Panizzi's patriotism, and suggests means of liberating 
 his country from tyranny and oppression which were 
 more desirable than practicable, and which, to say the 
 least, were not likely to come to pass just at that time, 
 even with the patriot's most earnest aspirations. 
 
 Happily the Italians have succeeded in achieving 
 their own liberty, not only without the aid of foreign 
 support, but in the teeth of very formidable and 
 determined foreign opposition : — 
 
 "9 Novembre, 1847. 
 ^ <*Mon cher Panizzi, 
 
 Je n'ai rien a ajouter a la lettre ci-jointe; je dis \k 
 tout ce que je dirais ici, ear je n'ai qu'une maniere de penser 
 et de sentir. Je vous ajoute ces quelques mots pour vous 
 dire que vous ferez de ma lettre tout ce que vous voudrez: 
 si vous la trouvez de tout point convenable, et bonne a etre 
 envoyee a Lord Clarendon, vous pouvez la lui envoyer; il 
 fi'en servira comme il jugera a propos. J'ai bien le projet de
 
 ENGLISH POLITICS 249 
 
 vous aller revoir, et le plus tot possible. Adieu; embrassez 
 Ellice sur le front, comme s'il etait jeune, joli et pur autant 
 que ses charmantes nieces. Adieu; n'excluez pas Cromwell 
 du Parleinent, et faites deereter une expedition Britannique 
 centre les petits tyi-ans Italiens. La belle Comtesse Taverna 
 est malade, et seule a Paris; venez nous aider a la consoler. 
 
 A. T." 
 
 Lastly, we add a letter to Hatherfurd, written 
 by Panizzi while staying at Lord Clarendon's. This 
 letter seems to treat almost entirely of English poli- 
 tics, and furnishes an excellent specimen of the acute- 
 ness of the writer's judgment on this subject, and, as 
 it contains references to Thiers, this has been thought. 
 a not unfit place for its introduction. It is without 
 date, but the contents show it to have been written 
 early in January, 184G; and certain passages in it. 
 may possibly, after such a lapse of time, require a few 
 words of explanation. In the previous year, it will be' 
 remembered, the Government of Sir Robert Peel had' 
 become involved in extreme difficulty, and an attempt 
 had been made by Lord John Russell to form a 
 ministry capable of settling the vexed question of the 
 Corn Laws. This attempt proved signally unsuccess- 
 ful, owing to an unhappy difference, which it is not 
 too much to designate as a quarrel, that had sprung 
 up between Lord Palmerston and Lord Grey. On the 
 conduct of the latter in the affair, Lord Macaulay had 
 written to a correspondent in Edinburgh a letter con- 
 taining severe animadAcrsions, which he wished to be 
 strictly private. 
 
 Unfortunately, his correspondent, unaware, pro- 
 bably, of the writer's wishes, and taking upon himself 
 to think that so decided an expression of opinion on
 
 250 illE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 the part of so important a person was the legitimate 
 property of the political world at large, sent the letter 
 for publication to a leading Edinburgh newspaper, 
 wherein it forthwith appeared, much to the disgust 
 of Macaulay, and the displeasure of all right-thinking 
 men. Panizzi's remarks on this gentleman's course 
 of action are such as to be fully permissible under 
 
 the circumstances : — 
 
 " The Grove," 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 " My Dear Rutlierfurd, 
 
 I rejoice at the prospect of your being here early this 
 year, Avhen we shall, I trust, spend many hours together, the 
 more so if I become a member of Brooke's, ^ where the " Bear " ^ 
 took me to dinner one day, against all rules and principles, 
 and then said I ought to become a member, and put down my 
 name, and the good lord of this house ^ gladly seconded it, and 
 I suppose no one will object to me as far as I can guess. 
 ^ As to the important part of your letter, respecting public 
 affairs and the late hubbub, I, first of all, agree with you 
 that, although things have not gone quite rigid, they are not so 
 bad as some thought (they don't think so now, and will think 
 better of them every day, after the first week of the session). 
 
 It seems to me evident, whatever majf be said by those whose 
 ambition or greediness warps the judgment, that the Whigs 
 ought not to have taken office if tlicy could help it. It is 
 better that the world should see that it is they, out of office 
 and on principle, who help a government to carry their (I 
 mean the opposition's) measures, than that they, the Whigs, 
 should be at the mercy of their opponents for going on at all. 
 
 Peel would have brought them about 25 members, and 
 
 (1) Proposed on the ]7th December, 1815 ; elected 17th February, 181G ; 
 
 resigned his membership 18th December, 1873. 
 
 (2) The sobriquet of the Eight Honourable E: Ellice* 
 
 (3) Lord Clarendon.
 
 THE CORX LAW AGITATIOX 251 
 
 with those, and great exertions and excitement, the Corn 
 Laws might have been repealed ; but then would they not 
 have been in their enemies' hands on all other questions, and 
 on the most trifling measure unpalatable to the Tories ? 
 Would not Peel then have left them ? And do you think 
 that he would not have made his peace with the Tories, and 
 be brought back by them and by those who would attribute, 
 though Tories, the carrying of the good measure repealing the 
 Corn Laws, to his support out of office, of his opponents ? 
 For you must not forget there are many friends of Peel who 
 are against the Corn Laws ; whereas there is not one Corn 
 Law friend who is a friend of the Whigs, and who would, 
 soon at all events, forgive them for repealing that Corn Law. 
 The Whigs who join the Tories on this question would, un- 
 questionably, have joined them in opposing Lord John's 
 Government, now and for some time to come ; then, had 
 you Whigs failed even in carrying the repeal of the Cora 
 Laws, and being obliged to resign reinfecta, you would liave 
 been the object of universal hatred and contempt from both 
 friends and enemies. From the former for having done too 
 little, from the latter for having done too much, and shown 
 you are not either powerful friends or terrible enemies. 
 
 But out of office you are 2o0. You can set your enemies 
 by the ears ; the public will see that it is you who command 
 the measures, though your opponents carry them through by 
 your patronage of them ; and when once this, the greatest of 
 all changes, is completed by the leader of those who oppose it 
 most, the two great divisions or parties of Whigs and Tories 
 will be left in their natural position, without any extraneous 
 element to alter their essence ; but the Whigs will be united, 
 with the Reform Bill fairly working in town and country, and 
 the Tories would be at sixes and sevens amongst themselves, 
 and with a leader who has insulted, deceived, and crushed 
 them. 
 
 But if it were to be -wished that the Whigs had not under- 
 taken to form a Government, it were also desirable that they
 
 252 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY' PANIZZI 
 
 should not have been obliged to give up on account of a. 
 crotchety nobleman, who 
 
 " Mai del corpo intero 
 E della mente peggio," 
 quarrels so easily with every one, and does not probably agree 
 with himself. It gives a despicable opinion of the power of a 
 party that cannot do or will not do without such a man, and 
 personal objections of not a grand and important public prin- 
 ciple that prevent two great men from agreeing together at all 
 conscientiously, are but sorry reasons to give for such a fail- 
 ure. The discreet letter of our friend Tom is certainly to be 
 regretted ; the discreet friend to whom he wrote it deserves to 
 be kicked for his breach of confidence. The less said the 
 sooner mended on that. Grey will be up, say his say, 
 Macaulay, I hope, will not answer him, and the matter will so 
 far end and be forgotten. 
 
 But other explanations will be necessary. I am surprised 
 you don't know more of what really passed, as I should have 
 thought Lord John, being at Edinburgh, would have told 
 you all. But, perhaps, he does not like to say the whole;, 
 and so recollect that I write in full confidence. You may 
 rely on the correctness of what I say, and, of course, use the 
 knowledge as a prudent man to shape your questions and 
 answers. Dont compromise me, or say what you know,, 
 because, even without my name being mentioned, your 
 authority would certainly be guessed. It so happens that I 
 have had occasion to hear much about all this, and it is known 
 that I have heard so much. Macaulay did not wait for 
 Lord Grey's consent or conniving or declaration, but joined 
 the other at once. 
 
 Lord Grey told Ellice at Norwich that he objected to Pal- 
 merston as Foreign Secretary, but Ellice was far from being 
 requested to inform Lord John of it. Yet, like a prudent 
 man, he wrote up: "Here at Norwich I find all smooth, 
 except as to the Foreign Department." When they came to 
 town, Ellice was told the objection of Grey had been got
 
 THE CORX LAW AGITATIOX 25 S 
 
 over; but on the Thursday night he learned that it was a 
 mistake, and I know how and from whom ; you shall hear it 
 all when here. Yet he thought it might be arranged. Lord 
 Grey goes about reading in his defence a letter he wrote to 
 Lord John, to show that, in due time, he gave notice of his 
 objection ; but two persons who have read the letter say it i& 
 so full of generalities, that no one guessed to whom it pointed. 
 No one dreamed of Lord Palmerston being the object; but, as 
 he spoke as not having regard to person in the arrangements, it 
 was guessed that the hints were intended against replacing 
 Minto at the Admiralty. You will perceive that the Bear is 
 above all accusation; some may say that Lord John himself 
 may be found fault with, but then no one thought that Grey 
 would carry the matter so far, and it was expected that he 
 would yield, and that led. to keeping his objection, or so it 
 was understood, in the back ground, not to give it more 
 importance that it might have. The only one to blame is 
 Grey, he ought either to have spoken out at once dearly 
 himself, or yielded as others have done, who were against 
 asking the Government at all, and yet yielded to the opinion 
 of the majority of their friends, and cheerfully joined them 
 in leading what they considered the n\o$,t forlorn hope. 
 
 All the others I can safely assure you are perfectly friendly. 
 Lord John declares he will never have anything to do politi- 
 cally with Grey, so say the others. Lord Palmerston is 
 entirely satisfied with the Bear's conduct. If the foolish para- 
 graphs in the newspapers had caused him to feel any distrust 
 or jealousy of Lord Clarendon (which I doubt and hope not), 
 that has been totally and wholly removed, I am happy to say 
 by the writer of this enormous letter. (It is as long as a 
 sermon.) Lord Clarendon behaved above all praise, and Lord 
 Palmerston feels and avows it. 
 
 Thiers Avrotc to me a capital and most friendly letter, ot 
 course not for me only, although most private. I took care 
 to communicate it to the proper quarters, and it has had a 
 good effect, and cemented the good understanding that I was
 
 254 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 SO happy in bringing about when Thiers was here (Lady 
 Holland who knew all about it took all the credit herself ! ! !), 
 and Palmerston's explanations (do you think it will be a trifle 
 for him to get over?) and his colleagues — why did he resign? 
 Why does he come in with the same crew? Did they rebel? 
 Why do tliey submit? Sixteen members of the Cabinet bespeak 
 confusion. Are they to know what he is to do, or to obey 
 blindly? Some of the underlings turn restive. Lord Mahon, 
 for instance, I am told, will resign; if Peel were completely 
 free-trader even in corn. Come up,, &c., &c., 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 The correspondence between Panizzi and Thiers 
 extended no further than the letters set forth above. 
 
 Later on a feeling of coolness seems to have arisen 
 between the two, the real origin of which it is difficult 
 to determine ; but if a conjecture may be hazarded, 
 it was possibly caused by the fact that Thiers declined 
 to extend his love for Panizzi — or, at least, any bene- 
 ficial effects of it — to Panizzi's countrymen in general, 
 and thereby offended the ever ardent patriotism of his 
 friend. Be that as it may, the intimate relation, 
 which had so long subsisted between these once firm 
 allies gradually cooled ; and during the last years of 
 their lives little or no communication passed between 
 them. Nevertheless, the letters given will be valuable 
 in the eyes of all admirers of the distinguished states- 
 man whose pen has so short a time since been stayed 
 for ever by the cold hand of death, and will serve as 
 invaluable evidence of his ideas on various subjects of 
 interest and importance.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 The Royal Commissio)), 18-17-49. 
 
 O return to the British Museum an 
 the Royal Commission of 1847-49- 
 which differed widely from the Cora 
 mittee of 1835-36. Before both Par- 
 liamentary Committee and Royal Com- 
 mission, the Institution was on its trial, but the points 
 of attack were different. In 183-3, the Natural History 
 Departments engrossed the principal attention, while 
 the Library escaped with comparatively slight notice, 
 for although its deficiencies were not less conspicuous 
 than those of the Natural History Department, the 
 public standard of completeness in the Library 
 was low. Panizzi had been Keeper eleven out of 
 the twelve years. There could hardly have been a 
 better proof of his administration than the elevated 
 ideal of a public Library which it had produced. He 
 was tried by a standard of his own, which but for 
 him would have had no existence. Many silent in 
 18 3G were now clamorous for the realization of an 
 ideal which they owed to him, and the severity of 
 their attacks was in truth the best testimony to his 
 desert.
 
 256 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 It soon appeared that Panizzi would be the lion of 
 the day, and that the proceedmgs of the Commission 
 would be chiefly important as they might result in con- 
 firming or weakening his position with the public. It 
 was believed, indeed, that the dissatisfaction of 
 scientific men with the preponderance of literature - 
 in the governing body had much to do with the 
 appointment of the Commission ; and the ostensible 
 cause was undoubtedly a memorial addressed by 
 many persons of high eminence in scieuce to the 
 Prime Minister on March 10th, 1847. The 
 centre of gravity, nevertheless, shifted very quickly. 
 The proceedings of the Commission, as regarded 
 the Library, were interesting from beginning to end ; 
 elsewhere, though much that was curious and amus- 
 ing came to light, it would hardly be thought that 
 a nodus tali dignus vindice had been shown to exist 
 If such there were, it was in the Secretary's Office, 
 where irregularities were admitted requiring correc- 
 tion, and involving the examination of the whole 
 anomalous system by which, in a measure since 
 1828, and more particularly since the Committee of 
 1835, the Secretary had been allowed to usurp the 
 functions of the Principal Librarian. Everywhere else 
 the subjects calling for inquiry were comparatively 
 slight, such as misunderstandings between Sir C 
 Fellows and Sir R. Westmacott respecting the ar- 
 rangement of the Xanthian marbles, or disagreements 
 between Dr. Gray and Mr, Konig respecting the 
 rightful custody of the Gilbertson fossils and the boun- 
 daries of Zoology and Pakeontology in general. The 
 Library was the real field of contention, and matters
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 257 
 
 relating to it occupy more than one half of the bulky 
 ftome in which the evidence and recommendations of 
 the Committee were finally embodied (1850). 
 
 The Commission was originally appointed on June 
 17th, 1847, but was only enabled to hold three sittings 
 ■during the expiring session of that year. 
 
 It reassembled in 1848, amid the storms of Conti- 
 nental revolution which inevitably occupied much of 
 the time and thoughts of its members ; and it was 
 •soon discovered, both that its numbers were too limited, 
 and that the quorum required by the Royal Letters of 
 appointment was too large to insure the indispensable 
 regularity of attendance. It having on one occasion 
 proved impossible to obtain a sufficient attendance, 
 the original Commission was revoked, and a new one 
 issued, increasing the number of Commissioners from 
 ■eleven to fourteen, and reducing the number neces- 
 jary for despatch of business from five to three (May 
 5, 1848). 
 
 The Commission, as thus finally constituted, was a 
 very strong one, presided over by so accomplished a 
 man of letters as Lord EUesmere, and including, 
 ■among its more active members Lord Seymour (the 
 present Duke of Somerset), Lord Canning, Sir R. 
 Murchison, and the Lord Advocate, Mr. Andrew 
 Rutherfurd. Mr. John Payne Collier, at that time 
 Librarian to the Duke of Devonshire, officiated as 
 Secretary. 
 
 The first attention of the Commissioners was natur- 
 ally directed to the Principal Librarian's and Secretary's 
 Offices, and their inquiry soon brought out the extent 
 to which the functions of the former had come to be
 
 258 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 discharged by the latter. " He has risen," said the 
 report, "to be the most im2:)ortant officer in the estab- 
 lishment, though without that resjDonsibility which 
 attached to the Principal Librarian and the heads of 
 departments." The importance which the Commis- 
 sioners rightly ascribed to this officer entirely de- 
 pended upon his preparation of the agenda to be 
 submitted to the Trustees, and his habitual attendance 
 at their meetings. The duties of his office were in 
 other respects so light, although they had been re- 
 presented to require the assistance of a subordinate, 
 who had actually been appointed (Mr. Fitzgerald, 
 subsequently Prime Minister in New Zealand), that 
 Avhen Mr. Forshall was attacked with serious illness, 
 during the sittings of the Commissioners, Sir Henry 
 Ellis found himself able to discharge all the duties of 
 the Secretary in addition to his o^vn. Of an endeavour 
 which had been made to find the Secretary occupa- 
 tion in kee23ing a register of acquisitions,'the Commis- 
 sioners were obliged to report that this document, as 
 prepared in his office, was " not only of no practical 
 "use, but in some cases destructive of responsibility " 
 
 Under these circumstances, the Commissioners very 
 quickly came to the conclusion that the false step 
 made in 1837 must be retraced, and the offices of 
 Principal Librarian and Secretary amalgamated — a 
 decision so obviously sound that it must jKobably 
 have been carried into effect, even if, shortly after the 
 close of their deliberations, Mr. Forshall's infirmities 
 had not rendered his retirement absolutely inevitable^ 
 
 The administration of the Secretary's Office had a 
 strong bearing upon the questions relating to the
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 259' 
 
 Department of Printed Books of which the Com- 
 missioners had to take cognizance. Nothing had 
 more strongly excited public animadversion than the 
 delay in the preparation of the new printed Catalogue. 
 The Trustees, as was supposed, had directed that it 
 should be complete in print by the end of 1844. The 
 year 1848 had now come, and it had not progressed,, 
 even in manuscript, beyond letter D. One volume, con- 
 taining letter A (or part of it), had been printed in 1841, 
 and there were no symptoms of a successor. Panizzi was 
 able to show convincingly how contradictory were the 
 instructions which the inexplicable carelessness of the 
 executive department had allowed to be attributed to 
 the Trustees. In the manuscript copy of their 
 minute of July 13, 1839, the application of the rules 
 of cataloguing was left to his discretion. In the copy 
 subsequently printed by direction of the Trustees, 
 this discretion was limited to titles already prepared. 
 In the former he was ordered to have the Catalogue 
 ready in press by December, 1844. In the latter he 
 was told that it must be ready /br press. The latter, 
 it would appear, was wliat tJie Trustees really in- 
 tended ; but no intimation of their wishes having- 
 been conveyed to Panizzi, time, labour, and money 
 had been wasted in printing an imperfect volume, 
 which, it now appeared, need not have been printed 
 at all ; whilst the supposed necessity for an alpha- 
 betical method of cataloguing had prevented recourse 
 to the much more expeditious plan of taking the 
 books shelf by shelf. It further appeared that this 
 unfortunate minute need not necessarily have been 
 final. An opportunity for remonstrance had been 
 S
 
 :260 THE life of sir anthony panizzi 
 
 expressly reseiTed, but the portion of the document 
 referring to this point having been kept from 
 Panizzi's knowledge, no action could be taken, so 
 that the Trustees and their Officer were committed 
 to an impracticable undertaking. The Commis- 
 sioners determined that " any delay which could 
 have been avoided was mainly ascribable to the desire 
 of the Trustees to hurry on printing." 
 
 A still more important question was whether the 
 Catalogue ought to be printed at all. The opinion 
 of the literary witnesses unconnected with the Museum 
 Avas naturally strongly in favour of a printed Cata- 
 logue. The opinion of Panizzi may be gathered from 
 the verbal replies he had already given to questions 
 23ut to him by the Library Committee of the Trustees 
 on March 6th, 1847. 
 
 " The Catalogue might be completed by the end of 1854 of 
 all the books which the Museum will contain up to that 
 period. It would take to 1860 to prepare such Catalogue in 
 such a state of revision as might be fit for the press. It would 
 occupy seventy vohimes. It would require one year to correct 
 the press of two volumes. It would, therefore, require thirty- 
 five years to pass the catalogue through the press, and, when 
 completed in 1895, it would represent the state of the Library 
 in 1854." 
 
 This estimate could not be impeached if its basis 
 were admitted — namely, that the system already 
 adopted in framing the Catalogue was to be adhered 
 to. Many men of letters, however, thought that the 
 plan of the Catalogue might be contracted with ad- 
 vantage, but found it difficult to answer the argu- 
 ment that the work already done must, in that case, 
 be thrown away. Mr. J. Payne Collier, the Secretary
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 261 
 
 to the Commission, apparently thought this sacrifice 
 immaterial. He had convinced himself that by short 
 entries, and a disregard of minor niceties, the rate of 
 cataloguing could be accelerated fourfold, and was, 
 perhaps, justified in considering that if so, the aban- 
 donment of all that had been effected would be a 
 measure of economy. Unluckily for Mr. Collie.r, he 
 did not, like Panizzi's other antagonists, confine him- 
 self to abstract propositions, but rashly exhibited 
 himself in the light of an amateur cataloguer. He 
 catalogued twenty-five books in his own library, and 
 placed the titles in the hands of Panizzi, who trans- 
 ferred them for examination to his principal Assist- 
 ant, Mr. Winter Jones. " They contain," said Mr. 
 Jones, " almost every possible error which can be 
 committed in cataloguing books, and are open to 
 almost every possible objection which can be brought 
 against concise titles." 
 
 As Mr. Collier had entered a play of Aristophanes 
 Tinder Mitchell, and the works of Shakespeare under 
 Schlegel, as he had put an anonymous English book 
 under a writer to whom it was only attributed con- 
 jecturally, and had catalogued a collection of plays in 
 such a manner as to suggest that it was a history of the 
 drama, the justice of Mr. Jones' characterization could 
 not be disputed. The Commissioners were, doubt- 
 less, justified in the unexpressed conclusion at which 
 they e\ddently arrived, that such blunders, committed 
 by a man of Mr. Collier's attainments, must be at- 
 tributable to the fundamental errors of his system. 
 Mr. J. Bruce, Mr. G. L. Craik, and other advocates 
 of hasty work and concise catalogues, would have 
 s2
 
 262 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 fared no better at the hands of Mr. Whiter Jones. 
 One of them, mdeed, Mr. J. G. Cochrane, of the 
 London Library, had actually produced a Catalogue, 
 the unscientific character of which was pungently ex- 
 posed by Professor De Morgan, by far the most 
 bibliographically competent of all the Avitnesses, 
 and whose profound acquaintance with early mathe- 
 matical literature enabled him to demonstrate what 
 research, accuracy, and scholarship, the correct de- 
 scription of such literature demands. Another 
 valuable witness was Mr. John Wilson Croker, whose 
 evidence was in general full of good sense, and who 
 brought forward the scheme (already independently 
 suggested by Mr. E. Roy of the Library) for keeping 
 up the Catalogue on movable slips pasted on the leaf, 
 and thus admitting of displacement when it became 
 necessary to insert new matter. This plan was sub- 
 sequently adopted, and proved adequate for all 
 practical purposes until recently, when, from the 
 enormous bulk of the Manuscript Catalogue, printing 
 has been adopted. 
 
 Several other matters of great, though minor, im- 
 portance were the subject of detailed explanation on 
 the part of Panizzi. He had to rebut the frequent 
 complaints made on account of deficiencies in the 
 Library. These proved to be utterly unfounded in 
 almost every S23ecific instance alleged, with the 
 sole exception of the English books which had not 
 been duly delivered under the Copyright-Act, the en- 
 forcement of which was at that time, as we shall 
 hereafter fully discuss, no part of the keeper s duty, 
 and had been performed with little zeal by the Se-
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 2G5 
 
 cretaiy. As regarded the unquestionable deficiencies 
 of the Library in foreign literature, no one, it was ad- 
 mitted, had exposed them so energetically as Panizzi 
 himself in the celebrated report of 18 do, to which 
 reference has already been made. He had done 
 more than j)oint them out ; by personal influence 
 he had obtained the grant of £10,000 per annum 
 towards making them good. Not the least interest- 
 ing jDortion of his evidence related to the measures 
 adopted to this end in concert with intelligent 
 booksellers, such as Asher and Stevens. The 
 Grenville Library, however, had been by far the 
 most brilliant acquisition of his Keepersliip ; and 
 this, as we shall soon show, was wholly due to 
 his private influence with IMr. Grenville. His 
 prescience of the ultimate destination of this magni- 
 ficent collection accounted for his apparent neglect of 
 several opportunities of acquiring books, for which he 
 had silently submitted to censure. There was nothing 
 in which Panizzi's practical good sense was more 
 apparent than in the improvements introduced by 
 him into binding, whether as regards economy or 
 durability. The books bound before his time are in 
 very many instances tumbling to pieces, and not from 
 use, while not a single book bound under his direc- 
 tion has required rebinding, except from excessive 
 wear and tear. 
 
 On the whole, it may be confidently affirmed that 
 no public officer whose conduct had been subjected to 
 scrutiny ever established a more triumphant justifica- 
 tion than Panizzi, and that investigation has seldom 
 brought to light more creditable facts, previously un-
 
 264 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 known, or not properly appreciated. His detractors 
 were covered with confusion, and lie appeared to the- 
 world as the one man in the Museum endowed with 
 signal administrative talent, and as qualified, above 
 all other men, to be at the head of the Institution. The 
 Commissioners did not say this in so many Avords, but 
 their opinion was no mystery, and their report, in so 
 far as the Library was concerned, was in general but 
 the echo or endorsement of Panizzi's views. 
 
 One most important recommendation they made,, 
 which unfortunately was not acted njoon — viz., the- 
 provision of means for the compilation of an index of 
 subjects to the catalogue, to proceed ^;«ri jjcissu with 
 the alphabetical titles of the latter. This w^ould 
 have doubled the value of the Catalogue ; but 
 thirty years have passed, and the Catalogue is 
 still destitute of this inestimable auxiliary. The 
 suggestion may still be carried into effect at any 
 moment, as regards accessions for the future; but 
 the lost ground will be regained with difficulty. 
 
 Of many other questions raised, the only really 
 im]3ortant one, outside the Printed Book Dej)artment, 
 related to the Secretary's Office, and here the Commis- 
 sioners' purpose was firm, and the reform they pro- 
 posed radical. The post of Secretary, as distinct from 
 that of Principal Librarian, was to be abolished alto- 
 gether. This return to the ancient practice of the 
 Museum had the advocacy of one of the most accom- 
 plished and influential of the Trustees, Mr. W. R. 
 Hamilton ; and the indisposition of Mr. Forshall 
 soon rendered it necessary, as well as expedient, to- 
 carry it into effect. From that hour Panizzi was the- 
 real ruler of the British Museum.
 
 THE BRITISH MUSEUM 2G5 
 
 It may be remarked that the Trustees and their 
 officers alike appeared in a much more advantageous 
 lio-ht than before the Parliamentr.ry Committee of 
 1835. The inquiries of that Committee had borne 
 fruit. The duties of the officers ^vere understood and 
 discharged in a far more liberal spirit, and the Board 
 of Trustees had profited largely from the disposition 
 to elect its members out of regard to literary and 
 scientific eminence or proved administrative ability 
 rather than mere rank. 
 
 This tendency, happily for the Museum, has gone 
 on increasing to the present day. 
 
 We may now proceed to treat of that acquisition 
 of the Grenville Library which so greatly aff"ected the 
 fortunes of the British Museum, and for which 
 Panizzi has mainly to be thanked. For this a new 
 chaptei seems to be required. 
 
 -He--€g:^.§3-<l» h
 
 ^ 
 
 B 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 
 
 .'Mm 
 
 Ik^ 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 ^p 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 3Ir. Thomm Greyivilh ; Ii/'s EfqwHt ; Portrait hy Manzini ; 
 Chartist Demonstration; Copyright Act; Mr. Bohn. 
 
 HE ACQUISITION OF THE GrENVILLE 
 
 Library, in 1847, made that year no- 
 table for the British Museum. Be- 
 fore describing the collection, or the 
 circumstances under which it was 
 bequeathed to the Nation, it will be well to recall 
 the liberality and discriminating judgment of the 
 high-minded donor, who brought it together at 
 
 so great a cost ; and, therefore, 
 we append a short notice of 
 the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, 
 the nation's benefactor, who was 
 born on the 31st of December, 
 1755, and entered as a gentleman 
 commoner at Christ Church be- 
 fore he was sixteen years old. On 
 the 10th of May, 1778, he joined 
 the army as an ensign in the Cold- 
 stream Guards, but resigned in 
 
 the following year. His reasons for having taken
 
 MR. GRENVILLE 267 
 
 such a step were narrated by himself in Parlia- 
 ment on the 11th of April, 1780. On the 26th 
 of October, 1779, he was returned to Parliament 
 as a member for Buckinghamshire, and enrolled him- 
 self in the party of Fox, who in 1782 trusted him to 
 arrange the terms of the treaty drawn w]) for the 
 separation of Great Britain from her^American colo- 
 nies. 
 
 From this mission Mr. Grenville was suddenly re- 
 called, at the death of Lord Rockingham ; but in 
 1794 Earl Spencer sent him as Minister Extraordinary 
 to the Court of Vienna. Four years afterwards he 
 was made a Privy Councillor, and subsequently was 
 despatched on an embassy to the court of Berlin, in 
 order to induce the King of Prussia to co-operate 
 with Eniiland against the continual attacks of the 
 French Republic. This mission, however, proved un- 
 successful. 
 
 In 1800, he was appointed to a sinecure office, that 
 of Chief Justice in Eyre, South of Trent, Avhich was 
 w^orth about £2,000 per annum. Other appoint- 
 ments followed; when, in 1818, he retired simul- 
 taneously from Parliament and from public life. 
 
 To describe his personal appearance, his features 
 were fine and regular, Avith blue eyes shadowed by 
 large eyebrows. In addition to quick j)ercoption, he 
 possessed a marvellous memory, ever ready v*'ith quo- 
 tations from his favourite authors. 
 
 In his old age he derived great pleasure from enter- 
 taining a few intimate friends at dinner, and spending 
 the after hours at whist. Amongst those wlio fre- 
 quented his house on such occasions were, Lord
 
 268 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Ellesmere, Samuel Eogers, Hallara, Lord Macaulay, 
 Mr. Gladstone, Panizzi, and Sydney Smith, who with 
 reverent appreciation remarked to Panizzi, a iwopos of 
 the host's dignity and cheerfulness, There, that is 
 the man from ivhom we all ought to learn how to 
 grow old. 
 
 The collection of this superb Library cost Mr. 
 Grenville much labour, and nothing could be more 
 admirable in its way than the persistence with whicli 
 he followed out the intentions he had formed. It was 
 a pursuit, indeed, which he began early in life. 
 
 A favourite recollection of his, which he was apt 
 to quote, was that while in the Guards there bid 
 against him at a sale a whole bench of Bishops, for 
 some scarce edition of the Bible ; this was his first 
 essay, and similar success attended him in all his 
 subsequent dealings. At his death, 20,239 volumes 
 were counted, all in admirable condition and beauti- 
 fully bound. It was stated, at the time, that the 
 collection cost £51^,000. 
 
 He had the habit of writing on a slip of paper, 
 which he placed on the fly-leaf of the volume, a short 
 sketch of how and when it was acquired ; this was 
 done in the neatest and clearest manner. 
 
 Mr. Grenville did not collect books simply for 
 their rarity and curiosity, he knew well the worth of 
 those he purchased, and used them as books of refer- 
 ence, as is proved by the notes which are to be found 
 in his own handwriting, even stating the number of 
 times he himself perused them ; for instance, in the 
 edition of Dean Sherlock on Death, he wrote : — 
 Head thirteen times in 184-6.
 
 MR. GEENVILLE 26 &' 
 
 The acquaintance between Grenville and Panizzi 
 probably commenced as early as 1830, at wliicb 
 period, it will be remembered, the latter was engaged 
 on his Bojardo and Ariosto. 
 
 The correspondence which passed at the time 
 of the dedication of the " Sonetti e Canzone di 
 Bojardo," has been fully given, and the documents- 
 and letters which follow will prove how much Mr. 
 Grenville became attached to his Italian friend, and 
 in what hio-h estimation he held him. 
 
 The following " Memorandum " written by Panizzi 
 himself, bearing the date of November 3, 1845, is 
 given in full : — 
 
 a 
 
 Yesterday being Sunday, I called, as I generally 
 do on such days, on the Right Hon. Thomas Gren- 
 ville, -who has had an attack of cold, which produced 
 great cough and difficulty of breathing, somewhat 
 alarming. When I saw him last he was better, and 
 ■we played whist till nearly eleven o'clock. This was 
 on Friday last, the 31st of October. 
 
 " Yesterday I found him considerably better — I 
 may say well — reading a book of prayers, as he 
 usually does on Sundays. It was about three o'clock, 
 and he was alone. After the usual inquiries after his 
 health, &c., &c., he spoke nearly as follows : — 
 
 " ' I am glad, Mr. Panizzi, that we are alone, as I 
 have something to tell you, which I wish to be con- 
 sidered strictly confidential, and that you will not 
 mention to anv human beincr as long: as I live. There 
 is nothing, perhaps, that renders secrecy strictly 
 necessary in what I am going to say ; but it is as well 
 to keep it to ourselves, as it concerns nobody but me^
 
 270 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 I have often perceived that you wished to know what 
 would become of my library after my death, and I 
 have often seen also that you wished it should go to the 
 British Museum. That wish is very natural as well 
 as very creditable to you; for, treated as you have 
 been by the Trustees, had you been a less zealous 
 officer, and not so thoroughly honest a man, yon would 
 not so easily have forgiven their conduct towards you, 
 and felt so Avarm an interest in the welfare of that 
 Institution as you have. 
 
 " I have admired your conduct in that respect, and 
 been extremely pleased by it. I have not imitated 
 you for years I confess. The minute of Avhich I gave 
 you the copy in Mr. Forshall's handwriting, and which 
 conveys an ample and deserved acknowledgment of 
 ^c ur good services, was a disgraceful and unjust act 
 towards you, and insult to me. They reserved for me 
 to do what they never had done to any one else, and 
 they behaved ill to you to vex me, I believe . . (as I 
 dissented, he added). Well, well, may be they or 
 some one who had influence on them, counselled them 
 to punish you. I felt so much their conduct that, as 
 you know, I left the room when I saw what they 
 were bent upon doing, and never went again to their 
 meetings, and I felt very much inclined never to speak 
 again to Lord Farnborough, who, after having both 
 in private to me and at a Committee agreed with the 
 justice of doing ^^•hat the Committee suggested, got 
 up at the general meeting which he and Mr. Forshall 
 had packed to move the rejection of the Committee's 
 report. I then was more than ever determined to 
 leave my library to the Duke of Buckingham, to be
 
 THE GRENVILLE LIBRAEY 271 
 
 kept at Stowe as a heirloom. But your generous 
 conduct made me think that if you, who had been 
 much more injured than I was, forgave them, I 
 ought. 
 
 " I knew, moreover, that you would be delighted 
 to have my books, and I often thought that the 
 coming into your hands from mine was the very best 
 thing that could happen to them, as well as the most 
 pleasing to me. I v/as determined partly by these 
 considerations to alter my will, and still more so — or 
 rather much more so — by another circumstance. 
 
 "You know that I have enjoyed for a long series 
 of years a very good sinecure. Although, as I have 
 sometimes told you, my cousin. Lord Glastonbury, 
 left me a large fortune and made me rich, yet I could 
 not have formed such a library (which I think cost 
 me nearer £50,000 than £40,000) without my income 
 from the sinecure. I have, therefore, determined to 
 bleach my conscience, and to return to the Nation 
 what I got from it, when I could have done without 
 — but which would have been given to some one else 
 if I had given it up myself — by bequeathing my 
 library to the British Museum, and I have altered 
 my will accordingly. I shall direct that part of my 
 will to be printed, that my motives be understood, 
 and that no one should think that I take the library 
 from my nephew the Duke, to whom I have told 
 that I have left it to him, from any unkindness or 
 unfriendly feeling, which I certainly have not, as the 
 rest of my will will show. I could not in my AVill 
 say anything about you, and the treatment you have 
 received from those you have served and serve so
 
 n 
 
 272 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 well and so faithfully, but I thought it a proof of my 
 great friendship for you to inform you of what I have 
 done, and of my motives for so doing. But, although 
 I cannot say anything about it, the public and the 
 Trustees must be well aware that you have not taken 
 any mean or unfair advantage of my great regard for 
 you, my dear friend, to turn me from doing what I 
 had done. I hope the Trustees will be more just to 
 you in future ; indeed, you tell me they are, and have 
 been lately, and am glad of it. I thought they would 
 not change; they must feel they haA^e wronged you, 
 and I thought they would never like you in conse- 
 quence. Even my friend the Archbishop, one of the 
 very best and most amiable men living, was no doubt 
 influenced, perhaps unconsciously, by such feelings 
 when he made objections to your apj)ointment to 
 succeed Mr. Baber. There is some one who has 
 great influence on the Archbishop, who is no friend 
 of yours. Take care, I know it. But I trust now 
 that you are better known you will be appreciated as 
 3'Ou deserve. 
 
 " This was the substance, and, as far as I recollect, 
 these were the very words of the communication 
 which was delivered uninterruptedly, with his usual 
 energy and clearness, and without appearing the least 
 fatigued, or being stopped by coughing or anything 
 else. 
 
 " I made the best acknowledgment I could for the 
 honourable proof of confidence he gave me. I told 
 him, strongly moved, almost to tears, that I hoped 
 the day would be far distant when the British 
 Museum should profit by his munificent gift ; and
 
 THE GEENVILLE LIBRARY 273 
 
 here we shook hands most heartily and warmly, and I 
 thanked him as well as I could for the affectionate 
 manner in which he had spoken of me and of my 
 conduct. 
 
 " He replied it was only justice. Then he added 
 that he left the whole unfettered ; that he thought 
 we should have many duplicates among ours of his 
 books, but that he thought we ought to have them ; 
 at the same time, he said, he did not care whether 
 the Trustees sold his duplicates. I said they never 
 did it. Very well, he answered. Then he went on 
 to say that he would desire his executors to express 
 a wish that the whole of his books should be kept 
 together, and that a cataloo-ue of them all should be 
 published. But, he said, I shall not add these as 
 absolute conditions, only as my v»ish. 
 
 " We spoke of cataloguing, of how the books could 
 be kept together, &c., which I said could and should 
 be done, as was done for Sir J. Banks, Cracherode, 
 "&c. ; even without their desiring it. But the Dutch 
 Minister, was announced ; we began to speak of in- 
 different things ; and presently I took leave and left 
 them together at about four o'clock. 
 
 " A. Panizzi." 
 
 T]iis document bears the following signature and 
 note : — 
 
 " This paper was received by me from Mr. Panizzi, 
 sealed up, on the 3rd of November, 1845, and opened 
 and read at his desire by me on the 18th of December, 
 1846. W. R. Hamilton." 
 
 Mr. Grenville died on the 17th of December, 
 184G ; therefore, the above document was read by
 
 274 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Mr. Hamilton on the following day. The " codicil'* 
 made to his Will is dated 28th of October, 1845, 
 exactly a week before the incident narrated in the 
 above memorandum. 
 
 Space does not allow us to make public a long and 
 minute direction, given by Panizzi to his Assistant, 
 Mr. llye, for the removal of this Library to the 
 British Museum ; suffice it, therefore, to observe that 
 it enters into all the details respecting the handling 
 and removal of these treasures of typography. 
 
 The books now having safely reached the Museum, 
 Panizzi made the following official report respecting- 
 them : — 
 
 " Feb. 10, 1847. 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi has the honour to report thiit the 
 removal of tlie Library bequeathed to the Trustees 
 by the Right Hon. T. Grenville has been accomplished 
 in five days without any injury whatever to the books, 
 the number of which, counted one by one, and with- 
 out any regard to the number of works, is 20,239. 
 
 "About five hundred of them are, for want of room 
 on the shelves, lying on the floor of the galleries of 
 the room into which the books have been removed 
 from Hamilton-place. With respect to their preser- 
 vation from dust, Mr. Panizzi begs to suggest as the 
 most economical, as well as most expedient arrange- 
 ment, that, for the present, the doors of the presses 
 be lined, or rather covered, inside with green calico, 
 or some such cheap material. 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi begs to state that the removal of the 
 collection has been effected in so short a time by his 
 keeping at work the persons who assisted him con-
 
 THE GKE^'VILLE LIBRARY 275 
 
 siderably after Museum time. He ho23es that the 
 Trustees Avill, in consequence, approve of the remu- 
 neration and gratuities which he has promised to the 
 servants of Mr. Grenville who assisted, as w^ell as to 
 the attendants and workmen for their extra time and 
 exertions, as detailed in the accompanying statement 
 of expenses, which he begs the Trustees will order to 
 be paid." 
 
 In vain did Panizzi urge the Trustees to provide 
 adequate room for the books ; many of them lay for 
 nearly two years on the floor of the gallery, where 
 they had been originally placed, exposed to the dust, 
 and to injury in various forms. Lord Fortescue, on 
 one occasion, asked to see his uncle's books, and was 
 not a little astonished to find them thus uncovered 
 and unprotected. 
 
 Much later, through the intervention of the Duke 
 of Cambridge, the collection was arranged as it now 
 stands, and the donor's bust, the work of ConoUy, 
 presented by Sir David Dundas, was removed from 
 the Committee-room, and placed in its present posi- 
 tion ; this was accomplished in the month of October, 
 18-50. 
 
 The catalogue, the great expectation and hope of 
 Mr. Grenville, now demands our special attention. 
 
 A report was, therefore, sent to the Trustees : — 
 
 "Februarv 11, 1847. 
 
 " When Mr. Grenville was pleased to inform Mr. 
 Panizzi that his collection would become the property 
 of the Trustees, he informed him also of his wishes, 
 which he would express, and which Mr. Panizzi took 
 on himself to say would be undoubtedly attended to 
 T
 
 276 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTIIOXY PAXIZZI 
 
 by the Trustees, as much as if they were conditions 
 attached to his bequest — 
 
 1st. That the whole of his collection should be 
 kept together and unbroken. 
 
 2nd. That the rcmaindor of his catalogue sliould 
 be printed. 
 
 The Trustees arc aware that there are two volumes 
 of the catalogue printed. It was compiled by Messrs. 
 Payne & Foss, who have the manuscript in slips of 
 the whole. It occurred to Mr. Panizzi that the 
 cheapest and shortest way of carrying the second 
 wish of Mr. Grenville into execution would be to 
 purchase the manuscript titles, and with this vicw 
 Mr. Panizzi had a conversation with Mr. Foss, who, 
 at his request, has made the proposal specihed in the- 
 accompanying letter, 
 
 Mr. Panizzi is of opinion that Mr. Foss's terms- 
 ought to be accepted, in which case the unprinted 
 part of Mr. Grenville's catalogue might be sent to< 
 press almost immediately, and the whole completed 
 in an uniform manner. 
 
 Mr. Panizzi thinks that it is very desirable to 
 accept this proposal for the sake of economy and 
 despatch. If the Trustees will allow him to treat 
 with Mr. Foss he thinks he, perhaps, might obtain 
 some slight modification of the terms now suggested." 
 
 Panizzi showed the practical affection he had for 
 his friend by his presentations of rare and expensive 
 books from time to time ; these were accompanied by 
 letters, and Mr. Grenville invariably attached them 
 to the volume.
 
 THE GKENVILLE LIBKAFtY 277 
 
 The folloAving- is a specimen : — 
 
 "B. M., May 2, 1845. 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 I hope you will do me the lionour of placing^ 
 in your library a Latin poem, by one Thomas Prati, printed 
 at Treviso about 1475, on the martyrdom said to have been 
 suffered in that year by one ^irjioft or Symeon, at the 
 hands of the Jews of Trento. The event seems to have 
 created a great sensation at the time, and even at a much 
 later period its truth has been the subject of learned in- 
 vestigations. 
 
 It may be true that a boy was murdered at Trento in Marcli 
 1475, but that he fell a sacrifice to the Jews hatred of our 
 religion, is as incredible as it is unproved. So late as about 
 a hundred years ago, a dissertation was inserted in the 48tli 
 volume of Calagiero Kaccolta d'opuscoli, page 409 (De cultu 
 Sancti Simonis — the martvr has been canonized and his life 
 and miracles are chronicled in the Acta Sanctorum Pueri 
 Tridentini et Martyris apud Ycnctos). That dissertation^ 
 written to prove tlie truth of the story, seems to me conclu- 
 
 sive against it. 
 
 Several poems are said to liave been written on this sub- 
 ject. One of them in Italian stanzas, utterly worthless, by 
 one Fra Giovanni Padovano, was printed so late as 1690, at 
 Padua, and is in the British Museum. FedcricI (Tipografia 
 Trevigiana, p. 91) mentions four tracts printed by Celerio in 
 1480, on the martyrdom of Simon, but none written by 
 Prati. He moreover mentions two (p. 52) printed by Gherord 
 de Lj^sa, one of which would seem to be precisely like tliat 
 which I now offer to you, if we were to judge from the title 
 only, but tlie particulars into which he enters show, 1st, that 
 Federici never saw even tlie book which he describes ; 2nd, 
 that whatever that book be, it is a different one from 
 this. 
 
 As you possess the very rare edition of Dante, published 
 by Tuppo at Naples, in the colophon of which Tnppo alludes 
 t2
 
 278 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 to the murder of Simon " non sono molti anni," and as the 
 fact is said to have happened in 1475, according to all 
 authorities, it may be of some interest to you to possess an 
 uncommonly rare book, which may be of use in fixing at 
 about 1480 the date of your Dante, the very year when Tuppo 
 began to print separately from Eeussinger. 
 
 Yours, &c,, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Immediately after Mr. Grenville's death, a portrait 
 of him by an Italian artist (C. Manzini,) was offered 
 for sale. It is painted on ivory, representing him at 
 the age of 85, wearing a close-bnttoned black coat, 
 and a plain white neckcloth. Panizzi was anxious 
 that this work of art should not fall into stranorc 
 hands ; and consequently, together with other friends 
 of the venerable book-collector, started a raffle, the 
 tickets being sold only amongst a selected few. Samuel 
 Rogers was named as one of them, and this originated 
 the following correspondence : — 
 
 "August 29th, 
 
 St. James's Palace. 
 " My dear Mr. Panizzi, 
 
 AMien I recover what I have lost, I mean to sub- 
 scribe to everything and to everybody. But now, alas, I have 
 nothing to spare — I cannot even afford to give you a mutton 
 chop — and having poor enougli of my own to support, I can- 
 not contribute to other people's. 
 
 I shall be happy, however, to contribute my mite in this 
 instance, though not to raffle for the portrait, for to tell you 
 the truth, the portrait I do not care for ; I had rather trust to 
 my recollections. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 S. PiOGERS.'
 
 PANIZZI AND PtOGEKS 270 
 
 « B. M., Monday, 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 I am very sorry that I have expressed myself 
 so ill in the note which I took the liberty of addressing to 
 you to contribute to the support of other people's poor, you 
 having, as you say, and as it is well known, poor enough of 
 your own to support. I never would have taken the liberty 
 of writing for that pm'pose ; and whatever mite you may 
 contribute to any charity, it must be from the impulse of 
 your own kind, benevolent heart, and not at my request, as 
 I should never presume to make it. 
 
 The difhculty in asking subscribers for the raffle of the 
 portrait, was not as to who was to be left out, but as to who was 
 to be preferred, and it was as a mark of respect to you that 
 Mr. Graskell and myself thought you entitled, above many 
 others, to be included amongst our chosen few. I was too 
 proud to leave to other j to inform you of our scheme. 
 
 Yours, &c., A. PiV]s:izzi." 
 " Thursday. 
 "My dear Mr. Panizzi, 
 
 I have just opened your letter, when I am starting for 
 the railroad, and I cannot say how distressed I should be il 
 you could conceive for an instant that I thought you had acted 
 otherwise that from the purest and noblest motives. 
 
 With Mr. Manzini I am unacquainted, but most happy 
 should I be to render any service, though, perhaps, it may be 
 doubtful whether, in a common case, a copy, however ex- 
 quisite, is so valuable, when an original may be had from 
 liichmond at nearly the same price. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 S. Rogers. 
 p. S. — Again, though in haste, I must say how unha{)py I 
 am if I have given one whose friendship I so highly value any 
 uneasiness." 
 
 This miniature is now in the National Portrait 
 
 Gallery.
 
 280 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 The following is from Panizzi to Lord llutlierfurd 
 respecting liis friend's death : — 
 
 "22nd December, 1847. 
 
 " You will have seen Ly the newspapers that poor Mr. 
 Grenville is no more, he had no reason to complain on leaving 
 this world, after so long and happy a life, which he had enjoyed 
 within ten years of his death, and from which he departed 
 before either bodily or mental infirmities had rendered it a 
 bm-den to him ; but, I who have lost one of the best friends I 
 have had, whose kindness was imiform as it was excessive, I 
 have certainly good reason for sorrow. A man alone in the 
 world, a foreigner, without any other ties of affection or blood, 
 concentrates all his feelings in his friends, and to lose one of 
 them is a greater loss to him than it is to others, whose heart 
 is fdled by other objects." 
 
 The circumstances of the gift of Mr. Grenville to 
 the Museum having been fully considered, brief allu- 
 sion has here to be made to that Avhich threatened to 
 become magnified into a national commotion, imperil- 
 ling the safety of our Public Institutions, and fore- 
 most amongst their number, the British Museum. 
 The year 1848 was memorable for the Chartist 
 demonstration. The principles and intentions of the 
 agitators are well known; however, on the 10th of 
 April they proposed to liold a meeting of 200,000 
 men, who were to assemble at Kennington Common, 
 and to march thence in procession to Westminster, 
 and present a petition to Parliament. The Bank and 
 other Public Institutions were occupied by the Mili- 
 tary, organized by the Duke of Wellington ; these 
 were strengthened by no less than 150,000 persons of 
 all ranks, voluntarily sworn to act as special con- 
 stables, and amongst the number Panizzi was enlisted 
 on the 8th of Apiil.
 
 THE CHARTISTS 281 
 
 The British Museum seems to have been one of the 
 places in danger of being attacked by the mob ; it 
 was, therefore, considered prudent to take prompt 
 Jind decisive measures to protect it from any possible 
 ■jissnult. Tliougli Sir Henry Ellis was the chief 
 officer of the Museum at the time, Panizzi may be 
 said to have taken the part of the real General, and 
 was most active in swearing in his subordinates, 
 some of whom had Chartist tendencies themselves, as, 
 possibly, he had himself; but the safety of the 
 Museum was paramount to all other consideraLions, 
 and, to an objector, he replied, WJiat ! not defend 
 tlie i^lace from icliich you get your living ! ! 
 
 Mr. Cowtan in his '' Memories of the British 
 Museum," tells us " that all persons employed upon 
 the establishment, either in the various departments, 
 or as artizans at work upon the building, were sworn 
 in as ' special constables,' making in all 250. Major 
 Baron, of the Royal Engineers, was sent to suggest 
 the best means of barricading, and to place the force 
 at hand in the best positions for defending the 
 Museum, in case of an attack. The military force 
 consisted of fifty-seven rank and file, and two officers. 
 To this must be added twenty pensioners from Chelsea 
 College. Fifty muskets, with proportionate ammuni- 
 tion were supplied, as well as cutlasses, and pikes for 
 from two to three hundred persons. Provisions for 
 three days were laid in, &c., &c." 
 
 Scouts were sent out to bring authentic accounts, 
 but the same " Memories " also inform us that " one or 
 tAvo, who, before the event took place, were loud in 
 their protestations of devotedness to the Museum,
 
 282 THE LIFE OF SIFi AXTIIONY TANIZZI 
 
 and willingness to lay down their lives in its defence, 
 began to funk and to looJc unutteraUe things'' 
 
 The foUowmg letter to Sir H. Ellis, referring to 
 this subject, is well worthy of perusal : — 
 
 "British Museum, Friday night, April 7th, 184S. 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 I beg to enclose four lists of as many parties in my 
 department, consisting of eleven persons each, ready to be 
 sworn as special constables. The name at the head of each 
 party Is that of the gentleman who will act as leader or fore- 
 man to it. Any order which you will transmit to me for 
 them shall be attended to. At the same time allow me to 
 say that if anything very serious were to happen, we are not 
 prepared for It. To be prepared, for an attack in earnest, 
 should not the Museum be made a depot for troops ; the 
 usual military guard ought to be at least doubled. Sup- 
 posing the Eiot Act read, and extreme measures unavoidable, 
 the Museum can be well defended by a well-directed fire of 
 musketry from the roof, which commands not only every 
 side of the building, but every approach to it, as well as 
 some most important points of the interior. I took Mr. 
 Hawkins over it this morning on purpose to show him this 
 I should regret as much as any one that such mode of de- 
 fence should ever be forced upon us, but a danger is better 
 avoided by the determination and readiness to meet it with 
 proper energy. The measures taken by the G-overnment 
 show that they do not think lightly of the state of affairs ; 
 and always hoping for the best, as prudent men, we ought to 
 be ready for the worst. Permit me to suggest also for your 
 consideration that 
 
 1 St. The gate by ]\Ir. Konlg's house, on the west side of 
 the officer's houses, as well as another gate, higher up, on the 
 same road, ought to be strengthened. The same ought to be 
 done with those on the roads to the north and east, right and 
 left of the reading-room entrance. The iron gate also to
 
 THE CHARTISTS 283 
 
 Montagu Place ought to be strengthened, locked, and the key 
 kept by you; nor ought the opening under the new passage, 
 from your house to the Library, to be left unprotected. 
 
 2nd. All the doors in the basement, particularly those 
 opening on the 3'ards and roads outside tlic building, ouglit 
 to be kept locked, and none opened, under any pretence, with- 
 out an officer's order. 
 
 3rd. The two clerks of the works, the enginemcn, and 
 the house carpenter, should be at hand throughout the day, 
 and have the lire-engines ready for use at a moment's notice. 
 It would be as v.-cll to have a couple of men from Mr. Merry- 
 Aveather's with them. 
 
 4th. More police lanthorns, a dozen at least to be pro- 
 vided, in case they might be required at night. 
 
 5th. No officer, attendant, or servant whatever, to leave 
 the Museum on Monday, except with your special leave. 
 
 Yours, &c., A. Pamzzi." 
 
 ** P.S. — There are men In the house ready and able to use 
 firearjns (if provided with them) should it be absolutely ne- 
 cessary. We ought to provide them ; as to the absolute ne- 
 cessity of actually using them, it must depend on circum- 
 stances." 
 
 On the 15th of April, the Trustees held a meeting, 
 and " acknowledged thankfully the human means 
 which have been employed in their service, in the 
 maintenance of the safety of the British Museum in 
 their charge, and to record, accordingly, their grateful 
 conviction of the intelligence, energy, zeal, and 
 union, which have been displayed by their Principal 
 Librarian, by the heads of departments,, and by the 
 gentlemen engaged under them." 
 
 Thus happily passed off what appeared to be at one 
 time a threatening position for the British Museum ; 
 and it is a subject of hearty congratulation tliat the
 
 284 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTIIOXY PANIZZI 
 
 would-be disturbers of the public peace were faint- 
 hearted and disorganized, or serious results might 
 have ensued, fraught with danger to human life, and 
 destruction to public buildings and their contents. 
 Had the Museum been really attacked, who can reckon 
 the loss to the Nation 1 No doubt the energetic 
 precautions taken had much to do with smothering 
 the fire which appeared at one time likely to 
 kindle ; and for this there is much reason for us, of 
 the present day, to be thankful to those, who were 
 instrumental in protecting our National Institution. 
 
 Again our ground must be shifted ; from threaten- 
 ing without, turn we now to tumults within, viz., in 
 the literary world ; it is our province to discuss a 
 matter — then, as now, unsettled, and, considering the 
 arguments, ^ro and C'07i, adduced on its behalf, most 
 difficult of decision. Our subject is the Copyright 
 Act, — with which of course, in his sphere, as 
 custodian of our National gathering of the work of all 
 nations and all epochs, Panizzi was called upon to 
 have intimate acquaintance, as well as dealings, not 
 always plesant or exhilarating. But — not to antici- 
 2:)ate — we proceed to give a slight sketch of the 
 objects and workings of this Act, as then in force, 
 the manner in \\hich it affected the custodian, and 
 the code of strict integrity, regardless of consequence, 
 which he always followed. 
 
 From the days of Tudor rule to the present time, 
 the Copyright Act has periodically received the con- 
 sideration of Parliament ; literary men regard as an 
 inalienable right of property products of their brain. 
 In so thinking it would certainly apjiear prima facie
 
 THE COPYRIGHT ACT 285 
 
 that their assumption is correct, but a little sound 
 reasoning will prove how capable of modification are 
 ideas hastily formed on this important subject. This 
 subject is now about to be briefly introduced to our 
 readers, not only as especially suitable to this bio- 
 graphy, but as of vital interest to all who are 
 members of the great society of letters, and especially 
 referring to Panizzi, on whom devolved the arduous 
 task of enforcing the powers confe>v'ed on him by 
 the Act, for the bene lit of the British Nation and the 
 world at large. 
 
 It is out of the question to enter into minute 
 details of the working of this Act from its origin 
 until now, for there would be no difficulty in lilling 
 a volume were particulars to be fully rendered. 
 Suffice it to say that the first obligation to give 
 ■copies of a Mork to any one was imposed by 14 
 Car. II., c. 33, s. IG, by which it was enacted, 
 " That every printer shall reserve three printed 
 •copies, on the best and largest paper, of every book 
 new printed or reprinted by him with additions, and 
 shall, before any public venting of the said book, 
 bring them to the Master of the Company of Sta- 
 tioners, and deliver them to him, one whereof 
 shall be delivered to the Keeper of His Majesty's 
 Library, and th(^ other two to be sent to the Vice- 
 Chancellors of the two Universities respectively for 
 the use of the public libraries of the said Universi- 
 ties." 
 
 The Statute underwent additions and modifications 
 from this time, being at some periods allowed to 
 expire altogether, as it did on the 25th of April, jOOi.
 
 28 G THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZ! 
 
 Jjut, literary property being openly and frequently 
 pirated, a remedy was urged upon the Legislature as 
 necessary in the years 1703, 1706, and 1709. A bill 
 was introduced by Mr. Wortley, and finally passed in 
 the latter year. It is the 8 Anne, c. 21; the fifth 
 section of it enacting " That nine copies of each book 
 or books' ..." shall be delivered to the ware- 
 house-keeper of the Company of Stationers for the 
 time being," ..." for the use of the Eoyal 
 Library, the Libraries of the Universities of Oxford 
 and Cambridge, the Libraries of the four Universities 
 of Scotland, the Library of Sion College in London, 
 and the Library commonly called the Library be- 
 longing to the Faculty of Advocates at Edinburgh 
 respectively." 
 
 To evade this Act, publishers entered only the 
 title of a part, or a volume of any work, as it was 
 generally understood that the claims could be enforced 
 only as to the part or volume entered, and that nine 
 copies of no other volume or part could be claimed ; 
 and so, as the Act was practically eluded, enactment fol- 
 lowed enactment, until the 5 and 6 Victoria, c. 45, made 
 a very definite provision on the subject ; not only 
 ordering the delivery at the British Museum of all 
 books, but particularizing the meaning of the word 
 book : " That in the construction of this Act, the 
 word BooJv shall be construed to mean and include 
 every volume, part or division of a volume, pamphlet,, 
 sheet of letter-press, sheet of music, map, chart, or 
 plan separately published," a penalty of £5., besides 
 the value of the copy, being the fine for non-com- 
 pliance.
 
 THE COPYRIGHT ACT 287 
 
 111 May, 1850, the Trustees conferred on Panizzi, 
 by power of attorney, the unthankful duty of enfor- 
 cing, in their name, the provisions of the Copyright 
 Act. With his accustomed energy, with a firm sense of 
 duty, and with a zeal, in some instances almost amount- 
 ins- to harshness, did he face the difficulties of the 
 situation. Were it simply to record the success 
 which attended his devotion to the interests of the 
 Institution he served so faithfully, we should have to 
 quote his own words . " The Trustees testified to 
 their sense of the value of my services in this matter 
 by awarding me £100 a year; " but, as must be ad- 
 mitted on the testimonv of documents now before us, in 
 his own handwriting, his zeal was rather excessive ; 
 his battles with the publishers brought him odium, 
 and, at times, even personal vituperation, although he 
 himself undoubtedly intended to act with forbear- 
 ance, and with that courtesy wdiich was one of his 
 chief characteristics. Did it ever occur to Panizzi 
 that the noblest literature, that of Greece and Rome, 
 knew no such law? that, even supposing it might be 
 necessary, in the nascent state of literature in the 
 sixteenth century, this more than protection may be 
 most injurious in more modern times, exactly as the 
 state protection of a given manufacture might pri- 
 marily be good, but, for a permanency, would be 
 unsound policy? 
 
 On April 20th, 1852, Panizzi wrote :— 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi cannot help feeling that, in deference to the 
 wish of the Trustees, he has proceeded with too much leni- 
 ency in the enforcement of the Act. Ecspectablc publishers, 
 who cheerfully and punchially comply with its provisions, as
 
 288 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHO^'Y PANIZZI 
 
 well as the readers who are disappointed in not finding Eng- 
 lish publications in this library, seem to have a riglit m more 
 severe measures, not only towards refractory publishers 
 within the bills of mortality, but against those living in the 
 country against whom INIr. Panizzi will at last be forced to 
 employ the means wliich were some time ago approved of 
 by the Trustees for securing their right to books published 
 out of London." 
 
 These words as tliey stand clearly show the real 
 state of Panizzi's inward determination to persevere in 
 his object ; and on the 14th of August, 1852, we find 
 a letter from the Principal Librarian, approving of 
 the steps he had " taken for the enforcement of 
 the Copyright Act in Scotland," on the part of the 
 Trustees. 
 
 In the same year, a certain Mr. Davis, of Shelton,. 
 forwarded a prospectus of a work entitled " Crania 
 Britannica," with a request that, as the book was to 
 be " privately printed," the Keeper of the Printed 
 Books should subscribe for a copy of the work. 
 Panizzi submitted the prospectus to the Trustees, who 
 declined the purchase, whereupon Panizzi communi- 
 cated this decision to Mr. Davis, and added : — " In 
 my opinion you are bound to send a copy of that 
 work to this Library in compliance with tlic Copy- 
 right Act (5 and 6 Vic, cap. 45). 
 
 In September, 1852, in company with Mr. Henry 
 Stevens, the American book agent, Panizzi visited 
 Oxford, Dublin, and Cork, and rendered signal ser- 
 vice to the Library by his imsparing exertions to de- 
 tect defaulters, and uphold the interests of the 
 Museum. Amomjst his remarks when in Dublin was 
 one that he " saw a number of important new works
 
 THE COPYRIGHT ACT 289 
 
 exposed for sale of which he did not know the exist- 
 ence, and even in the case of publications of no great 
 general importance, he noticed many which ought to 
 be in the National Collection." Innumerable difficul- 
 ties met him in his task. At Derby, " There arc,'' 
 he says, " many works published, but the two prin- 
 cipal publishers having a house in London, it is this 
 house which, should it be necessary, will be held 
 resj)onsible for the infringement of the Copyright 
 Act." Of course, his presence was in all places which 
 he visited attended with dislike ; and it seems hardly 
 fair that, whilst acting from the purest motives in 
 the public service, any obloquy of a personal nature 
 should have attached to him ; yet, to say the least, 
 had not a sense of duty sustained him, his would liavc 
 been a most thankless errand. 
 
 Any attempt at times to preserve an incognito was 
 unavailing — a rather undesirable fact which he soon 
 discovered, as his person was well known. However, 
 on the 9th of October, 1852, a report from Panizzi 
 was read at a committee, when the thanks of the 
 Trustees were accorded to himx for his exertions. 
 
 Many special cases of the actions which Panizzi 
 brought against publishers are worth recounting, but 
 as their details are necessarily very similar, and, as to 
 the general reader such repetitions woukl not be of 
 any interest, the biographer contents himself with 
 making special allusion to the most troublesome 
 opponent who ever entered the lists against Panizzi, 
 this was Mr. Bohn, the publisher, and bitter Avere 
 the denunciations hurled at Panizzi's devoted head in 
 the course of the hearing of seventeen distinct
 
 290 THE LIFE OF SIR AMTIIONY PANIZZI 
 
 summonses before Mr. Jardinc, the Magistrate, by 
 Mr. Ballanline, the counsel for Mr. Bohn. Harsh, 
 vexatious, tyrannical, were a few of the ad- 
 jectives which dropped from the lips of that 
 learned gentleman. Mr. Bodkin appeared for the 
 British IMuseum Authorities, and finally, Mr. Jardine, 
 with encomiums on the personal worth of both the 
 disputants, considered nominal penalties with costs 
 sufficient to meet the exigencies of the case. 
 
 On the 2nd of February, 1853, appeared in The 
 Times a letter from Panizzi, to which our readers are 
 referred, but which is too lengthy to give verhatim 
 here. In this letter he says : — " I knew that the 
 Act had been extensively evaded, and I felt that I 
 ought to endeavour to enforce it better," and again, 
 " I determined to proceed with as much forbearance 
 as I should find consistent with a due performance of 
 my duty." He then refers to the fact that " pub- 
 lishers are bound to send their publications to the 
 Museum without receiving previous notice of their 
 omissions of so doing," and addresses the warning in 
 the shape of a circular prepared by the Solicitors of 
 the Trustees as a proof of their courtesy to those who 
 considered themselves hardly dealt with. If pub- 
 lishers refused to comply with the law, what alterna- 
 tive had Panizzi but to enforce compliance ? Was he 
 to purchase the books, or how was he to procure 
 them^ Pic states, and states justly too, " I have no 
 right to spend public money in encouraging non- 
 compliance with the law All I get is 
 
 blame. If the books are not in the Library, I am 
 found fault with, and I am found fault with if I use
 
 THE COPYKIGHT ACT 291 
 
 the only means I now have of procuring them," 
 Then he cites the increase in the delivery of books^ 
 i&c, 13, 934, * in 1852, against 9, 871 in 1851, 
 which certainly shows that his labours were not only 
 necessary, but by no means bare of practical results. 
 
 In The Times of the same date (February 2, 1853,) 
 appeared a leading article extolling the way in which 
 Panizzi did his duty as a public servant ; it notes the 
 peculiarity of the absence of Mr. Bohn's name in 
 this long letter, although Panizzi must have had him 
 in his mind at the time he was writing ; it deplores the 
 " ill-considered expressions " by which these gentle- 
 men appear to irritate one another, and winds up 
 with these words : — " It is a lamentable thing to see 
 two such men engaged in so petty and so discredit- 
 able a warfare, the simple result of which will be to 
 damage both combatants in the opinion of all sober 
 and moderate men." ^Mth this remark many will, 
 doubtless, agree, yet Panizzi's exceptional position as 
 a champion, it may be said almost of the whole world 
 (for the whole world has access to this store of 
 knowledge), must not be forgotten. lie him- 
 self appears to have considered Mr. Jardine as 
 biassed in his views, for he stigmatized the Act as 
 strong, and its enactments harsh; but in whatever light 
 we view the controversy, it Avould seem to have been 
 carried on with much acerbity, and this is certainly 
 to be regretted in the case of two such antagonists. 
 
 On the 3rd of February, 1853, Panizzi wrote to 
 Mr. Haywood, alluding to the ungrateful return 
 
 * These would not be looks proper; in fact, no more than a fifth; the 
 rest being parts of worlss, vutaic, vwjjs, dc. The number of hooha for 1879 
 being only about 8,000; not including music, maps, &-c. 
 
 U
 
 'J 92 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 made to him for his services. Having two months 
 before this seriously thought of returning his power of 
 attorney, when he was induced to retain it, he 
 says, " I am now bound, and have no wish to perform 
 that duty," then he alhides to the gratuity of £200 
 given to Sir Henry Ellis, and continues, " To me 
 nothing has ever been given, and I will not go on," 
 and with some pardonable self-laudation adds, " They 
 will soon see the difference in the number of books 
 which they Avill receive, between my fearless and 
 honest conduct, and that of anybody else whom they 
 may appoint." 
 
 Further correspondence followed in The Times — a 
 letter from Panizzi on the 3rd of February, 1853, and 
 one from Mr. Bohn on the 8th of the same month. 
 These letters possess no special interest ; the former 
 being Panizzi's re-statement of his case, and the latter 
 Mr. Bohn's rejoinder to the fresh insinuations, and his 
 own views on the subject. 
 
 On the 24th of February, 1853, Panizzi wrote to 
 Sir Henry Ellis, requesting that, Avhenever the sub- 
 ject of the re- enforcement of the Copyright Act was 
 again brought before the Trustees, he would " respect- 
 fully represent to them his strong wish of being ex- 
 cused from performing a duty which, in conformity 
 with the arrangement of 1837, under which he holds 
 office, was expressly assigned to the Secretary." 
 
 The great remedy for getting rid of all difficulties, 
 now-a-days, seems to be the taking up by Government 
 of important schemes, and the biographer has seen it 
 widely suggested : — " Let Government be the only 
 publisher, because alone having perfect means of
 
 THE COPYRIGHT ACT 293 
 
 publicity — publishing for all alike (at their own ex- 
 pense) and giving all alike an equal chance." 
 
 The Law of Copyright is about to come again 
 under the consideration of Parliament, when, we 
 cannot tell, but it would have delighted him whose 
 " Memoirs " we write to have listened to, and advised 
 fresh suggestions on, a subject with which he was so 
 intimately acquainted, and where his disinterested- 
 ness (so far as he himself was concerned) led to so 
 much mortification and such undeserved opprobrium. 
 
 -i-^^-^'^^^^T- 
 
 uU
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 Lord Vernon^ s Dante ; Sir G. Corneicall Letcis on Milton and 
 Dante ; CM era Francesco da Bologna ? John Harris. 
 
 URING 1848, Europe was greatly 
 disturbed by internal commotions, 
 calculated to unsettle thinking men, 
 and more especially those who 
 took an active interest in politics. 
 It is a matter for astonishment, therefore, that 
 Panizzi, whose share in such agitation was by no 
 means inconsiderable, should have found time and in- 
 clination to devote himself to literary productions. 
 Nevertheless, indulging in the aspirations for freedom 
 which were then moving nations he yet was 
 able to dedicate much of his time to literature. 
 
 Indeed, it is almost incredible how he could, with 
 so much on his brain, have given himself up to 
 the editing of Dante. Of the great Italian poet 
 so much might be written that it would be but 
 irrelevant to this biography to leave the principal 
 mover in it, even temporarily, to dilate on so 
 exalted a subject. We must, therefore, merely ob- 
 serve that Panizzi was deeply impressed with the 
 
 II
 
 Dante's poems 295 
 
 importance of Dante's poetry, which excelled all 
 
 that had preceded it, and was 
 written in the lingua vidgare^ 
 only that it might be under- 
 stood, by the people, who de- 
 lighted in its inexhaustible 
 treasures. Five centuries have 
 elajDsed since the great Floren- 
 tine wrote his Divina Com- 
 media, which has now become 
 the property and admiration 
 of the Avhole civilized world. 
 The editions of it are very numerous, but it is with 
 the first four we have now tc deal. 
 
 The earliest is the Edith Princeps, of Foligno, 
 by Numeister, bearing date 1472. In the same year 
 Avere also j)i'iiited one edition at Jesi, by Federico 
 Veronese, and another at Mantua, by Gcrmanus, 
 Giorgio e Paolo. That at Naples was edited by 
 Giovanni Francesco del Tuppo, printed by Reuss- 
 inger, and appeared three years later. 
 
 An idea of the value and importance of the volume 
 edited by Panizzi, at the expense of Lord Vernon 
 (published by Messrs. T. and W. Boone, and printed 
 by Charles Whittingham), may be formed by the 
 mere fact that these first four editions are here 
 united in one, which, to the student, must prove an 
 invaluable boon, as he is thus enabled to perceive at 
 a glance the variations in the text. 
 
 These editions can only be found altogether at the 
 British Museum, thougli separate copies exist in 
 other libraries also.
 
 296 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHOJVfY PAISIZZI 
 
 In the year 1835, Mr. Grcnville gave the sum of 
 £60 for the copy printed at Naples, and in 1842 
 he purcliased for £1^2. 16s. Od. the Mantua edition, 
 •which two copies are now in the British Museum, 
 forming part of his munificent bequest to the Nation. 
 
 From Panizzi's preface we learn that he gave £90 
 to Mr. Asher, of Berlin, for the Jesi Dante, in wdiich 
 six pages were missing. Fac-similes were made by 
 John Harris, from a copy in the possession of Earl 
 Spencer. Later on, Mr. Winter Jones, at that 
 time Keeper of the Printed Books, purchased another 
 incomplete copy, from which he was enabled to re- 
 place four more x^^^S^s, thus rendering it all but 
 comjDlete. 
 
 Two copies of the Foligno Edition are to be found 
 in the same Library — the most favoured possessor in 
 the world of early editions of Dante. 
 
 Lord Vernon could have no better oj^portunity of 
 reprinting them in London. In securing the as- 
 sistance of Panizzi, whose knowledge and precision 
 were of the utmost importance, he was most fortun- 
 ate. Moreover, the printing of the book in ques- 
 tion is highly creditable to British typography. 
 It is a folio of 800 pages, with a preface by the 
 Editor, and contains fac-similes ot the originals. Lord 
 Vernon, being a corresponding member, dedicated it 
 to the Accademia della Crusca. 
 
 The preliminaries for this work, which was pub- 
 lished in 1858, were entered into just ten years before; 
 and a memorandum from Lord Vernon, dated October 
 23, 1848, is extant, in which he makes a proposal to 
 Panizzi that the sum of £50 should be paid to him
 
 DANTf:S POEMS. 
 
 297 
 
 every six months, until the completion of the work — 
 the said payment to terminate in four years — the 
 whole sum amounting in the aggregate to £400. 
 
 In this transaction Mr. Pickering was consulted. 
 
 Panizzi lost no time, and was evidently eager to 
 begin a task so congenial to his taste ; for barely a 
 week afterwards (to quote his own words) he wrote to 
 Lord Vernon, " I have set to work without a moment's 
 delay, putting aside every other unofficial occupation.' 
 
 The question relating to the latter part of the fol- 
 lowing letter of Lord Vernon, seems to have arisen 
 from a misunderstanding as to the use of the word Jus 
 for this ; and will be best explained by giving his Lord- 
 ship's letter, in addition to Panizzi's very characteristic 
 
 reply : — 
 
 "Florence, 21st Nov., 1848.. 
 " My Dear Sir, 
 
 I am very liajopy to find that ]Mr. Pickering's 
 
 proposal has met with your approval, as it did witli mine. 
 
 As for myself, I can only con- 
 gratulate myself at having liad 
 the good fortune to secure 
 yoiu- valuable assistance at any 
 price within my means. 
 
 Eespccting the correction 
 of the press, you are right in 
 supposing that it was intended 
 to apply not only to the part 
 Avhich more immediately con- 
 cerns yourself, but to the whole 
 work. If, however, you think 
 that the revision of my part of 
 the work will be a great fatigue, 
 and take up too much of your 
 
 time, I am willing to omit this from the conditions above
 
 298 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 stated. I must, however, in this case, beg of you to name 
 your own terms, in case it suited you to undertake it, or else 
 to find some one else in whose capacity and judgment you 
 have confidence, and who will have some discretion in his 
 demands upon my purse. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Vernon." 
 " B. M., Nov. 30th, 1848. 
 
 « My dear Lord, 
 
 In thanking you for your kind expressions towards 
 Eie, I beg to add that I cannot allow you to incur any expense 
 whatever for correcting your own edition of the Inferno. 
 I consider it part of my duty, according to the terms of the 
 memorandum of the 23rd of October, as explained in my 
 Icttter to your Lordship on the 31st of the same month, to 
 correct the press of that Cantiea ; I am at your Lordship's 
 orders, and ready to perform that duty to tlie best of my 
 ;abilities. 
 
 I suppose I shall hear from Mr. Pickering when I am 
 wanted in that respect. With reference to the text of the 
 iirst four editions, twelve cantos of the first (Foligno) are 
 prepared for collation with those of JNIantua, Jesi, and Naples. 
 
 By midsummer I hope the greater part, if not the whole 
 of the first part of the poem, will be thus collated and ready 
 for press. The printing will proceed slowly, as I am to re- 
 collate the whole in type. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 As early as September, 1849, there was already 
 sufficient material for going to press ; but though 
 Panizzi continually wrote to his Lordship urging the 
 necessity of beginning to print, a year elapsed with- 
 out any communication on the subject, and Avithout 
 any progress with the work. From a letter in the 
 month of June, 1851, Lord Vernon appears to have
 
 Dante's poems 299 
 
 •been somewhat discouraged ; the booksellers not 
 having taken up the matter in so spirited a manner 
 as he anticipated, and Panizzi complaining, not with- 
 out reason, that the work seems to have come almost 
 to a stand still, consoled himself by addressing the 
 following letter to Mr. E. White, his Lordship's 
 solicitor : — 
 
 " British Museum, May 5th, 1852. 
 
 ** Dear Sir, 
 
 It is not for me to suggest to his Lordship any course of 
 proceeding; as, however, I am not totally indifferent with 
 respect to the determination he may come to, I hope to be 
 forgiven for saying a very few words on the subject. 
 
 When I undertook to carry out Lord Vernon's wishes 
 expressed in the memorandum handed to me by Mr. Picker- 
 ing, and confirmed by his Lordship's subsequent letters, I was 
 not only moved by the pecuniary remuneration which Lord 
 Vernon was pleased to propose to me, I looked forward to the 
 time when the work should be published, from which I 
 expected some credit. I cannot, therefore, feel indifterent to 
 his Lordship's determination as to publishing; nor can I 
 receive without some slight observation the sum which Lord 
 Vernon proposed to me as a remuneration for a certain work, 
 without fulfilling on my part the obligations I have incurred. 
 These I am most anxious to perform, but it is impossible for 
 me to do so if Lord Vernon does not order a printer to print 
 the manuscript which I have not failed to prepare as agree 1, 
 and in a manner which his Lordship had fully approved of. 
 
 I am not less desirous to perform what I have undertaken, 
 than I am of receiving the remuneration which I was led to 
 expect for it; and it would be very painful to me if his Lord- 
 ship merely performed his part of the agreement without 
 •enabling me to perform mine. 
 
 Yours. &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzt."
 
 300 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI. 
 
 Much to the editor's dehght, however, work was^ 
 resumed; and by the summer of 1854 Mr. Whittmg- 
 ham had already sent in a bill for printing the 
 Inferno. 
 
 Such was the beauty of the work that it deeply 
 impressed Lord Vernon's sensitive nature, and in the 
 following year he desired that the Purgatorio 
 should be forthwith proceeded with, but as the first 
 portion approached completion, his Lordship became 
 anxious as to the title of the book and its disposal, as 
 the following letter clearly testifies : —   
 
 "Nov. 4, 1856, 
 
 Hotel Westminster, 
 
 Eue de la Paix, Paris. 
 
 " Dear Mr. PanizzI, 
 
 What shall we call tlie union of four elitionsin 
 one? I cannot think of a word. You cannot call it " Tes- 
 ceraglott," because it is one "glotte," or language, though not 
 quite in one dialect. If I remember right, there is in Ugo 
 Foscolo's edition rather a learned disquisition about the cause- 
 of the diflerence in the texts of the early editions, viz., the 
 dlflerence in the dialect of the early copyists, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 I wrs thinking of derlicating the book to tlie Criisca (of 
 which I am a most unworthy corresponding member), if you 
 see no objection to it. What plan would you recommend me 
 to pursue for the publication of this book, and of my own edi- 
 tion of the " Inferno ?" Had I better sell it to some book- 
 seller for a certain sum, or had I better let the bookseller sell 
 it on my account, receiving so much percent? Or had I 
 better sell it by auction, or had I better give it all away? 
 
 What bookseller to employ I know not, nor whether tO' 
 publish it in England, France, or Italy. 
 
 Then as to price (if a price it is to have). What might it: 
 be ? There will be 2 vols, folio — viz., one of the text with
 
 Dante's poems. 30i 
 
 ray paraphrastic interpretation (I say this because it is not 
 exactly a paraphrase, inasmuch as no single word of the 
 original is omitted). 2nd. A volume also in folio of illustrative 
 matters ; and 3rd, 1 vol. folio, the album Dantesco with ex- 
 planatory notes. 
 
 I say folio, but perhaps it is royal 4to., I do not know how 
 this may be, but they will all be tlio same size. T shall be 
 very thankful when it is off my hands. 
 
 If I had health I should do the " Purgatorio." The 
 " Paradiso " is too philosophical and metaphysical and theo- 
 logical for my poor simple head. It is a pity, however, 
 that the other two Cantiche should not be done, as it would 
 add considerably to the value of the book. 
 
 There is another way of publication — viz., subscription, 
 but I do not much like tliis. 
 
 Yours, &c., c^c., 
 
 Vernon." 
 
 This letter was followed not long afterwards by 
 another, in which Lord Vernon entered into details 
 regarding the sale and profits likely to accrue from it. 
 He was, evidently, still undecided as to the title of 
 the book, and urged Panizzi to suggest one. 
 
 As to the place of publication, liis Lordship, with 
 a certain amount of reason, desired that it should bo 
 in London ; he very justly observes that : — " Being 
 done at the expanse of an Englishman, printed in 
 England, on English paper, and from four editions, 
 which are found together only in the Britisli Museum, 
 moreover, being tlie homage of an I^^nglishman. to 
 Italy's greatest poet, to her literature, and to her 
 most celebrated x\cademies, it would appear with 
 better grace, as coming from London, tlian any 
 Italian city."
 
 502 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 By March, 1858, the book was completed, when 
 Lord Vernon expressed himself thus : " I hope to 
 hear in a short time that, like the Great Leviathan, 
 it has overcome all stops and hindrances, and been 
 fairly launched in the stream of literature." 
 
 Some writers — and amongst them the subject of 
 our memoir — have looked upon Milton as an occa- 
 sional imitator of Dante. A propos of this theory 
 (which may best be studied in Professor Masson's 
 biography of the great Puritan poet), we propose to 
 give, at some length, a correspondence on the subject 
 between Panizzi and Sir G. Cornewall Lewis. The 
 
 letters of the former are so full 
 of sound thought and such fair 
 specimens of his literary know- 
 ledge,, that we append them, 
 together with Sir G. C. Lewis's 
 reply, for the reader's edifica- 
 tion 
 
 "Britisli Museum, 
 
 January 22, 1856. 
 
 " My dear Sir Greorge, 
 
 I have been looking 
 whether my memory had served 
 me right as to Milton having occasionally imitated Dante, 
 •which I mentioned on Sunday, when we were speaking 
 of Dante being or not being known in England before the last 
 ccntviry. I have found several passages which I think bear 
 me out ; for instance : — 
 
 * Non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda, e passa.' 
 
 * Tlierefore eternal silence be their doom.' — P. L. 6, 385. 
 But I don't quote more, as in his prose works (vol. IV., p. 
 
 11, edit, of 1753) he actually quotes as his authority against 
 Eome Dante's lines, c. 19, v. 115 — 
 
 %
 
 MILTON AND DANTE 305 
 
 *Alii Costantin, di quanto, mal fu matre,' and translates them 
 
 thus : — 
 
 ' Ah, Constantine ! of how much ill was cause 
 
 Not thy conversion, but those rich demains 
 That the first wealthy Pope receiv'd of thee.' 
 and then he, moreover, refers to the twentieth Canto of the- 
 Paradiso. 
 
 It is curious to see, not long after Milton — or, perhaps, at- 
 the same time — Stillingfleet, in his Origines Sacraj (Book 2nd, 
 ch. 9, sec. 19, and ch. 10, sec. 5) quote Dante as an authority on 
 the truth of Christianity, but he gives the verses in a Latin 
 translation by F. S. (I have not looked to see who F. S. was.) 
 Spenser, too, has imitated Dante, I think. Tradubio, who 
 is turned into a tree and speaks, of Pier dellc Vigne. 
 ' Uomini fummo, ed or siam fatti sterpi.' 
 'But once a man, Tradubio, now a tree.' 
 Chaucer has often imitated Dante, whom he calls (Wife 
 of Bath's Tale, v. 6708, in Tyrwhitt's edit.) ' the wise poet of 
 Florence — that highte Dante,' of whom he translated imme- 
 diately after the lines: — 
 
 ' Eade volte discende per li rami,' &c. 
 ' Full selde up riseth by his branches small,' &c. ; 
 and in the IMonk's Tale the whole of Ugolino's Story is trans- 
 lated, and he ends by referring to 
 
 ' The grete poete of Itaille — 
 
 That highte Dante 'as its author. 
 
 And now I end in haste. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 " Kent House, Jan. 25, 185G. 
 " Dear Panizzi, 
 
 The imitation of Dante in Milton's verse — 
 ' Tliercfore eternal silence be their doom ' — seems to me doubt- 
 ful. The quotation of the celebrated passage ' Ahi Costantin ' 
 does not prove that Milton had read Dante — he might have 
 found this anti-papal citation in some controversial work.
 
 304 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 I have no doubt that scattered references to particular 
 passages and particular expressions in a writer so sterling, and 
 once too well-known, can be found at all periods. But is there 
 any evidence that Milton's contemporaries read Dante, and 
 understood and admired him, and were influenced by his 
 poetry in their compositions ? 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 a. C. Le^vis." 
 
 "B. M., Jan. 26, 1856. 
 " My dear Sir George, 
 
 Dante says : — • 
 ' Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa y 
 Misericordia c Giustizia o;li sdeo-na. 
 Non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda, c passa.' 
 And Milton : — 
 
 • Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, 
 Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell ; 
 • ••••• 
 
 Therefore eternal silence be their doom.' 
 
 —P. L., 6. 380-5. 
 Take the whole, and it seems to me that the Eno-lish is in 
 imitation of the Italian. But great poets, when they imitate, 
 they do so making the images their own ; they don't copy, 
 but they abridge, add, and alter so as to appeir original, and 
 so does Milton. I find that he once translated one line 
 Dante, at the beginning of the Paradiso, c. 1, v. 12, says: 
 
 ' Sara ova materia del mio canto,' 
 And Milton, P. L., 3. 413 :— 
 
 ' Shall Le the copious matter of my song? 
 And compare also what he says of tl.e sun in that book 
 (v. 586), with the very first lines of the Canto of Dante. 
 In his sonnet to Henry Lawes, Milton says : — 
 
 ' Dante shall give Fame leave to set thee higher 
 Than his Casella, whom he woo'd to si no-. 
 Met in the milder shades of Purgatory.'
 
 MILTOX AND DANTE. 305 
 
 Now this alludes to Purg. c. 2, v. lOG, and ' the milder shades 
 of Purt^atoiy when compared to those of Hell, seem to show 
 that Milton had read both. 
 
 Add to this that Milton knew Italian thoroughly, that he had 
 passed some time at Florence, where Dante was never forgotten, 
 and that Gralileo, and still more Dati, were intimate friends of 
 his. Now, Galileo and Dati were great admirers of Dante, and 
 placed him in the highest rank of poets. 
 
 I cannot, therefore, doubt that Milton was thoroughly con- 
 versant with Dante's poetry, and admired him. How far he 
 was influenced by his poetry in his compositions, would re- 
 quire a long critical essay ; the more difhcult to draw up satis- 
 factorily, tlie more is the originality of a great poet like Milton 
 in appropriating other poet's ideas. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Whatever may liave been the ultimate settlement 
 of this friendly discussion, Panizzi's estimate of Sir 
 George's talents and abilities may be accurately 
 gathered from tiie next letter we quote, which asks 
 him to become a candidate for a vacant Trusteeship 
 
 of the British Museum. 
 
 " British Museum, August 16, 1856. 
 " My dear Sir George, 
 
 The Dean of Westminster is dead: he was one 
 of our Trustees. We want as his successor an ]M.P. who will 
 help us when not in oHice, who is pretty safe of his seat, and 
 whose pursuits render him fit for the place. Now, without 
 any ceremony, you are the man we want, and I mean to do 
 ■what little I can to bring your name 1 efore the electors. 
 There can be no difficulty, as the Government necessarily get 
 elected whom they please. I want no answer from you, except 
 if you decidedly object: in which case I want you only to 
 write the word no. I hope, however, you will accept ' la 
 candidature,' as the French say. I think Curcton ought to 
 be elected Dean. He is one of the most eminent Oriental
 
 306 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI 
 
 scholars in the world, as you know — and certainly tlio most 
 eminent in England. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 A. Pamzzi." 
 "P.S. — I know Lord Clarendon is staying with you. 
 Please show him this : I am sure he will see that it is done — 
 I mean for you." 
 
 The hopes thus expressed Avere realized, as, on the 
 27th of February of the following year (1857), Sir 
 George C. Lewis was appointed one of the Trustees 
 of our famous Institution. 
 
 And here may be given an extract from a letter of 
 J. A. Carlj'le (Thomas Carlyle's brother), also on the 
 topic of Dante's poems, which deserves recognition, 
 as a proof of the esteem in which Panizzi was uni- 
 versally held, in especial by Englishmen. 
 
 " 20th December, 1848. 
 " I really wish you could find leisure to write something 
 expressly concerning the times in which Dante lived. You 
 could do it better tlian any other person, and it has now 
 become very necessary." 
 
 And now, let us proceed to 
 another publication. In the 
 year 1858 Panizzi issued, for 
 his friends, a charming little 
 work, beautifully printed, also 
 oy Charles "Whittingham. 
 
 Wi'itten in Italian, and dedi- 
 cated to H.R.H the Duke 
 d'Aumale, only 250 <;opies were 
 printed, under the title of Chi 
 tra Francesco dec Bologna ? — 
 proving, so far as the ques- 
 tion could be then proved, that the said Francesco
 
 FK.'LN'CESCO RAIBOLINI. 307 
 
 da Bologna was no other than the celebrated painter. 
 Francesco Raibolini, born about 1450, and com- 
 monly called il F'rancia. The name of Francia 
 he derived from his master, a goldsinith, die, and 
 niello engraver. According to Vasari and a docu- 
 ment discovered by Calvi, his death took place on 
 the 6th of January, 1517.* Francesco Raibolini 
 was at once, in common with many of his compeers, 
 goldsmith and type-cutter, as well as a painter, 
 and to his skilful hands, Aldus, whose name they bear, 
 was indebted for his characters. From Panizzi, we 
 learn that, " at the end of the short Preface prefixed 
 by Aldus to his first edition of Virgil (1501), printed 
 in the cursive or secretarial characters manum menti- 
 entcs, afterwards generally known by the name of 
 Aldine, are the following three verses : — 
 
 I^' GRAMMATOGLTPTiE 
 
 Laudem. 
 " Qui grails dedit Aldus, en latinis 
 Dat nunc grammata scalpta dccdaleis 
 Francisci manibus Bononiensis," 
 
 (Translation). In praise of the type-engraver. Aldus now 
 gives to the Latins, as he gave to the Grreeks, letters graven by 
 the dcudal hands of Francesco da Bologna. 
 
 Besides cutting types, Francesco used them too, for 
 he set \\\) a press at his native town, Bologna, in 
 1516, and printed several works, now rare, as, for in- 
 stance, " II Canzoniere " of Petrarch, " L' Arcadia di 
 Sannazaro " and " Gli Asolani " of Bembo, " II Corbac- 
 cio" and the " Epistolae ad Familiares " of Cicero. 
 
 * The date as in the document in question is 1517. The old custom of 
 beginning the ecclesiastical and legal year on the 25th ©f March was never 
 established at Bologna. 
 
 X
 
 308 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTIIO^'Y PAXIZZI. 
 
 About 1503, Francesco quarrelled with Aldus, and 
 we find, in a letter prefixed to the edition of Petrarch, 
 that he bitterly complains of deriving no honour or 
 profits from the types he had himself cut. It is noto- 
 rious that Aldus freely gave out that he was not only 
 the inventor, but also the cutter ; and, therefore, the 
 work by Panizzi, to say nothing of its beauty, is of 
 great importance, for it does justice to the real in- 
 ventor, and this discovery is due to the author of the 
 pamphlet, who, besides, enlightens us, in clear lan- 
 guage, respecting the distinguished Bolognese : — 
 
 " From the beginning of printing up to a time not 
 far distant from our own, the engravers of punches 
 for types were goldsmiths, die-sinkers, medallists, 
 niellists, — masters in their art. It will be found m 
 Zani that Fust and Schocff'er were goldsmiths, and so, 
 it is believed, Avas Guttenbcrg ; while, in the opinion 
 of the said Zani, it was Giovanni Dunne, ' a most ex- 
 cellent goldsmith, wlio led the way in the formation 
 of metal types.' . . . Every one knows how dis- 
 tinguished Francia was as a goldsmith, his first and 
 chief profession, and how frequently he signed his 
 paintings with the words, ' Franciscus Francia auri- 
 faber,' or ' aurifex,' as if he gloried in the designa- 
 tion. Vasari says, in the Life of Francia, that his 
 fine medals stood on a par with those of Caradosso ; 
 but he says never a word of the Furnius conjured up 
 by Gaurico." 
 
 " I had long suspected that this Francesco da 
 Bologna, was no other than the Bolognese Francesco 
 Raibolini, generally known as ' Francia.' Some 
 years ago, in running through a work of some note
 
 FRANCESCO RAIBOLINI. 309 
 
 in former times, I found that after mentioning various 
 ancient artists, exactly as Gaurico does, it went on to 
 speak of the modern ones thus : — * I find amongst 
 the ancients one great omission of which the moderns 
 take notice, and that is with regard to engravers or 
 artists in silver, a kind of work known as niello. I 
 am acquainted with a man of the highest excellence, 
 and very famous in his art, his name is Francesco 
 da Bologna, otherwise Franza ; he forms or engraves 
 on a diminutive orb or plate of silver, so many men 
 and animals, so many mountains, trees, and castles, 
 and in so many various shapes and positions that it is 
 wonderful to behold or describe.' " 
 
 " And here I might stop," continues Panizzi, "were 
 it not that the direct testimony of Leonardi is cor- 
 roborated irrefragably by a very remarkable circum- 
 stance .... I think I may conclude by answering 
 the question which I have put to myself, thus : — 
 Francesco da Bologna ivas Francesco JRaibolhii, 
 called Francia, the worthy contemporary and com- 
 patriot of Leonardo, Raphael, and Michel Angelo, 
 great as a painter, great as an engraver, great as a 
 medallist, great as a niellist, without equal as a type- 
 cutter, a shining ornament of illustrious and learned 
 Bologna." 
 
 Conclusive as Panizzi's argument appeared to be, 
 there were, of course, dissentients, and among them 
 was Count Giacomo Manzoni, who, in a jocular letter 
 to the late Librarian of the Laurenziana (Florence) 
 Cav. Ferrucci, expressed his doubts. Panizzi, in a 
 tone of equal good humour, confuted the Count, 
 and issued a second edition in 1873, contain- 
 x2
 
 CIO THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 ing his answer to Count Manzoni's suggested objec- 
 tions. 
 
 The " bijou " work (or as Monsieur Brunet, the 
 celebrated bibliophile termed it, un veritable bijou 
 typograjyhique), once out of the publisher's hands, it 
 was circulated amongst Panizzi's friends, and trans- 
 ilated by Mr. Charles Cannon. The laudatory letters, 
 replete with thanks, which followed were numerous, 
 but as an example of these, that from the already 
 mentioned Mons. Brunet must suffice : — 
 
 " Paris, 30 Nov., 1858. 
 
 " Monsieur, 
 
 J'ai Hen tarde a vous remercier du charmant 
 opuscule que M. Merimee m' a fait I'honneur de me remettre do 
 votre part. C'est qu' avant dc vous ecrire je voulais avoir pris 
 connaissance de cette curieuse dissertation, et que maiheureuse- 
 ment, occupe sans relache d'un travail in extremis, pour ma 
 nouvelle edition, il me reste bien peu de temps a donner a 
 mes plaisirs. C'en a ete un veritable pour moi de vous lire et 
 d'admirer I'exactitrude de vos fac-simile. Vos conjectures, 
 Monsieur, sur Francesco de Bologna, me paraissent bien 
 fondees : elles font connaitre tout le merite d'un artiste, que 
 iusqu'ici, on avait regarde seulement comme un habile 
 graveur de poingons a I'usage des imprimeurs. 
 
 A I'egard de ces poinfons, pcrmettez moi, Monsieur, de 
 faire ici une reserve en faveur de I'Alde I'ancien. Get impri- 
 meur, a ce qu'il parait, les a achetes de Francesco, il en a fait 
 frapper les matrices necessaires pour la fonte des caracteres 
 cursifs dontil a faitun si frequent usage a partir de 1501. Or, 
 avant de se livrer aux depenses considerables ou cela devait   
 I'entrainer, il a du naturellement se reserver la propriete exclu- ' 
 sive des objects acquis par lui, alors s'il en agit ainsi, il a eu" 
 raison de se plaindre de ce que I'artiste eut livre des caracteres 
 5cmblables a Geronimo Soncino pour son Petrarque de 1503,
 
 JOHN HARRIS. 311 
 
 et il etait parfaitement dans son droit loTsqu'il sollicitait et 
 obtcnalt du Pape un privilege exclusif pour ses nouveaux 
 caracteres. 
 
 Je connaissais deja plusieurs des petites editions donnees par 
 Francesco, en 1516, mais pas le Ciceron, et j"ignorais que cet 
 artiste n'eut exerce la Typographic, que moins d'une annee. 
 J'aurais, j'en suis certain bien d'autres choses a apprendre de 
 vous, Monsieur, qui possedez de si grandes connaissances en ce 
 genre, mais, a mon grand regret, eloigne de vous pour 
 toujours, ct occupe de terminer un travail que mon grand age 
 m'avertit de limiter, je ne pourrai guere profiter des secours 
 
 que vous m'avez si obligemment offerts lorsque j'ai eu le plaisir 
 de vous voir, 
 
 Agreez, &c., &c., 
 
 Brunet." 
 The fac-similes which are placed at the end of the 
 work were executed by John Harris, Lincomimra- 
 hile Harris, as Panizzi was in the habit of styling 
 him. As a fac-similist he stood alone. So correct 
 and so wonderful were his productions, that Panizzi 
 himself adopted the safe plan of writing, in pencil, on 
 the margin of them, " This is by J. H. — A. P." He 
 eventually lost his sight, and died very poor. Some 
 of the leaves supplied by him are so perfectly done 
 that, after a few years, he himself experienced some 
 difficulty in distinguishing his own work from the 
 original. On one occasion a question arose as to the 
 completeness of a certain copy of a rare book in the 
 Museum Library ; it was brought to light and care- 
 fully examined by Panizzi, Mr. Jones, and Mr. AA atts. 
 After a fruitless search, page by page, a consultation 
 ended in a summons to Harris himself to point out the 
 leaves that he had supplied. It was only after a very 
 close examination that the artist was able to detect his
 
 312 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 own handiwork. This circumstance induced Panizzi to 
 to initial all such fac-similes. The reader is recom- 
 mended to examine a book in the National Library, 
 — a copy of Magna Charta, as a specimen of his 
 skill. 
 
 Mr. Grenville employed Harris largely. On one 
 occasion he supplied a few missing leaves to a rare 
 book, and after it was shown to connoisseurs, the 
 venerable gentleman presented him with the book. 
 
 So much for Panizzi's literary abilities and his dis- 
 cernment and success in this sphere of his many and 
 arduous labours, in which he exhibited the same 
 powers of mind and application as in all the varied 
 occupations of his busy life. Enough has, however, 
 been said to show how, amongst all his other multi- 
 farious and unceasing occupations, he found time to 
 dedicate his mind to literature, and literature of a 
 class to demand the greatest application and labour 
 of the brain. 
 
 -H-e^^ffl+Jgs^r^o-f-
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 3Imor Incidents ; Holland Mouse ; Sydney Smith ; Ecclesiastical 
 Conunission Act (1836); Jusej)]' Paries; Count d' Orsay ; Lord 
 Melbourne ; Mrs. Xorton : Dr. Hampden's Case ; Watts' Portrait 
 of Panizzi ; Lord Holland; Hardy's Life of Jjord Lanydale. 
 
 ^'iTHEETO our work has consisted for 
 the most part of details of important 
 facts : it may, therefore, be well for a 
 time to digress, and to string together 
 some of the minor incidents of Panizzi's 
 life, without which this could scarcely claim to be a 
 faithful biography. To recount such small traits of 
 character may be deemed simply gossip ; yet, on re- 
 flection, it is not so, as it is thus that true light is 
 brought to bear on the man's character, and, by these 
 details, an opportunity is given of judging disposition 
 and intentions, which could not otherwise have been 
 afibrded. In presenting the following items, therefore, 
 to our readers, accompanied as our observations are by 
 original correspondence, we sim])ly perform tlie duty 
 which should be fulfilled by every honest biographer. 
 In a life like Panizzi's, much importance is attached to 
 what, at first, may appear insignificant, relating in a 
 great degree to the society of which he was a member.
 
 314 
 
 TH? LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 
 The name of Holland House has long been notable 
 as the headquarters of one of the most delightful of 
 London coteries, not only for the celebrity in the 
 woTld of letters of its immediate frequenters, but also 
 for the eminence in political life of many more who 
 resorted thither. Whether or no the Church was 
 adequately represented in the person of that wittiest, 
 
 and most genial of ecclesiastics, 
 Sydney Smith, certain it is that 
 the society of the place would 
 have been greatly the loser by his 
 absence. Here Panizzi, who, in 
 proportion to the sterling worth 
 of his company, appears ever to 
 "^y^ have been a welcome guest, very 
 soon after his arrival in London 
 established a footing ; and at the 
 time of her marriage, in 1833, the 
 l^resent Lady Holland found him already an habitue of 
 Holland House, in company with such distinguished 
 individuals as Lord Grey, Lansdowne, and Brougham. 
 Moore, Jeffrey, and Allen. 
 
 Speaking from personal knowledge of Panizzi, we 
 are inclined, in a great measure, to ascribe his re- 
 markable social successes to that innate and subtle 
 quality with which so few men comparatively are 
 endowed — perhaps happily so ; for want of a better 
 term, let us call it personal influence. In this respect 
 he has always seemed to suggest to us a comparison 
 of him with the late Dr. Arnold. The latter was 
 apparently a man of great mental powers and amiable
 
 HOLLAND HOUSE. 315 
 
 disposition ; still, in his own peculiar sphere, many of 
 his contemporaries may have equalled, and some even 
 surpassed him. 
 
 This may be true to a certain extent ; hut, con- 
 sidering the talents which this great man possessed, it 
 seems almost absurd to remark that some of his own 
 pupils have attributed to him a deficiency of that sixth 
 sense which is generally regarded as the most judicious 
 controller and regulator of our actions — sense of 
 humour. With men of discernment and of note, 
 there is, however, always some distinguishing quality, 
 — so in the case of Arnold and Panizzi it happened 
 that, whereas the one was calculated to instil into those 
 with whom he came in contact awe, the other was 
 ever welcome, from the congeniality of his disposition. 
 Nor in savino- this do we detract in tlie smallest degree 
 from the mental or moral worth of either. For this 
 quality of personal influence, although, like " reading 
 and writing," it comes " by nature," yet is nevertheless 
 dependent for continuous life and maintenance upon 
 genuine merit in its subject. 
 
 Like mates not always with like, and the cha- 
 racters of Panizzi and Sydney Smith must have 
 differed very widely ; yet, notwithstanding all diver- 
 gences of mental constitution, it was not long ere an 
 intimate friendship sprang up between them. 
 
 In the year 1836 the Ecclesiastical Commission Act, 
 for the supervision and re-adjustment of certain of the 
 revenues and sources of revenue of the English Church, 
 was passed. It must be conceded that this Commis- 
 sion made a pretty clean sweep of not a few offices in 
 the Church hardly worthy the expense of retention.
 
 316 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTIIOXY PANIZZI. 
 
 as well as of others more venerable for antiquity than 
 valuable in point of usefulness ; and for many years it 
 had to bear the brunt of accusations, not always made 
 by those who objci^t to the most moderate reforms. 
 It is only lately, indeed, tliat we have ourselves listened 
 to some, who might long ago have been wearied of, 
 though truly they were not satiated with, their denun- 
 ciations of this, to them, wanton act of spoliation, this 
 invasion of the rights of the Church, &c., &c., &c. 
 
 On the side of the assailants, Sydney Smith put in 
 a very early ajjpearance. His attack upon the arbi- 
 trary power given to the Commission, and on the little 
 protection alibrded to, and the little heed taken of, 
 the rights of the poorer clergy, lasted until 1840 ; in 
 which year a petition, presented by him, in July, 
 against it, was read in the House of Lords by the 
 Bishop of Hochcster. 
 
 Sydney Smith was warmly rebuked, for that he, a 
 professedly consistent lYhig, should have borne himself 
 with so much hostility towards the rulers of his party. 
 However, his correspondence on the subject during 
 these four years was extensive, and a letter written by 
 him to Panizzi, criticising the conduct of the Bishops, 
 is certainly worthy of reproduction : 
 
 "21 December, 183G. 
 
 Combe Florey. 
 " My dear Panizzi, 
 
 Various Bishops, of whom the Archbisliop of 
 Canterbury is at the head, on the Ecclesiastical Commission, 
 combine in recommending tliat the revenues of their various 
 churches should be seized, the patronage confiscated, and the 
 numbers abridged. Now, tlie Archbishop, at his consecration, 
 took a solemn oath that he would preserve the rights, revenues,
 
 SYDNEY SMITH. 817 
 
 and property of his Cathedral ; moreover, m the debates on 
 the Catholic question, the said Archbishop laid a great stress 
 upon the King's oath at his Coronation, so did the Bishop of 
 London. I have no books here; would you do me the favour 
 to look into the debates on that subject, and extract any short 
 passage from the speeches of either of the prelates on the 
 sanctity and impoi^tance of this oath. You will find what 
 has been said, of course, in Hansard. I shall be much obliged 
 to you to do this for me. 
 
 Ever yours truly, 
 
 Sydney Smith." 
 Fortunately even the power of Sydney Smith's 
 opposition failed to hinder the carrying out of a re- 
 form, perhaps the least revolutionary that could have 
 been devised for the administration of the property 
 of the Church. 
 
 In the same proportion as diversity of topics enters 
 into a series of correspondence,, will, as a rule, be the 
 amount of amusement to be derived by the public 
 from its perusal. But one more letter from Sydney 
 Smith to Panizzi is in our possession, and this, so far 
 as it goes, and in conjunction with the letter already 
 quoted, sufficiently fulfils the above condition. It 
 certainly treats of no grave question of ecclesiastical 
 or other politics, but is concerned with nothing mean 
 or unimportant, since it relates to an invitation to 
 dinner sent by the writer to the recipient, and is 
 eminently characteristic of its author : — 
 
 "23 April, 1844, 
 " ]\Ty dear Panizzi, 
 
 I wrote to you two or three times inviting you to 
 
 dinner for the SGth. Pcreiving no answer, I concluded you 
 
 were dead, and I invited your executors. News, however, 
 
 came that you were out of town. I should as soon have
 
 318 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 thought of St. Paul's or the Monument being out of town, 
 but as it was positively asserted, I have filled up your place. 
 I hope to be more fortunate on another occasion. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Sydney Smith." 
 
 During this part of his career — as indeed so long 
 as he could himself write — Panizzi's general corres- 
 pondence was too voluminous to allow of much 
 selection; for the notes and explanations thereon, 
 Avhen at hand or to be obtained, would inordinately 
 increase the bulk of this work. We, therefore, sub- 
 join but a few specimens, which mostly speak for 
 
 themselves : — 
 
 " Westminster, 
 
 Dec. 4, 1842. 
 
 " Dear Panizzl, 
 
 What a d fellow you are ; a man of taste and 
 
 accomplishment to write such a cursed illegible hand, that 
 only the devil liimself could decipher you. The truth is that 
 when you spoke to me about your note, I really did not sec 
 the point of its contents. I opened it in my office full of 
 angry Jew creditors of a client. I just ran through it, could 
 not decipher half, and seeing it was on literature, no business, 
 I interred it alive in a box — the mausoleum of my merely 
 private correspondence — waiting leisure to peruse it. It so 
 happened that I never opened the said box till to-night, 
 when I took up your body. Eeally an illegible handwriting 
 ought to be a statutory crime, and shall be when I get into 
 Parliament. I can't now decipher two of your words till 
 daylight in the morning. The next time you send me an 
 illegible note I will return it to you, not prepaid, to be copied 
 by your secretary. 
 
 So good night, and I could not sleep without giving you 
 this cat-o'-nine-tails. I never was so put to it in my life as 
 when you accosted me in the club, for tliought I to myself,
 
 PANIZZI AJS'D THE " EDINBURGH EEVIEW." 319 
 
 I will be hanged if I know the subject matter of his note ; 
 what can I feign ? 
 
 Yours nevertheless truly, 
 
 J. P." * 
 
 The next is to the Editor of the Edinhoyjh 
 Review, and relates to certain articles written therein 
 by Panizzi : — 
 
 '* Saturday, British Museum, 
 (1844). 
 *' My Dear Sir, 
 
 I direct to Edinburgh, as I suppose you either are or 
 will soon be back there. I am glad we agree about the 
 ' Jesuits.' The ' Post-Office ' article will be lonijer than I 
 thought ; there is a great deal important unsaid that we must 
 say. The Jesuits shall follow ; both by the middle of Sep- 
 tember shall be ready. . . . There is no article on any subject 
 of immediate, striking, and now exciting intei^est. For in- 
 stance the ' Post-Office Espionage ' is one of them ; Algiers 
 and French ambition is another. The Jesuits is a third, and 
 that is why 1 chose them. Any article on Ireland, or sugar 
 and free trade, or the slave trade, or Puseyism, &c., &c., 
 would be welcome to general readers. Puseyism, I know, 
 you have touched upon, but, with the Dublin Revieio on the 
 one hand and Newman's publication on the other, you might 
 pay off these two inveterate enemies of yours most capitally. 
 Then, although I know your difficulties about it, as it is a 
 serious review, you want light, amusing articles, anecdotes of 
 shooting, fishing, and of old Highlanders and robbers (or gen- 
 tlemen who took what they wanted), travels, &c. As I put 
 down at random what, I think, may illustrate what I moan, 
 the number is, in fact, too good for this age of light reading; 
 wc are impatient if we don't get on in reading, as we do 
 travelling by steam. 
 
 Ever yours truly, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 * Joseph Parkes, Lawyer and Politician, died 18(55,
 
 320 THE LIFE OP SIR AXTHOXY PANIZZI. 
 
 A letter from Count d'Orsay, on a curious fact in 
 natural history, will be read \nth interest. Panizzi's 
 answer to this is not forthcoming, but it may be 
 doubted if he succeeded in conveying any very valu- 
 able information to the Count's mind on the sub- 
 ject : — : 
 
 *' Gore House, 
 
 " Mon cher Panizzi, Mardi. 
 
 Je suppose que vous avez im JBuffon dans votre etablisse- 
 ment, qui pourra nous eclairer surle sujet d'un animal presque 
 fabuleux, qui vient de jouer le role a Van Diemen Land, que 
 Eacinefit jouer a celui, qui causa la mort d'Hippolyte. 
 
 " Miss X a refu aujourd'hui une lettre de sa mere 
 
 Jinnon^ant que le meme jour quelle ecrivait, elle allait voir un 
 
 tigre marin qu'on avait tue avec une grande difficulte, et 
 
 qui avait poursuivi sur terre plusieurs personnes — c'etait la 
 
 terreur des environs, on le nommait aussi Sea-Devil, il resista 
 
 ^ quatre coups de feu, et apres un combat acharne on lui 
 
 ouvrit le crane, d'un coup de hache. Ainsi done comme la 
 
 poste est partie avant qu'on ai vu ce monstre nous sommes 
 
 tres anxieux de savoir si vos naturallistes connaissent ce 
 
 pcrsonnage. 
 
 Votre tout devoue, &c., 
 
 C. D'Orsay." 
 
 The following, from Lord Melbourne to Panizzi, 
 
 •conveys the notion that the former discovered the 
 
 beauties of Ovid's Metamorphoses rather late in 
 
 life :— 
 
 " South Street, Feb. 27, 1846. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Panizzi, 
 
 I have lately been looking at the Metamorphoses 
 of Ovid, a book in which I find much beautiful poetry and 
 more curious matters. Burman, in his note upon the title of 
 the poem (Vol. II. of his edition, p. 7) says that the poem was 
 founded upon an ancient Greek poem by the writer, of the
 
 MRS. NORTOX. 321 
 
 name of Parmenius Cliius. What is Bunnan's authority for 
 this Parmenius, and where are the traces of his poem ? I do 
 not remember ever to have read his name, and I cannot find 
 it in the Index to Quinetilian, who, I thought, had mentioned 
 -every poet of any eminence, Greek or Latin. 
 
 Yours faithfally, 
 
 ]\Ielbourne." 
 
 A letter from the Hon. Mrs. Norton, on the subject 
 
 ■of Lord Melbourne's friendship for Panizzi (to which 
 
 a second on the same subject is added), must be 
 
 . quoted, though it is not -without something of melan- 
 
 vcholy interest ; — 
 
 " Chesterfield Street, 
 (Xovcmbcr, 1845) Friday evening. 
 " Dear Mr. Panizzi, 
 
 I met Lord Melbourne at dinner to-day, and men- 
 ^tioned to him having seen you and Mr. Thackeray. He 
 begged me to -^Tite, for him, to ask j^ou if you would dine 
 with him on Monday, and Mr. Thackeray also. Will you let 
 me know, as soon as convenient, and will j^ou, who are an old 
 friend of Lord Melbourne's, explain anything that may seem 
 odd and blunt in his mode of inviting without introduction, 
 though indeed he persists very obstinately that Mr. Thackeray 
 is a clergyman, with whom he is, or ought to be, acquainted. 
 I said I did not think it clerical to write about the Bishop of 
 Bullochsmitlty ^ and that I did not think Mr. Thackeray was a 
 •clergyman at all. But this is not of importance in com- 
 parison of his coming to dinner at half-past seven (punctual) 
 'on Monday. 
 
 I wish you would now and then call on Lord Melbourne, as 
 since he is invalided he takes great pleasure in receiving 
 visits from his friends, and I think about four o'clock or a 
 little later (when there is no House of Lords) is a good 
 moment to find him. Poor Lady Holland's death has deprived 
 him of a very near neighbour, where he could be (without
 
 322 THE LIFE OF SIR AXTHOXY PANIZZI 
 
 fatigue or form) in pleasant society. She had certainly a 
 very real regard for hira. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Caroline Norton." 
 
 " Dear Mr. Panizzi, 
 
 If Mr. Thackeray will send his reply to Lord 
 Melbourne, it will save time and be more correct. It is only 
 in writing that he is glad sometimes to get a secretary (like 
 me), as his hand is rather crippled, and his writing a trouble 
 to perform, and when performed, very illegible." 
 
 I assure you there is ' no love lost ' in your preference for 
 him — as the moment I mentioned your name he began 
 praising you. The ' green turf and flat stone ' is a receipt 
 for blotting out all dislikable qualities, and we will give Lady 
 H. the benefit of it. The charmed circle is gone ! It was the 
 first peep of the great world I got in my girlhood, and what 
 the gap must be to those who are old enough to remember 
 all who composed that circle, we cannot judge, who only knew 
 it as the stars were dropping one by one away. 
 
 I am very sorry you cannot dine on Monday. I hope it 
 will be a pleasure deferred. Tell Mr. Thackeray the hour is- 
 7.30, not nominally, as is usual in London invitations. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Caroline Norton." 
 
 It is hardly to be wondered at that Panizzi never 
 became so thoroughly indigenous as to understand 
 what must appear to a foreigner a greater puzzle 
 than even the constitution and politics of England — 
 viz., the manasfcment and re^-ulation of ecclesiastical 
 affairs. His opinion of the Hampden case, and of 
 the circumstances affecting it, cannot be the result 
 of any very profound reflection on the matter. As to- 
 the trouble which, he feared, it might bring upon 
 Lord John Russell, it may be recollected that Lord
 
 THE HAMPDEN CASE 323 
 
 John succeeded, in one instance at least, in evadino- 
 it in a manner that did more credit to his decision 
 than to his good manners. 
 
 "British Museum, Jan. 11, 1848. 
 " Dear Mrs. Kutherfurd, 
 
 I have had nothing; to do more 
 
 ■amusing of late than to see and hear all that has been said and 
 spoken about Hampden. /, a good Roman Catholic and 
 Apostolic man, did not care how much damaged all parties 
 were spiritually ; and so I did not mind if Hampden 
 was proved an infidel, or all the Bishops for him, as well as 
 those against him, in the wrong. But at one time I feared 
 for the temporal effects of the quarrel, lest it might give Lord 
 John some trouble. It has ended admirably. A Bishop who 
 confesses that he condemned what he had not read ; thirteen 
 Bishops and a Deacon opposed by a Deacon and thirteen heads 
 of houses at Oxford ; part of the clergy sending addresses 
 against and part in favour of Dr. Hampden ; a Dean who 
 swears he will not vote, and all the way allows his vote to be 
 ■recorded ; a Canon who will not have Dr. Hampden because 
 he was condemned by the very Bishop who retracts three days 
 after his condemnation, and confesses his ignorance whilst he 
 exposes his knavery ; yesterday half a Church hissing and the 
 other half cheering, when the sermon of some Apostle or other 
 is declared duly elected ; the folly, which I hear will be per- 
 sisted in to-morrow, of apologizing to the Court of the Queen's 
 Bench, calling on Lord Denman and others to prevent the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury from exercising a merely spiritual 
 rite — is not this charming ? Could any one like me wish for 
 *more fun ?" 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 To continue our ramblings through the correspon- 
 dence in our hands, we insert a letter showing pretty 
 ■clearly in what esteem Panizzi was held, not only by 
 y
 
 324 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Lord and Lady Hollundj but by others of the society 
 of theii- house : — 
 
 "B. M., nodate(? 1850.) 
 " My dear Haywood, 
 
 .... I dined at Holland House on Saturday 
 last, and Watts (the painter) came after dinner. There is at 
 Holland House a famous portrait of Baretti by Sir Joshua 
 Eeynolds. Lord and Lady Holland and some of the guests 
 having prepared all this without my knowledge beforehand, 
 surrounded me after dinner, made me look at Baretti's portrait, 
 and then said that there should be a pendant to it, and that 
 my portrait, taken by Watts,* should be the thing. It was no 
 use saying more than I did — which was not a little to decline 
 the honour. The thing was a foregone conclusion ; and so, 
 before Watts goes to Italy, which he is going to do almost im- 
 mediatelj', he is going to paint me. What will Gambardella 
 say when he hears it ? 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Gambardella was a Neapolitan artist, living at that 
 time in England. He painted a portrait of Panizzi, 
 which, according to Count d'Orsay, was very unsatis- 
 factory. Before cjuitting the subject of Panizzi's con- 
 nection with Holland House, we should hardly be 
 justified in omitting all mention of an afi'air with 
 which he became accidentally connected, and which, 
 though itself of no great importance, was nevertheless 
 dashed with a slight admixture of unpleasantness. A 
 short time previously to 1850 the late Lord Holland 
 had compiled and edited two books on the life of his 
 father, which were afterwards published with the fol- 
 lowing titles : — " Fcifign Eeminiscences, by Henry 
 llichard Lord Llolland : Eiliied by his Son, Henry 
 
 ' ~ * a. F. Watts, E.A. 
 
 \ 
 
 II
 
 LORD HOLLAND 325 
 
 Edward Lord Holland. (London, 1850)." And 
 " Memoirs of the ' Whig Party During My Time,' by 
 Henry Eichard Lord Holland : Edited by his Son, 
 Henry Edward Lord Holland. (2 vols., London, 1852.)" 
 The first of these works the author had, we under- 
 stand, entrusted for revision and correction to the late 
 Nassau Senior. It was afterwards, for further 
 assuyrmce, submitted to Panizzi, who, not altogether 
 content with Senior's treatment of it, subjected it to a 
 closer revision. He performed the same office for 
 the second book, and finally prepared both for the 
 2)ress. 
 
 It seems, however, that Lord John Russell, who 
 had been instrumental in collecting the greater por- 
 tion of the materials composing these volumes, had 
 felt some alarm as to certain matters being published 
 in them, and notably in the Bemimscences, which 
 might possibly reflect detrimentally on the character 
 of Lord Holland's father, and he accordingly com- 
 municated his apprehensions to the author, accom- 
 panied by a gentle warning. This the latter regarded, 
 not altogether unreasonably, as one of those pieces of 
 gratuitous advice which nearly approach insults, 
 and ill brooked the suspicion of inability to guard his 
 own father's reputation. A correspondence ensued, 
 into which Panizzi, as might be expected, was drawn, 
 and which was marked occasionally by a tinge of acri- 
 mony. However, Lord Holland, after a number of 
 letters had passed from one party to the other, does 
 not appear to have easily got over his sense of Avounded 
 feeling ; and by a letter, not in our possession, but 
 
 y2
 
 326 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 evidently prompted by indignation, greatly provokes 
 Panizzi, of whose character evenness of temper was by 
 no means the strongest point, and who seems to have 
 been roused almost to hostility. Lord liolland, in 
 his final reply, demands, with some asperity, that the 
 subject be not recurred to, if their mutual friendship 
 is to continue. 
 
 " A soft answer turneth away WTath," and it must 
 be owned that his Lordship's re]3ly, however far we 
 may suppose him to have been wrong on the main 
 question, is eminently that of a true gentleman : — 
 
 "April 17, 1851. 
 Naples. 
 " My dear Pan, 
 
 I wrote to you from Palermo a letter, which you 
 will receive almost at the same time as this. 
 
 It will show you how very far I was from entertaining any 
 unkind feeling towards you. 
 
 On my arrival here yesterday I found a letter from you, 
 written in a very hostile tone. I can only repeat that I feel 
 great gratitude to you in all this business, that I am sure you 
 never meant in any way to be unfriendly towards me, and 
 that if I differed from you as to the propriety of your letter 
 to the Times, I am willing to suppose that you on the spot 
 
 might have better means of judging than I had 
 
 Knowing how easily you take fire, I should have been more 
 guarded in writing to you ; but I know also that hot as you 
 are, you easily cool, and that your indignation never really 
 interferes with your kind feelings for old friends. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Holland." 
 
 So ended satisfactorily this notable controversy. 
 Nor was this the only complication of the kind in 
 which the importance thrust on Panizzi served to
 
 LORD LANGDALE 327 
 
 involve him. To none were his relations closer than 
 to the family of the late Lord Langdale, formerly- 
 Master of the Rolls, who, it may be remembered, in 
 1850, refused the office of Lord Chancellor, offered 
 to him on the retirement of Lord Cottenham. 
 
 Panizzi's acquaintance with Lord and Lady Lang- 
 dale speedily ripened into a warm intimacy, and of 
 their daughter, the Countess Teleki, he was the 
 especial favourite. On the death of his Lordship, 
 which happened on the 18th of April, 1851, Panizzi 
 
 wrote as follows to Lord Putherfurd : — 
 
 " April 24. 
 " Nodiing but your own handwriting could have atlbrdcd 
 me any real pleasure in the deep grief I feel at the loss of both 
 the friends respecting whom you write. Lord Langdale's I 
 feel most, as I was often with him, and as he has given me, 
 at all times, and at some particularly of a comparatively recent 
 date, such proof of affection and, what is more, of thorough 
 esteem and regard, as I shall never forget. . . . 
 
 Thine, ever di cimre, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Panizzi's intimacy with the Langdale family was, 
 notwithstanding this great loss, kept up as of old, 
 and to her last days Lady Langdale was a frequent 
 guest at his house. After her husband's death, slie, 
 laudably anxious to perpetuate the memory of so 
 worthv a man, committed the materials for his bio- 
 graphy to Mr. (afterwards Sir T. D.) Hardy. The 
 book was published in 1852, and it happened that, 
 as in the former case. Lord Holland had aroused the 
 fears of Lord John Russell, so in the present, for like 
 reasons, was the wrath of Lord Brougham evoked by 
 the " Memoirs of the Right Honourable Henry Lord 
 Langdale."
 
 328 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 It is really difficult to discover anything in Sir T. 
 D. Hardy's book which could have stirred up the 
 sceva indignatio in Lord Brougham, as expressed in 
 the subjoined letters, still less any aspersions on the 
 memory of Lord Langdale himself. 
 
 " Scarborough, 31 July, 1852. 
 
 *' Caro Signer Antonio, 
 
 As you interfered (most unadvisedly I think) respect- 
 ing that book of Hardy's, probably at the request of the 
 family, I strongly recommend you to give Lady Langdale 
 advice which may prevent more harm being done. I had not 
 seen the book when I saw you. I have now seen it, though 
 I have not read the whole. I have read quite enough to show 
 me into what scrape Lady L. has gotten herself, by giving his 
 papers to a person who, with the best possible intentions I 
 have no doubt, is so ignorant of everything connected with 
 the subject, except records, that he has fallen into the grossest 
 
 mistakes There are one or two letters of Lord 
 
 Langdale himself of which both Lord Denman and I are 
 agreed in exceedingly lamenting the publication 
 
 Now as I understand Mr. Hardy has more letters and is 
 going to publish another volume or two, it really would only 
 be an act of kindness to Lady Langdale and of justice to Lord 
 Langdale's memory, to take care that some friend of the family, 
 who was also acquainted with Lord Langdale personally, and 
 with the history of their time, should superintend Mr. H's 
 operations, and save him from falling into such mistakes. 
 
 It is impossible to doubt that he is well acquainted with 
 records, and what he has given on that subject is extremely 
 valuable. It is equally certain that Lord Langdale deserves 
 the highest praise, and nothing can be more just than to give 
 him the fullest credit, not only for what he did, but for what 
 he wished to do. If Mr. Hardy has attacked almost every one 
 else, that is his own affair, and I dare say no one will much com- 
 plain of being assailed when it was done in order to exalt (un-
 
 LORD BROUGH.iJI 
 
 329 
 
 necessarily, because he did not need it) so excellent and 
 
 useful a person as Lord Langdale 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 H. Brougham." 
 
 The charge brought by Lord Brougham in this 
 letter against Panizzi of being an accomplice in Sir 
 T. D. Hardy's crime, was, in a subsequent letter from 
 his Lordship, repudiated by him. 
 
 " Scarborough, 3 Aug., 1852. 
 
 " My dear Panizzi, 
 
 I never supposed you had interfered with the book 
 which you told me you knew nothing about, except that you 
 had ' unadvisedly ' (because you knew nothing of it) urged 
 
 X to speak favourably of it, which I take for granted 
 
 you would not have done had you read it. I object entirely 
 to my name being used, either with Lord Langdale's family 
 or with Mr. Hardy, because they will suppose that I am re-* 
 senting the ridiculous attacks upon myself, which I presume 
 there is no person so utterly ignorant as to consider worth 
 a moment's notice, such as my having only talked about Law 
 Eeform before I came into office, and never afterwards doing 
 anything of the kind — when this very book itself relates my 
 having proceeded with the County Courts Bills the moment I 
 came in, and many other things which the author's gross 
 ignorance keeps him from knowing were my Bills. There- 
 fore, as regards myself, he is welcome to spit out all the well- 
 known spite of the Bcntham people, whose ally, probably their 
 tool, l>e is as regards me. But what I do complain of, is his 
 having been suffered to publish Burdett's letters. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 H. Beougham." 
 
 Here we pause to pursue in the following chapter 
 
 our anecdotical mood, illustratiug the reminiscences 
 
 with letters confirmatory of our various allusions — 
 
 letters which in themselves possess great value, if the 
 
 celebrity of their authors be borne in mind.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 Panizzi and Austria; Policy of Palmerdon ; Mr Ellice; Scotch 
 Sahhath ; Mr Gladstone on Tasso ; Panizzi and Thomas Carhjle, 
 
 ANIZZI'S correspondence with the 
 sketches drawn from it and from that 
 of the society with which he was con- 
 nected, will now be continued, for from^ 
 these is to be derived his private opinion 
 on various subjects, and no doubt can possibly be 
 suggested as to this course furnishing irrefragable 
 proofs of his real sentiments. Miscellaneous as are 
 the matters of which these letters of Panizzi treat, it 
 is not surprising, considering the disturbed and event- 
 ful state of this period, that a large proportion of 
 them relate to politics, to which he was so irrepres- 
 sibly addicted. The following to Mr Haywood and 
 Lord Rutherfurd, contain the comments of an acute 
 observer of the unsettled state of government and of 
 affairs in general in this country and in the East imme- 
 diately before and after the Crimean War. It is to be 
 wished that, in addition to skill and vigilance, the 
 credit of impartiality could also be ascribed to Panizzi. 
 The fact is, however, that, so deep was his dislike to 
 Austria (scarcely to be wondered at), that it strongly
 
 CONTINENTAL POLITICS 331 
 
 tinctured his political views of affairs both at home and 
 abroad. It will be observed also that he was less of a 
 true prophet than a keen observer. 
 
 Herein, too, he gives his opinion of the policy of 
 Lord Palmerston and other statesmen, showing very 
 decided and biassed views of the course they would 
 probably adopt, and venturing on surmises which, as 
 events have proved, were not well grounded. They, 
 however, are valuable, not only as clear expositions of 
 his views on the subject, but as specimens of his open 
 and undisguised style of writing, without fear or 
 favour, Avhen his own political ideas required elucida- 
 tion : — 
 
 « B. M., July 25, 1853. 
 *' My dear Haywood, 
 
 Here there is nothing new. There will be no war, as the 
 Emperor of Russia will gain something. He never meant to 
 get all he asked, now, at once, and will make a merit of his 
 moderation. In five or six years hence we shall have another 
 row, and he will jjet somethinij more — and so on till he will 
 get all he wishes. Time will come when England will repent 
 her supineness. You think that to keep at peace ' coute que 
 coute ' is the high road to prosperity: I think it is ruin. I 
 am reminded of the debtor who will not look at the state of 
 his affairs boldly, and pay off: he goes on accumulating com- 
 pound interest, till at last he finds himself ruined past redemp- 
 
 tion." 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Pa>'izzi." 
 
 "August 15, 1853. 
 " My dear Eutl.erfurd, 
 
 " .... I agree with you as to the deplorable stale 
 of affairs, both at hon.e and abroad. The Go\ernn.ent, 
 leatcn regularly twice a day, is brought into contempt. Lord
 
 332 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 Palmerston has fallen very much in public opinion ; his 
 escapade last Christmas has done him very great harm. He 
 is considered h J all his friends the very worst Home Se3ie- 
 tarj- that ever was. As to foreign affairs, things are bad. 
 The allied powers are at the feet of Austria, who Avill never 
 make war on Russia except the infamy is submitted to by 
 Prance and England sjuarantceinf]: Austria all her dominions. 
 I hope that England will not join in it, but I think France 
 will do it, and tl.e guarantee of France is the important one. 
 ile.e Liberals aie at a discount. . . ." 
 
 Ever thine, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 " September 12, 1853. 
 " My de.ir Eutherfurd, 
 
 .... I told Lord John, Lord Clarendon, Gran- 
 ville, Lansdowne, and Palmerston, that Austria would never 
 make Avar against Eussia, now they have allowed her to make 
 herself the mistress of the situation, as the French say, and to 
 seize two of her best provinces of her ally, who had by his 
 own individual exertions driven the enemies from it. That is 
 what they call backing their friends — Austria will take Eussia's 
 side if England and France mean to press her too hard, in 
 case they are victorious ; should they be beaten, still worse. 
 Delay is everything to Eussia, and that has been gained for 
 her by Austria, who sees that Turkey must fall to pieces, and 
 has meanwhile got a share of the inheritance of the dying man 
 lefore he dies. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 To the Right Honourable Edwarc" Ellice (whose 
 name is familiar to all), who was an intimate friend 
 of Panizzi, and to whose son, the lately deceased 
 Mr. Edward Ellice, we are much indebted for the 
 documents placed at our disposal. We find a 
 
 I
 
 EDWARD ELLICE 
 
 o o o 
 OOO 
 
 iiS: 
 
 letter on the same subject, written on the 4th of 
 
 December, 1854 : — 
 
 " My dear Ellice, 
 
 I see there is a so-called treaty 
 of alliance signed at Vienna. You will 
 see it is merely to say that next spring 
 Austria will take counsel with her 
 new allies as to the best mode of en- 
 forcing what is not yet settled. She 
 now will more than ever embarrass 
 France and England, and prevent them 
 from making war in the only way that 
 such a w^ar should be made. i\Iy 
 dear friend, I am as good an En'^dish- 
 man as you are, so far as attach- 
 ment to this country goes, and I feel conGdcnt that the 
 Grovernment are mistaken, and go to ruin the country as fast as 
 they can. All these delays and weaknesses give all the advan- 
 tai2:e to the enemies of England, and Austria is among the 
 foremost . . . and yet the greatest confidence is expressed in 
 her future conduct, because it is assumed that it is her interest 
 to join England and France ; as if people acted always as they 
 ought, and as if it was quite clear that she has more to fear 
 from Eussia and her system of government, and idtra-legitimist 
 principles, than from two revolutionary governments like 
 England and France. I have no patience with such reasoning. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 Here follows a terse little note, written in the true 
 Panizzi style, ^yhether the ass mentioned in his 
 comment on a piece of Scotch Sabbatarianism was, in 
 the common acceptation of the term, " hired," may be 
 questioned. But we can testify, from our own p(^r- 
 sonal experience, to the joeculiar tyranny exercised on 
 the unfortunate inhabitants of Glasgow, and which
 
 334 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY FANIZZI. 
 
 falls most lieavily on innocent sojourners in that 
 cheerful city : — 
 
 " November 25, 1854. 
 " My clear Euthcrfurd, 
 
 I see the cabs and omnibuses of Glasgow do not 
 ply on Sundays. Was not the donkey on which Jesus Christ 
 entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday a hired ass ? And if he 
 went about on a hired donkey, why should not the Glasgow 
 people be allowed to ride in omnibuses or hired cabs on 
 Sundays ? " 
 
 The next letter we shall quote is from Mr. Glad- 
 stone : — 
 
 " Hawarden, December 17, 1855. 
 " ]\Iy dear Panizzi, 
 
 I entirely feel, upon a recent deliberate re- 
 perusal, Tasso's right to stand in the very restricted class of 
 the great epic writers. It is true that in tliat class he seems to 
 me to stand immediately below Homer, but I should boldly 
 say the same of Virgil. 
 
 His own life and fortunes are indeed deeply moving. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 W. E. Gladstone." 
 
 With all due deference to so great an authority, 
 and fully agreeing with his estimate of Tasso, the 
 position assigned by Mr. Gladstone to Virgil is 
 scarcely doing justice to the chief of the Latin 
 poets. Panizzi, in a letter to Mr. Gladstone, says : — 
 " I shall be happy, you may be sure, to read what 
 you say on Tasso, who is, no doubt, greatly below 
 Homer, but not so much below Virgil as people 
 affect to say." 
 
 It is true that Virgil laboured under one un- 
 fortunate disadvantage ; the language in which he 
 wrote is certainly less fitted, in point of simplicity 
 
 I
 
 THOMAS CARLYLE 335 
 
 and sublimity, as a vehicle for epic poetry than the 
 Greek. 
 
 It will not detract from the miscellaneous character 
 of the information promised in this chapter to sub- 
 join a few extracts from a correspondence which took 
 place between Panizzi and Mr. Thomas Carlylc, who 
 was not one of those who were entirely satisfied with 
 the defective Reading-Room at the British Museum, 
 which preceded the present splendid building, soon 
 to be described. Full of sad experiences of the 
 manifold inconveniences of the former, he pardon- 
 ably, but erroneously, imagined that it might be 
 possible to obtain some more private and more com- 
 fortable spot wherein to pursue his studies at the 
 Museum. In his endeavours to attain this end, how- 
 ever, he was not altogether successful. 
 
 On the 11th of April, 1853, the eminent historian 
 addressed a letter to Panizzi, which he answered, we 
 fear, in terms somewhat too severe, so much so, that 
 we purposely avoid making public anything which 
 was simply the fruit of former quarrels ; be that as 
 it may, the correspondence was submitted to the 
 Trustees four days afterwards, together with a report 
 in which Panizzi stated that he knew of no Private 
 Room, nor of any quieter corner in all the Library 
 for the purpose of study, than the Reading-Room ; 
 but even if he did, he did not think that in a Public 
 Library, supported at the National expense for public 
 use, any person should enjoy advantages and facilities 
 denied to the generality. Better accommodation was, 
 undoubtedlv, desirable for readers — for them all — 
 but not for any especial individual, leaving others to
 
 336 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PAIVIZZI 
 
 fare as well or as ill as they might. On May 7 th 
 the Trustees approved of Panizzi's conduct. 
 
 Not altogether content with this decision, Mr. 
 Carlyle seems to have made an attempt to enlist on 
 his behalf the interest of Lady Ashburton, and, 
 through her, that of Lord Clarendon. The result of 
 this attempt will be gathered from the following 
 letter, addressed to the latter : — 
 
 "August 10, 1853. 
 
 " I heartily wish it were in my power to do what 
 Lady Ashburton requests. The following statement 
 will show your Lordship how 1 am placed. Mr. 
 Carlyle wrote to me asking what Lady Ashburton 
 asks. I informed him that there was no Private-Room 
 whatever in the Library which could be assigned to 
 him, and that the quietest place for study was the 
 Reading-Poom. I moreover pointed out to him how 
 invidious it would be in a public place to favour 
 anyone — however great his merits or strong my desire 
 to serve him. ... I know that individual Trustees 
 have been applied to ; I know that they have mentioned 
 the subject to their colleagues ; and I have myself 
 submitted Mr. Carlyle's letter and my answer to the 
 Trustees, who have approved of what I have done, 
 and who have declined to accede to similar applica- 
 tions. Your Lordship, I am sure, will see that it is 
 impossible for me to depart from the rule under such 
 circumstances " 
 
 Let us, however, say no more about th*s unpleasant 
 affair, and look upon it as another example of the 
 unbending, unswerving nature of Panizzi in all 
 matters of duty; for although he was, doubtless.
 
 THOMAS CARLYLE 337 
 
 impressed with the great deserts of the applicant for 
 relief and especial accommodation, on this occasion he 
 saw no reason for laying himself open to a charge of 
 favouritism, or, under any pretence, being a party to 
 conceding to one reader, however great his merits, 
 that which would undoubtedly be denied to another.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 The Wew Reading-Room ; Sir C. Barry's Plans ; Completion, and 
 Breakfast ; Mr mshing's Plans ; Controversy ; Bust hj Baron 
 Marochetti ; Austria Applies for Plans of Reading-Room. 
 
 T HAS BEEN, and doubtless for some 
 centuries to come will be, a matter of 
 regret that the unrivalled collection 
 called the British Museum has not, 
 after the incalculable labour bestowed, 
 and the vast sums of money spent upon it, found a 
 home more worthy of its invaluable contents than the 
 present building. Of this huge pile — an irregular 
 oblong — but little appeals to the eye, less to the 
 power of discussion. The Eastern and Western 
 Wings still remain partially exposed to view in all 
 their normal hideousness of yellow brick, unadorned 
 by aught save a few meagre mouldings. The front, 
 being, of course, the most conspicuous part of the 
 structure, has been the object of attention, and has been 
 ornamented in a manner suiting it to the public gaze. 
 To effect this desirable, and certainly most legitimate 
 object, choice has strangely been made of a style 
 which, in itself most beautiful, is so hampered and 
 restricted by the straitest and severest rules as to 
 be almost incapable of adaptation to purjioses of
 
 THE NEW READING-ROOM 339 
 
 modern utility, and a magnificent Ionic portico and 
 peristyle have been erected ; the building, as a whole, 
 thus presenting a striking contrast to any other struc- 
 ture to be found in the metropolis. 
 
 Confront the British ISIuseum for one moment with 
 the Madeleine of Paris, and how great is the differ- 
 ence ! In the latter is seen the nearest approach to 
 true Grecian architecture, combined with admirable 
 proportions, and tasteful and correct ornamentation ; 
 T3y admission of light from the roof, the unsiglitliness 
 of windows inserted in the walls is avoided, and, in 
 its entirety, the building fairly represents that which 
 it purports to be. 
 
 Let the visitor, however, enter, and he will find 
 himself somewhat disappointed ; for, instead of seeing 
 a tolerably correct Greek temple, he will find a sin- 
 gularly ineffective and mediocre Christian Church. 
 The profuseness of decoration, much of it foreign to 
 the style, the want of joower in what should be the 
 central point of attraction, the general horizontal 
 character of the lines, throwing out the building in 
 an unnatural degree — all show the abortiveness of an 
 effort to lend the rigidity of ancient forms to the exi- 
 gencies of modern tastes. 
 
 Still, to compare the Madeleine, with all its faults, 
 to the British Museum, would be an insult to the 
 former; not that the classical facade of our own 
 iDuilding is without merit: the nobility and majesty of 
 the portico and colonnade cainiot well be denied, and, 
 if built of white marble (supposing the brightness of 
 the marble could be preserved in this variable climate) 
 instead of their present dingy material, they would 
 z
 
 310 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 have constituted, by their own merit, a most striking^ 
 and dignified object, whatever cavils miglit have- 
 existed as to the reality of the purpose to which tlic^y 
 would have been applied. 
 
 A certain distance, however, is requisite for the 
 view, and this it is most difficult to obtain ; on closer 
 inspection it will be seen that the imposing range of 
 pillars rather draws attention to, than serves to con- 
 ceal, the frightful sash -windows which glare from 
 behind it, and whose light it obscures. 
 
 In the tympanum of the portico is a group of 
 sculptured figures by Sir R. Westraacott. To this 
 M. Edgar Vinet, in a notice of the British Museum 
 in the Journal des Lebats, written in 1858 (30th of 
 December) alludes in the following words : — " Un 
 fronton recemment termine, et dans lequel Sir Richard 
 AVestmacott, ce qui se conceit pour un sujet pareil, a 
 represente, d'une maniere un pen confuse, I'homme 
 passant de I'etat sauvage, saus I'infiuence de la re- 
 ligion, a la civilisation et au progres." 
 
 This cluster of sculpture is by no means happy, and 
 the kindly phrase of our critic, " une maniere un pen 
 confuse," might, with a little freedom and more truth, 
 be rendered by the English words, muddle, cram, and 
 confusion. 
 
 On either flank of the main building, and in ad- 
 vance of it, is a block of official dwelling-houses, 
 which, as some may remember, called down much de- 
 nunciation at the time they Avere erected ; they are, 
 however, so void of pretentiousness that they seem 
 hardly to deserve any very lavish outpouring of 
 rigliteous indignation. It is enough to say of them 
 that they would have been better away.
 
 THE NEW READIXG-ROOM 341 
 
 The British Museum is, however, more admirable 
 inside than out. Here, nevertheless, the Nemesis of 
 the style pursues the observer even more unrelent- 
 ingly. If some of the vast and dismal rooms be not 
 the very halls of Eblis, at least they are eminently 
 fitted for the depositories of the sarcophagi of those 
 who have descended thither. The beauty of their 
 contents may, it is true, engross the visitor's attention 
 for a time, but he can hardly hope to remain long- 
 free from the depression and melancholy with whicli 
 the surrounding air seems impregnated. The light- 
 ing (and here, again, the blame must be exclusively 
 laid on the st} le adopted) is in many places most de- 
 fective ; as to the mural decoration, it cannot be- 
 better described than in the words of the already 
 quoted M. Vinct : — A I'exception de la salle de lec- 
 ture, vaste rotonde dont la coupole reluit d'or la, 
 decoration intcrieure du Musee Britannique vous 
 e tonne par sa simplicite ; les murailles sont nues,. 
 quelques meandres, peints a I'encaustique, entourent 
 des plafonds pcrces par un vitrage, par oii passe une 
 lumiere froide et grise : voila tout ce que I'orgueilleuse 
 Albion a cru devoir accorder a rembellissement inte- 
 rieur de son Musee : decoration concue avec un tel 
 puritanisme qu'elle est restee au dessous des salles 
 d'attente des chemins de fer, comme ornementation et 
 comme gout. Une large cheminee de fonte, chauffee 
 a blanc huit mois de rannee,occupe le centre de chaque 
 piece, et, par son prosaisme forme le plus etrange con- 
 traste avec les ceuvres elegantes, filles du soleil, (pii 
 I'entourent." 
 
 To the objection that those who thus flatly con- 
 z2
 
 342 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 demn one form of arcliitectiire arc bound to suggest 
 another more suitable, a ready, and by no means em- 
 barrassing answer is forthcoming. The Pointed, the 
 most beautiful and ductile of all styles, may be left 
 out of consideration, as being hardly of sufficient con- 
 gruity to the relics of art stored in the National collec- 
 tion. Moreover, to have attempted a Gothic structure 
 at the time when the present Museum was built, 
 might have afforded an instructive example of cor- 
 ruptio opiimi pessima, but, in all probability, would 
 have failed in point of utility, and would most cer- 
 tainly have been an outrage on good taste. 
 
 It is hardly possible, however, to suppose that the 
 illustrious architect of the British Museum was not 
 as conversant with Roman as wdth Greek architecture, 
 •or that he was wholly unacquainted with the Romano- 
 Italian works of Wren or Palladio. 
 
 As the Roman, unlike the Grecian, and still more 
 unlike the Pointed, does not mainly depend for its 
 beauty on the lines of its construction, the facility for 
 legitimately decorating a building of the shape of the 
 British Museum would have been far greater in the 
 first-named style. Who shall say that in a gallery of 
 the Roman type the statues of Roman Emperors, or 
 even the monuments of Assyrian Kings, are out of 
 place '? or that the disjecta membra of a Greek frieze 
 or pediment would be incongruous with an architec- 
 ture so nearly akin to their own ? At any rate, we 
 sliould liaA'c been able to view them with comfort, 
 which is scarcely the case at present ; for the power 
 of lighting would have been increased tenfold. Op- 
 portunities, too, of a more effective system of intra- 
 
 II
 
 THE NEW READLVG-ROOM 343 
 
 mural ornamentation would have been offered, and 
 many other minor advantages, conducive to beauty or 
 convenience, secured. Happily, in the latest addition 
 to the great building — an addition that owes alike its 
 origin, position, and form of construction to the enter- 
 prise and genius of Panizzi — the ponderous and un- 
 successful imitation of the Greek style has been laid 
 aside, and a light and graceful form of the Italian 
 order adopted. 
 
 This little gem of architecture — this "' Margarita'^ 
 — is the " New Readino;-Eo(>m." 
 
 The history and traditions of tho Roatling-Koom 
 at the British iMuseum have been so faithfully and 
 minutely recorded by others that it would be unpar- 
 donable to overcrowd our space in this work with too 
 full a description of them. Since the year 1758, a 
 Reading - Room has always been attaclied to the 
 Museum, and the oiiginal apartment was, by all 
 accounts, especially comfortable and even luxurious. 
 Though small, it seems to have been sutticiently hirge 
 to meet the requirements of those early days of its 
 existence. We read of this pleasant corner room in 
 " the basement story, with one oak table and twenty 
 chairs," so small as to befitted for only twenty readers^ 
 yet it was seldom patronized to the extent of its full, 
 capabilities. In one respect it must have been truly 
 paradisiacal, for it opened into a delightful garden in 
 which, as tradition has it, the presiding deity was 
 accustomed to walk, although not in the cool of the 
 evening. This gentleman. Dr. Templeman, afterwards 
 Secretary to the Society of Arts, seems, notwith- 
 stnudhi"-. to liavc found his duties sufficiently onerous.
 
 !44 
 
 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 After eight months' incumbency. " he takes the oppoi- 
 tunity of reminding the Committee that he begs to be 
 relieved from the excessive attendance of six liours' 
 ■continuance each day, for it is more than he is able to 
 bear," and on March 13, 17G0, he records with a 
 ■chuckle " Last Tuesday, no company coming to the 
 Reading-Room, Dr. Templeman ventured to go away 
 about 2 o'clock." Not above twenty readers were 
 admitted montlily during the first few months, and 
 when the novelty of the institution had worn off, even 
 this average declined to ten or twelve. It is true that 
 among these aj)pear the names of Johnson, Gray, Hume 
 and Blackstone. Nor were the regulations patterns 
 of liberality. The statutes directed that notice should 
 be given in writing the day before to the officer in 
 attendance by each person " what book or manuscript 
 he will be desirous of perusing the following day ; 
 "which book or manuscript in such request will be 
 lodged in some convenient place in the said room, and 
 will from thence be delivered to him by the officer of 
 the said room." 
 
 From the delightful garden with which it commu- 
 nicated, and its almost rural surroundings ; from the 
 illustrious names of those ornaments of the silver aa^e 
 of our literature who frequented it, and in the 
 excellence of whose works one almost seems to dis- 
 cover traces of quiet case of study, such as this resort 
 must have afforded, it is with mingled feelings of 
 regret and envy that we turn to our own time and 
 lament that the world of readers and writers should 
 have arrived at such monstrous dimensions and such 
 luimanageable proportions.
 
 THE XEW READIXG-ROOM 345 
 
 One great improvement has recently been effected, 
 'the electric light — the latest application of science to 
 the means of illuminating large buildings, has been, 
 through the energy of Mr. E. A. Bond, the present 
 Principal Librarian, most successfully introduced 
 into this department — gladdening the hearts of 
 students by increasing their hours of research, and 
 ■enabling them to seek, with its clear effulgence, the 
 information which they desire to possess. 
 
 Our contemplation of Panizzi's majestic work has, 
 however, its dark shade. It reminds us sadly of the 
 bustling and feverish spirit which pervades our pre- 
 sent, literature ; of the enormous trade of book- 
 making openly carried on amongst us, and of the 
 lack both of dignity and polish only too often con- 
 spicuous in the best works of our best modern 
 authors. 
 
 The quiet ease and learned leisure gradually died 
 iiway, readers and authors of all classes rapidly in- 
 creased ; insignificant as were their numbers com- 
 pared with the present multitude, it became incum- 
 bent on the authorities to prepare somethiug more 
 than the single and comfortable room with its garden ; 
 and in the old House and in its last days, three rooms 
 were set apart for their accommodation. 
 
 To the first Peadin<>;-E,oom in the new buildiuLr 
 but scant praise can be accorded. The ap2)ointments 
 of it were in no mse satisfactory, wliilst the mode of 
 access was almost mean and decidedly incommodious. 
 Previously crowded, as a rule, it is on record that, 
 although constructed to hold only about 1!20 readers, 
 no less than ;200 persons wt^rc frequently cnimmed
 
 o4G THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 into it. A larger apartment was, therefore, urgently- 
 called for ; and, in 1838, the old room was closed,, 
 another being oj^ened in a different quarter of the 
 building. This, divided into two compartments, was 
 about one-third larger than its predecessor, and in its 
 size alone its superiority appears to have consisted. 
 It is true that, in many respects, its fittings Avere far 
 better, that a more convenient entrance was con- 
 structed, and that more attention was paid to the 
 comfort, if not so much of the readers, at any rate 
 of certain of the attendant officials, who had before, 
 this been wretchedly housed. 
 
 The lighting by means of windows many feet from 
 the ground was, in both rooms, lamentably deficient. 
 Ill neither had due care been taken to provide suffi- 
 cient ventilation. The admission of fresh air appears 
 to have been chiefly effected by the simple contri- 
 vance of opening the Avindows, a practice not always^ 
 possible, and not unlikely, at certain seasons of the 
 year to be attended with as much danger as would 
 have been the retention of foul air. Readers who re- 
 mained in the stifling atmosphere of either room for 
 any length of time were known to complain of a 
 peculiar languor and headache, and the expressive 
 term Museum Megrims was invented to describe 
 the uneasy sensations of the too persistent student. 
 
 The following is an extract from a private letter,, 
 written a sliort time since, in which, although the 
 writer confesses that his memory, at this distance of 
 time, is not as fresh as it might be, a fair description 
 is given of the second or intermediate Rcading-Koom,, 
 as it was in the year 1846 : —
 
 THE NEW READING-ROOM 347 
 
 *' "What I recollect about it is as follows. It was entered by 
 a sort of lane going down from ^lontaguc- place into what 
 must have been at one time a stable-yard. You then went up 
 a staircase into a long, lofty room. ... I think there were 
 two great sort of chests of hot water pipes on each side of the 
 entrance from the staircase. The entrance divided the room 
 into two unequal parts, and I fancy that the smaller portion 
 was reserved for readers of MSS. The catalo'-'ue was in a 
 series of presses near the west wall, commencing about opposite 
 the entrance, and extending north. The rest of tlie lloor of 
 the room was occupied by reading-tables. At the north end 
 was a tiling like a buttery hatch. From this you got vour 
 books, having previously given your docket describing tlicm. 
 The walls of the room, for eight or ten feet from the flooi-. wci'c 
 crowded with book-cases, except at the entrance and hatch, 
 and all accessible to readers in the room. 1 tiiink the room- 
 was liglited by windows above the book-cases, but, as fai- as 1 
 can recollect, on the east side only. I think the otlier walls 
 above the book-cases restino: on the floor of the read in ir room- 
 were also covered Avith book-cases, but these not accessible- 
 from the Eeading-Eoom,but from galleries, &c., opening into the- 
 other parts of the building. I recollect nothing about the ven-- 
 tilation, but I know that after working some time, you found- 
 your head very hot and heavy, and your feet cold. These 
 were the symptoms of the ' Museum Megrims,' about which 
 there was, shortly after my experience of the place, a deal of 
 chaff in the papers. I fully sympathized with it at the time." 
 
 The Library of the British Museum continued to- 
 increase in proportion to its rapid influx of readers ; 
 and in 1849, the collection, excluding the masses 
 of MSS., pamphlets, and other unbound works, 
 amounted to no less than 435,000 volumes.* "NN'hat 
 a vast acquisition must this have been to the public,. 
 
 *In 18S0, 1,300,000 volumes.
 
 348 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 whether to the student, the critic, or the occasioi;al 
 louno-er ! 
 
 The power of exercising rights of o^vnership was, 
 however, by no means commensurate with the legal 
 title to the property : indeed, ov»ing to lack of room 
 and other conveniences, such rights, in the case of 
 very many who would otherwise have taken advan- 
 tage of them, scarcely extended to liberty of inspec- 
 ting the outsides of the volumes ; as to the insides, 
 they were literally closed books. 
 
 Such a state of affairs made a deep impression on 
 Panizzi, whose incessant anxiety for, and interest in 
 the Department over which he presided, added to his 
 repugnance to suffering so much of its contents to 
 lie idle and unprofitable, caused in him a ceaseless 
 feeling of regret. He saw and knew, only too w ell, 
 how alone reform was to take place — viz., by pro- 
 vision of ample room, and by due attention too the 
 requirements of readers, at the same time securing 
 the necessary amount of space in the building for the 
 ever increasing additions to the Library. 
 
 From a very early period his attention had been 
 directed to the req irements of the Reading-Room, 
 and an important improvement in its service had been 
 introduced by him even before he became Keeper of 
 Printed Books. Before his time, the press-mark 
 denoting the place of a book in the Library was not 
 affixed to the Reading-room copy of tha Catalogue, 
 and the reader simply indicated the books he wished 
 to see, which were then looked out in the Library 
 copy of the Catalogue by the attendants. This 
 system, which may have answe]i:ed very well while the
 
 THE NEW READING-ROOM 349 
 
 daily average of visitors did not exceed thirty, became 
 entirely inadequate when they amounted to two hun 
 dred; and Mr. Baber, at Panizzi's suggestion, directed 
 that press-marks should be put to the Reading-Room 
 Catalogue, so that the readers might search it for them- 
 selves. This innovation occasioned an immense saving 
 of time, but was naturally resented by many to whom 
 time was of less importance than trouble. Sir Harris 
 Nicolas, an excellent type of the really hard-working 
 reader, thought differently, and spontaneously addressed 
 a letter to Panizzi, congratulating him upon his reform. 
 This incident had an amusing sequel. Sir li. Nicolas 
 saw fit to assail Panizzi's mana"'ement in a series of 
 anonymous articles in the Spectator newspaper, and 
 among other points censured the very regulation of 
 which he had previously approved. A correspondence 
 ensued, in the course of which Panizzi cited tlie 
 material parts of Sir Harris's former letter to liimself 
 without marks of quotations, and Sir H. Nicolas mis- 
 taking his own arguments for his antagonist's, fell 
 foul of them in a fashion which gave Panizzi the op- 
 portunity he sought of withdrawing from further con- 
 troversy with " a man endowed with so flexible a 
 judgment, and so treacherous a memory." 
 
 The improvements introduced by Panizzi into the 
 internal arrangements of the Okl Ileading-Poom wc^rc 
 nevertheless trivial in comparison with those wliich 
 he was destined to accomplish by the construction of 
 a new one. 
 
 In 1850, he submitted to the Trustees his first plan 
 for a new Keading-Poom. As this, however, iuNolved 
 the acquisition of land and the consequent erection of
 
 350 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 new buildings, it was rejected on account of the delay 
 and expense which would inevitably follow. The 
 next plan of reform relating to the enlargement of tlie 
 capacities of the Museum in general was brought for- 
 ward by the Trustees themselves. This or a similar 
 scheme had long since been mooted, but was regularly 
 formulated for the first time in 1848. Their proposal 
 was to buy up the whole of one portion of the street, 
 on the east side of the Museum, to build on the site, 
 and to complete that part of the edifice which faced 
 Eussell Square with a grand facade. This scheme^ 
 the cost of which Avas calculated to amount to only 
 about a quarter of a million, did not receive the 
 favourable consideration of Government. There is 
 much reason to be thankful that the infliction of a 
 second grand facade has been spared us. The first 
 sketch for the New Reading-Room was drawn by 
 Panizzi himself on April 18, 1852, and shown to Mr. 
 WintcrJones on the same day. 
 
 On May 5 following, Panizzi sent in a report setting 
 forth at large, and in forcible terms, the discomfort 
 and inconvenience existing in his own Department of 
 the Institution, and recommending, as a remedy, the 
 construction of the new building in the inner quad- 
 rangle. It Avill not be amiss to give this report in 
 eoctenso, as it will present something more than a 
 sketch of the work intended — omitting, of course, all 
 minor and unimportant details. 
 
 " May 5th, 1852. 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi has the honour to submit the follow- 
 ing statement and suggestions to the Trustees, in the- 
 hope that the pressing importance of the subject will 

 
 THE NEW READING-ROOM 35 1 
 
 be deemed a sufficient apology for thus urging it once 
 more on their early and favourable consideration." 
 
 " It is a known and admitted fact that there is no 
 more available space in which to arrange books in a 
 proper and suitable manner in the Printed Book De- 
 partment ; that the collection is, therefore, falling, 
 and will continue to fall, into arrears, the consequences 
 •of which are also too well known to be here further 
 insisted upon ; that want of accommodation in the 
 Reading-Rooms, not only for readers, but for books of 
 reference and for catalogues, prevents many persons 
 from making use of the collection of printed books, 
 whilst actual readers pursue their rescarclics and 
 studies amidst many and various discomforts, all OAving 
 to the crowded state of those rooms." 
 
 " Supposing that it were at once determined to 
 Temove to suitable buildings, to bo erected for the 
 purpose, some portion of any of the collections now 
 forming part of the British Museum, or that in order 
 to provide room for books an enlargement were forth- 
 with decided upon of the present Museum building, 
 iis Mr. Panizzi had the honour to suggest long ago, it 
 is manifest that many years must elapse before the 
 advantages to be derived from either altornati\"e would 
 be felt. The additions which would in tlu> interval 
 be made to other collections would greatly curtail the 
 tulvantages ultimately proposed for the readers, and 
 for the department of Printed Books, both of which 
 would in the meanwhile continue to labour under the 
 present and eventual disadvantages already pointed 
 out. Under any circumstances, therefore, and whatever 
 be the determination adopted as to provision being
 
 352 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 eventually made for the general wants of the British 
 Museum, the claims of the readers require the imme- 
 diate and special consideration of the Trustees." 
 
 " With respect, moreover, to this important part of 
 the subject — the accommodation for readers — it seems 
 to Mr. Panizzi that none of the existing parts of the 
 British Museum offer such comforts, conveniences, and 
 advantages as appear to him absolutely required for a 
 proper Reading-room of such an institution — a cir- 
 cumstance to which he particularly begs to direct the 
 attention of the Trustees. Having long held this 
 opinion, Mr. Panizzi suggested from the first, and 
 has often suggested since, whenever the question of 
 additions to the present building has been brought 
 under discussion, that a new Eeading-Room should be 
 erected ; and this suggestion he is more and more 
 convinced must be acted upon, even though portions 
 of the collections now contained in the British Museum 
 were removed from it, and the space which they 
 occupy were destined to receive printed books, — a 
 destination which, it may be incidentally remarked, 
 will be convenient only with respect to certain parts 
 of the building." 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi thinks that the inconveniences now 
 felt can be completely remedied as well as all even- 
 tual difficulties removed in a short time, and at a 
 comparatively small cost, by the erection of a suitable 
 building in the inner quadrangle, which is at present 
 useless. . . . The building now suggested con- 
 sists of an outer Avail, not higher than the sill of the 
 windows of the quadrangle — about 18 feet. This 
 wall is intended only to protect the contents of the
 
 THE XEW KEADIXG ROOM c~)0- 
 
 building, not to support it. It ought to be supported 
 by iron columns, and proper iron frames and girders. 
 It would be for the Trustees to consider of what 
 material the rest of the building should consist, and 
 whether the whole or only parts of its roof should be 
 of glass ; oi course this may partly depend on the 
 quantity of light required." 
 
 " All the partitions of the several portions (marked 
 on the plan accompanying the report), with the excep- 
 tion of those intended to seperatc closets, washing- 
 rooms, &c., &c., from the rest of the building, should 
 be formed by book-cases of uniform size, holding 
 books on both sides." 
 
 " Such fittings and furniture would then be of use 
 were it considered expedient at some future period to 
 remove the proposed building altogether, and provide 
 a Reading- Room elsewhere." 
 
 *'It is intended that a space of four feet should be 
 left between the outside of the areas of the building: 
 now existing and the outer wall of the one suggested. 
 Neither the light, nor even the ventilation of the 
 rooms underground would be interfered with, at least 
 not to such an extent as to render it doubtful 
 whether a slight inconvenience possibly accruing to 
 the use of cellars ought to outweigh the manifest 
 advanta2:es which must evidentlv result to the readers 
 and Library from the adoption of the proposed 
 scheme." 
 
 " By the adoption of that scheme a Rcading-Room 
 would be provided capable of containing upwards of 
 6G0 readers at one and the same time, all comfortably 
 seated. They might have at their free disposal
 
 354 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 25,000 volumes of works of reference. The superin- 
 tendence, which is now peculiarly difficult (in con- 
 sequence of which mutilations and thefts have, of 
 late, become not uncommon), would then be as easy 
 and as effective as possible. The space assigned to 
 books will, on a moderate calculation, afford room 
 for 400,000 volumes. There will, moreover, be 
 ample accommodation for Officers, Assistants, Tran- 
 scribers, and Attendants, to carry on their various 
 duties in a more comfortable as well as more econ- 
 omical manner than is now the case. Requisite 
 conveniences would also be provided for frequenters 
 of the Eeading - Room. The whole building is 
 capable of being as well lighted, ventilated, and 
 warmed, as can possibly be wished." 
 
 " Mr. Panizzi having but a very limited knowledge 
 of practical architecture, and of the cost of building, 
 cannot take upon himself to give an estimate of the 
 expense. He would, however, be greatly surprised if 
 the building now suggested, completely fitted ujd, 
 were to cost more than £50,000."* 
 
 A few weeks after, Panizzi wrote to Lord Ruther- 
 furd : — 
 
 " May 27, 1852. 
 *' I have submitted a plan of building in the Quadrangle 
 to the Trustees, which has taken with them all amazingly, and 
 Avill, no doubt, be executed, for even the architect is pleased 
 
 * It so happened that Mr. Charles Cannon, one of the Assistants in the 
 Library, knew how to draw a plan in the proper manner ; Panizzi, there- 
 fore, employed him to put the rough sketch into such a shape as to be clear! v^ 
 imderstood by the Trustees. The plans were accordingly drawn and laid 
 before the Board without any assi-^tance from outside the Mussura. Panizzi, 
 in after time, used frequpntly to refer to this and some similar services 
 as of gvi-at advantage to him.
 
 THE A'EW READING-ROOM 355 
 
 with It. He will have nothing on earth to do but carry Into 
 execution my Ideas ; he has not been able to suggest one 
 single Improvement. He tried yesterday to draw a plan 
 somewhat different from mine, but he was obliged to admit it 
 was a failure, and will have to execute purely and simply my 
 own plan. I shall save the country many and many thousand 
 pounds, and do wonders for readers and library." 
 
 And in December of the same year, he addressed a 
 letter to Plallam, the answer to which we give : — 
 
 " December 2, 1852. 
 *' My dear Sir, 
 
 I have just received your valuable letter on the 
 
 proposed application to the Treasury for an addition to the 
 
 building at the Museum. Your plan appears to me the only 
 
 one which will meet the emergency, and also the only one 
 
 which, on the score of expense, the Government are at all 
 
 likely to entertain. But as the Trustees have already laid 
 
 both this and the proposed building to the east before the 
 
 Treasury, they cannct avoid giving them the choice 
 
 I much fear that it will not be possible for me lo attend 
 with the rest of the deputation — that is, I am engaged at a 
 distance from London both next and the follow! ncc week. I 
 Avill do, however, all I can to be present. But I do not sup- 
 pose the Treasury will have time before the adjournment of 
 Parliament. 
 
 You have, I dare say, called on the Trustees forming the 
 deputation. I will, however, and as you permit me, transipit 
 your letter to Mr. JNIacaulay. I think that Mr. Goulburn is as 
 likely to have weight as any one, but I am sure you have been 
 in communication with him. 
 
 I should not be surprised at the removal of Elgin and other 
 marbles to the new National Gallery, but, of course, that part 
 of the Museum could not be converted into a library without 
 much inconvenience and expense. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 H. Hallam.'* 
 
 AA
 
 356 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 In June, 1852, there appeared in the Quarterhj 
 Heview, an interesting article on the British Museum, 
 from the pen of no less a personage than the llight 
 Honourable Wilson Croker himself. On the face of 
 this article the writer shows himself a thorough 
 advocate oi the merits of the Reading-Room then in 
 existence. Denying the credibility, save in the case 
 of a few individuals of abnormally weak and suscep- 
 tible brains, of the traditional Museum headache, 
 to which so many, and amongst them Thomas Carlyle, 
 had from personal experience, borne witness ; he pro- 
 ceeds to charge the room with the very defects on 
 which the majority of its frequenters were in the 
 constant habit of dilating. 
 
 Amongst other works at the head of this article, is 
 one entitled Observations on the British Museum, 
 National Gallery and National Becord Office, loith 
 suggestions for their im])7'0vement, hy James Fergusson. 
 London, 1849. 
 
 In this work Mr. Fergusson, anticipating Panizzi's 
 purpose and choice of site, proposed to construct in 
 the inner quadrangle of the British Museum, a 
 Reading-Room about 175 feet by 105 feet. The 
 writer of the article gives Panizzi no credit for the 
 soundness of his scheme, and its adaptability to the 
 requirements of the occasion, but attributes his 
 recommendations simply to his zeal for the efficiency 
 of his ]3epartment, and wonders how Mr. Smirke 
 could have lent these ideas his professional concur- 
 rence. With Mr. Fergusson's project he disagrees as 
 likely to spoil the effect of the inner court, as touch- 
 ing the grandeur and imj)ressiveness in its naked
 
 SIR C. BARRY'S PLANS 357 
 
 ^severity ; in this he assumes that there is a peculiar 
 merit in the eyes of those who have seen it, though 
 it must be granted that, to the few w^ho had done so, 
 this peculiar merit was not so clearly \dsible. He 
 proposes as an improvement to cover in the whole 
 ■court with a glass roof, after the fashion of the 
 ■original Crystal Palace of 1851, in Hyde Park, and 
 to use the grand room thus obtained as a receptacle 
 for antiquities, sculpture, etc., with other details of 
 improvement, which, as they were never carried out, 
 do not require to be particularized in these pages. 
 
 This was, in fact, the scheme submitted in 1853 to 
 the Trustees of the British Museum by Sir Charles 
 Barry. The report made by the Trustees respecting 
 this plan is, as may be supposed, too long to quote 
 iverhatim, but is, substantially, as follows : — 
 
 That Sir C. Barry's plan, so far as it related to 
 increased accommodation in the British Museum, was 
 absolutely impracticable. 
 
 That it betrayed great ignorance of the wants of 
 -the Museum, and indifference as to the safe-keeping 
 of some of its most valuable contents. 
 
 That the large skylight covering the 75,200 square 
 feet of quadrangle would darken every window 
 therein, and, in many seasons, obscure the whole 
 space. 
 
 That the communications between Departments 
 would be more inconvenient than at present, and that 
 the new Reading-Koom, proposed by Sir C. Barry, 
 w^ould be deficient in light, air, and accommodation, 
 and be attended by increased expense and delay in 
 the procuring of books. 
 2a
 
 o58 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI. 
 
 That the supervision of the Reading-Eoom -svould 
 be less effective, and risk of loss incurred. 
 
 That access to parts of the Library would have to 
 be through the Reading-Room ; the Cataloguers, 
 would be separated by a great distance from their 
 books, and the Catalogues themselves suspended 
 during the progress of the works. 
 
 That the Exhibition of Prints and Drawings would 
 be in like manner affected ; that no additional space 
 is provided for printed books ; and that general dis- 
 placement and confusion in this Department would be 
 the result of the scheme. 
 
 That Sir C. Barry's statement — viz., that the space 
 of only one year is sufficient for the completion of the 
 Avork is without foundation. 
 
 That the plan of removal of the greater objects of 
 antiquity from their present site to Sir C. Barry's new 
 hall would be attended with extraordinary labour and 
 expense, and that their position would be no more- 
 conspicuous than before. 
 
 That mummies, metals, pottery, and objects having 
 delicacy of colour would run risk of injury. 
 
 That ventilation would be most difficult, and the 
 approach to the area highly objectionable. 
 
 Lastly, that the sudden fail of any large portion of 
 the enormous glass roof might destroy some most 
 valuable object or objects of art. 
 
 Thus the Trustees dismissed the project of Sir C. 
 Barry, and evinced an inclination to cling to their own- 
 design, notwithstanding its rejection by the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 It was not long, however, before they saw the ex-
 
 OBSTACLES AXD DIFFICULTIES 359 
 
 pedieiicy of adopting Panizzi's views ; and in a letter 
 to Lord Rutherfurd, the latter speaks hopefully, first 
 of his plan, and afterwards of his final anticipation of 
 the success of his scheme. 
 
 "B. M., May 16, 1854. 
 
 " . . . . Lord Aberrleeii and also Mr. Gladstone, but 
 not Lord Lansdowne, have been to look at tbe model, and both 
 have agreed that the building should be raited as proposed. 
 The Trustees on Saturday were unanimously of opinion that 
 my suggestion was right, and liave written for the Treasury's 
 approbation, which, after what I mention just before, will, no 
 doubt, be given, and the thing done." 
 
 The foundations of the New TJeading-Room were 
 commenced in May, and the first hrick was laid in 
 September, 1854. 
 
 Li a work of such a peculiar imture and vast im- 
 portance, it would be impossible to avoid the constant 
 recurrence of obstacles and difficulties ; and a third 
 letter from Panizzi to Lord Rutherfurd proves con- 
 clusively that these were caused by circumstances 
 quite unconnected with the actual building operations. 
 This we subjoin : — 
 
 "B. M, October 13tli, 1854. 
 
 " . . . . The building is going on tolerably. It will be 
 nsed as a source of great annoyance to me, particularly by our 
 
 friend X , who is here for my sins. That building will 
 
 cause yet to us all — I mean the architect, builder, and myself 
 — great anxiety and trouble ; numberless points are to be 
 settled, and they are knotty ones. Then I have to agree about 
 it with some Trustees, who evidently have no clear conception 
 of what it is to be, and make suggestions and objections which 
 they would not make if they understood what that building is, 
 and how it will be wdien finished." 
 
 As time progressed, it became necessary to encoun- 
 ter and settle the question of internal decoration — a
 
 360 THE LIFE OF SIK ANTHONY PANIZZJ 
 
 question, in all countries, of extreme delicacy and taste,, 
 and, in our own climate, especially in the atmosphere 
 of London, most difficult of solution. The New 
 Keadiiig-Room had no exterior, and those who have 
 seen the interior in its present finished state may 
 readily imagine how hald and unsatisfactory an ap- 
 pearance it would have presented had even a less 
 lavish use heen made of paint and gilding in its orna- 
 mentation. From a letter of Mr. Smirke's to Panizzi 
 it would appear that it required some eff'ort to obtain 
 for the building the least amount of gilding necessary. 
 
 Here, moreover, the equally delicate question of 
 money arose, for Panizzi's modest estimate of £50,000 
 had already been greatly exceeded in the mere con- 
 struction of the room, without any of its numerous 
 and much needed accessories. 
 
 That this was so, may be seen from Mr. Smirke's 
 letter : — 
 
 " Leicester, October 29, 1856. 
 " ]\Iy dear Sn, 
 .... 1 shall not let the subject of gilding the dome drop 
 without an effort, and propose to submit it formally to the 
 Trustees at their next meeting. If four or five thousand 
 pounds were spent in gilding some of the mouldings of the 
 dome an effect would be produced that could hardly be ima- 
 gined ; it would illuminate, as it were, the whole building, and 
 beautify it without detracting from Its simplicity and grandeur* 
 The £100,000 which the bulldin<j costs will have been en- 
 tirely spent In objects of utility ; surely four or five thousand 
 pounds will be a small percentage on that sum for ornament. 
 In what public building In London has the ratio of ornament 
 to utility been as four-and-a-half to a hundred? 
 
 Yours, &c., &c,, 
 
 Sydney Smirke."'
 
 LETTER FROM THE TREASURY 361 
 
 Most happily the authorities entertained no parsi- 
 monious ideas in the matter ; and a letter from the 
 Secretary to the Treasury (the Eight Honourable 
 James AVilson) displays a liberal and enlightened 
 view of the necessity of combining in the new room 
 beauty with utility, although his opinions as regards 
 the British Museum in general, may reasonably be 
 questioned. 
 
 This letter will also be read with interest ; there- 
 fore, altliough lengthy, no apology is needed for its 
 insertion ; — • 
 
 "Treasury Chambers, 
 June 3, 1856. 
 *' My dear Panizzi, 
 
 I have read your note of the 28th of ^Nlay 
 "vvitli much interest. I have shue eent you an official letter 
 sanctioning the gilding of the dome. That, however, need not 
 be considered to preclude the consideration of the painting of 
 the ceiling, should the Trustees be disposed to entertain it. As 
 the matter appears to me it is thus: — The British Museum is 
 certainly the best public building we have of modern times, 
 and is one of the few things we have to be proud of. Tlie 
 EeadinfjHall will be one of tlie finest rooms and the Dome 
 oiie of the grandest structures of its kind, not to say in England, 
 but, so lar as I know, in Eur()|je. These circumstances 
 certainly point to the strong moti\e we should have to com- 
 plete it in the best style of which it is capable. Adverting to 
 the fact that the whole of the sides of that enormous circle will 
 be fitted up with deni-e rows of books, with a mass of gilded 
 and varied coloured backs, a plain white ceiling would be tame 
 and cold in the extreme, and I think the choice must lie- 
 between rich gilding, or less gilding and painting. Against 
 the latter I think the plan of the interior of the dome is a 
 serious drawback, because, being fitted in compartments, any
 
 362 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY TANIZZI 
 
 ^rand subject to spread over the whole of the dome is impos- 
 sible, and if painting is resorted to at all, it will obviously be 
 necessary to confine it to some mode of filling the panels only, 
 and which, moreover, excepting the ovals, are of a bad shape; 
 for I think it is obvious that any style that may be adopted 
 should be ricli, grave, and even severe, looking to the purpose 
 for which the building is intended. 
 
 Ho\ve\ er, it will remain for the Trustees, if they think right, 
 to consider this subject deliberately after they may be in pos- 
 session of any information or advice which they think proper 
 to seek. Expressing only my own private views at this stage, 
 I should on public grounds think that it would be well worth 
 consideration, in order to perfect so grand a work, whether an 
 additional sum of money should not be expended, thrown over 
 two or three years, if a great and decided effect can be attained 
 by painting in place of gilding. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 James Wilson." 
 
 Notwithstanding the suggestions alluded to in this 
 letter, to the great credit of the architect's taste and 
 judgment, the Dome was " fitted in compartments," 
 and no opportunity was given for " any grand subject 
 to spread over the whole of the Dome." Had this pro- 
 ject been seriously entertained, it is assuredly more than 
 doubtful whether an artist could have been found of 
 sufficient capacity to undertake it with any probability 
 of success. 
 
 There is no doubt whatever that the surface of the 
 Dome, arranged and coloured as it fortunately has 
 been, presents a far better effect than it would have 
 done had it been surrendered to any such decoration 
 as a grand subject painting extending over the whole 
 of it.
 
 INTERXAL DECORATION 363 
 
 But apropos of decoration, Panizzi's letter, written 
 just one year before, and addressed to a Trustee of the 
 British Museum, Mr. W. R. Hamilton, will also 
 testify to his judgment and taste in architecture : — 
 
 "B. M., June 11, 1855. 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 I had no idea that my objections to showing the 
 Tibs in the interior of the cupola, and to the form of the 
 Avindows in it, would ever have become the subject of discus- 
 sion. I stated these objections to Mr. Smirke and INIr. Fielder, 
 ^nd as the former was responsible, he was perfectly right in 
 persisting in his views if he thought mc wrong; and had that 
 fceen done privately, I should have allowed tlie matter to pass 
 in silence. But as my objections have been formally canvassed 
 and summarily dismissed — as I am likely to get more blame 
 for the new building than I am fairly entitled to, and as I 
 believe my objections to have more in them than others allow. 
 I tliink it right to put on record these objections, being firmly 
 convinced that the time will come when the not having given 
 them more consideration will be a source of regret. If I write 
 to you, instead of making a report to the Trustees, it is 
 because I do not want to sa}'' officially more than I did on 
 Saturday last to the Board, because Mr. Smirke appealed to 
 you originally as a friend, and because your unwearied kind- 
 ness to me, makes me confident that you will, on the same 
 ground, forgive my relieving my mind to you by repeating my 
 objections. 
 
 1st. — As to the cupola : I object to its showing the ribs on 
 whicli it rests. I say that this is unprecedented, that it will have 
 a bad effect, that it renders it impossible ever to ornament it, 
 and that the oval frames which are introduced about half way, 
 in the spaces between the ribs are meaningless, not in keeping 
 -with the building. Far from showing how they arc con- 
 structed, it is their being as if it were suspended in the air 
 that gives the cupolas their grace, and renders them striking 
 objects. From them comes the light as from the sky, of which
 
 364 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 they represent the form as much as it is possible for mortals tO' 
 imitate nature. 
 
 To show the ribs in a cupola is the same as if we were to 
 show in their nakedness the beams and girders supporting a 
 floor or a roof. 
 
 It is an utter mistake to say that the ribs (costoloni) of St. 
 Peter's are seen in tlie great temple itself. The cupola which 
 is seen inside is a second cupola, quite smooth, built on pur- 
 pose to conceal the supports and ribs of the outer cupola, and 
 these are seen only by persons who go to the top of that 
 superb building, ascending between the two cupolas, the outer 
 and inner one. 
 
 2nd. — As to the windows : Has any one ever seen such 
 windows in a building, the whole cliaracter and style of which 
 is so totally different Irom them in character and style ? What 
 will the effect be after having passed through the magnificent 
 entrance of the Museum, to enter a room lighted not only by 
 arched windows, but by windows with such ornaments in their 
 upper portion, and then divided lengthways by a slender up- 
 right into two very narrow and very long arches, the propor- 
 tions and frame of which are so peculiar, and so much at 
 variance with everything else in the whole Museum? All the 
 doors in the very room which is to be lighted by those win- 
 dows are of simple and rectangular form. Will not this dis- 
 cordance produce a most disagreeable effect ? 
 
 I feel, perhaps, too strongly on the subject, and I most sin- 
 cerely wish I may be mistaken, but I cannot, fearing strongly 
 that this building, which I cherished the hope would prove as 
 handsome as it will be useful, will thus be rendered subject tO' 
 animadversion. I write under this conviction — under this 
 conviction I spoke last Saturday to the Trustees. I shall 
 claim no merit on the success; I must disclaim the responsi- 
 bility of failure on these two points. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi."
 
 COMPLETION AXD BREAKFAST oG5 
 
 Although, during the progress of the building, 
 Panizzi had frequent occasion to complain of the 
 short-comings of the workmen employed thereon, yet, 
 the new Eeading-Room was entirely finished by the 
 end of April, 1857, in the laudably short space of 
 less than three years. Much credit was due to the 
 great energy of the contractor, Mr. Fielder, for whom 
 Panizzi entertained the highest esteem, and who was 
 untiring in his earnest endeavours in carrying out 
 the plans of the architect ; and on the 2nd of May in 
 the same year, the building Avas duly opened, a grand 
 breakfast being given at the British Museum in 
 honour of the occasion : to this the Prince Consort 
 had been invited by Panizzi, and had accepted the 
 invitation, but was prevented from attending by an 
 unforeseen occurrence. 
 
 The following letter accounts for His Eoyal High- 
 ness's absence from the ceremony : — 
 
 " Piccadilly, 
 
 April SOth, 1857. 
 
 "My dear Sir, 
 
 As the death of H.R.H. tl.e Duclie?s of Glouces'.er 
 will inevitably prevent H.R.H. Prince Albert's attending at 
 the opening of the Reading Room on Saturday next, you will 
 oblige me by stating whether or not the ceiemony will still 
 take place or he postponed to a future day. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 A. Panizzi, Esq. Cadogan." 
 
 The postponement of the opening of the Koom 
 was, however, simply impossible, and amongst other 
 notabilities present were the following : — 
 
 The Archbishop of Canterbury (Sumner), Earl and 
 Countess of Clarendon, Earl Cawdor, Earl of Aber-
 
 "SQQ THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 -deen, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir 
 Charles and Lady Eastlake, Lady Cranworth, Baron 
 Marochetti, the Dean of St. Paul's and Mrs. Milman, 
 ■Professor Owen, Lord Panmure, Lord and Lady John 
 Eussell, Sir George and Lady Grey, Earl Spencer, 
 the Bishop of London and Mrs. Tait, and the Duke 
 •of Somerset. 
 
 All the officers were also present, with the excep- 
 tion of Sir Frederick Madden (Keeper of the MSS.), 
 'but Mr. E. A. Bond, then Assistant-Keeper, repre- 
 sented him. One of the letters replying to Panizzi's 
 invitation to this breakfast may be given here, to 
 show the estimate formed by one whose judgment 
 may safely be respected, of the Librarian's own share 
 in the building of the new Eeading-Eoom : — 
 
 " 24, Bedford Square, 
 
 21st April, 1857. 
 
 " Dear Panizzi. 
 
 I shall have very great pleasure In witnessing 
 the Inauguration of the New Reading-Room, not only as an 
 observance marking an epoch in the advance of the Museum, 
 "but as tending by new allurements of splendor and convenience 
 to increase the resort of every class of society to it, as well for 
 study as for investigations. 
 
 Without lessening the merits of Mr. Smlrke and Mr. Fielder 
 in carrying out its plans, the contriver and real architect 
 throughout has been Antonio Panizzi. 
 
 Your exertions have brought Increased prosperity to the 
 greatest of our Institutions. 
 
 Yours ever smcerely, 
 
 Henry Ellis." 
 
 Another letter, by the same hand, bears testimony 
 to the success of the entertainment itself: —
 
 COREESPONDENCE o67 
 
 "24, Bedford Square, 
 
 4t]i May, 1857. 
 "Dear Panizzi. 
 
 I must not resist the pleasure I feel in express- 
 ing to you my conoratulations on the successful opening of 
 our new Reading-Koom, on Saturday, although H.R.H. Prince 
 Albert, contrary to his own intention, was prevented by the 
 Duchess of Gloucester's demise, from honouring it with his 
 presence. 
 
 You see I still venture to say our Reading-Room, for 
 although officially defunct, my heart and mind remain 
 attached to the welfare of the place, and with it a fancied 
 identity still hovering over me, and I must say not a little 
 encouraged by the prosperity and increasing magnificence of 
 the place I have so long loved. 
 
 Everybody who came on Saturday was delighted with your 
 kind reception, and noth'ng could be a more complete adapta- 
 tion to the circuit which surrounded it than your entertain 
 ment, alike conspicuous for the abundance, and the refined 
 taste in the selection and preparation of its viands. 
 
 The ladies, I can assure you, were not a little pleased with 
 the compliment of the bouquets. The only regret I felt 
 myself was in the consideration of the fatigue you must have 
 undergone in your own exertions to prepare for making so- 
 choice a company as you assembled, so completely pleased and 
 happy, not omitting your toil also in the reception ; but in 
 both points I am quite sure you Averc thoroughly successful. 
 
 Accept my own thanks for your kindness to me personally 
 on this eventful occasion, and with my best wishes that you 
 may long live to continue your exertions for the benefit of the 
 Museum, and that you may be backed by the liberality of 
 successive Chancellors of the Exchequer, such as Sir George 
 
 Cornewall Lewis. 
 
 Yours, &c., Sic. 
 
 Henry Ellis."
 
 5G8 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 The reply to this conveys a graceful tribute to Sir 
 Henry Ellis's own deserts : — 
 
 *'B. M., May 4th, 1857. 
 " ]\Iy dear Sir Henry, 
 
 I assure you that I cannot find words to express 
 adequately the feelings with which I perused your most kind 
 letter ; beheve me, although I shall not say mucli, I feel 
 deeply your kindness. 
 
 This great institution which has grown under your eyes, 
 and increased from small beginnings to its present magni- 
 tude by your paternal care and unremitting exertions for the 
 space of 56 years, must always occupy a high place in your 
 heart. I can only express the hope that I may not attempt 
 in vain to follow your footsteps in the responsible situation 
 which I fill, and that the comparison may not be so much to 
 my disadvantage, when in future times the results of your 
 administration arc compared with mine. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 A. Panizzi." 
 
 Whatever may have been Panizzi's claim to be con- 
 sidered the " Architect," as well as the originator of 
 the design for the New Reading-Eoom, his reputation 
 for having performed so great a service was not 
 altogether unassailed. On the completion of his 
 im^Jortant work, a vigorous attack, more formidable 
 perhaps in appearance than in reality, was directed 
 from a somewhat unexpected quarter against both 
 the originality of the plan and the lond fides of the 
 author. Ihec feci monimenta meum tulit alter 
 honorem^ sic ws non vohis, etc. Such were the 
 words of William Hosking, Professor of Architecture, 
 King's College, London.
 
 ME. hosking's plaxs 369 
 
 This gentleman had, some years before, prepared a 
 design for additional bnildings to the British Museum, 
 and these he proposed to place in the quadrangle, on 
 the site afterwards fixed on by Panizzi for his Rcad- 
 ing-Room. In 1848 Mr. Hosking submitted his plan 
 to Lord Ellesmere's Museum Commission, and after- 
 wards, in 1849, to the Trustees. 
 
 Great though its merits may have been, it un- 
 fortunately met with approbation from neither. Mr. 
 Hosking now made a charge against Panizzi of 
 having pirated not only his choice of the position, 
 but also the form of the building, which he alleges has 
 heen colourably altered so as to pass for Panizzi's own. 
 
 The earlier design appeared in the Builder of 
 June 22nd, 1850. We mention this in order that 
 the reader may have an opportunity of comparing it 
 with the latter and judge for himself as to which 
 ]30ssesses the greater merit and originality. 
 
 Mr. Hosking's building, it must in justice be 
 allowed, would have been of itself extremely orna- 
 mental, and, with equal justice, it may be said would 
 have been considerably less useful than ornamental. 
 Although the superiority of past ages has reduced 
 the art of the present day to imitation, combined, in 
 comparatively rare cases, with happy adaptation, it is, 
 nevertheless, doubtful how far any architect who 
 should make an actual copy of so well-known a 
 building as the Pantheon at Rome, and set it up in 
 one of the most conspicuous positions in London, 
 would be justified in so doing, or would merit popular 
 approbation, even though he acted with the same 
 ■*' bona fides " as Mr. Hosking.
 
 370 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 Not to enter, however, on this higher question, it 
 is obvious that there were vaUd reasons why the 
 Trustees should have rejected this scheme. They 
 may be excused for not, at first siglit, perceiving the 
 necessity or utility of raising no less a structure than 
 the dome of the Pantheon over a portion of the 
 statuary of the British Museum. Another project in 
 Mr. Hosking's plan (not mentioned in the extract 
 from the Builder), whereby he proposed to cut off a 
 portion of the King's Library for a new Reading-E-oom,, 
 was scarcely worthy of second consideration. 
 
 On the completion of Panizzi's work Mr. Hosking,. 
 probably wroth at his own ill success, and aggrieved 
 at the favour lavished on the other, proceeded to open 
 his attack on the alleged pirate, firing his first shot 
 direct at that individual : — 
 
 " Adieiifeuiti, 
 30th April, 1857. 
 
 " Sir, 
 
 As the credit of sngG^estinf' the site and orW\- 
 natinf; the work recently built in the quadrano'ular court of 
 the British Museum is popularly assigned to you, whilst I 
 claim to have devised and made known the scheme in the first 
 instance, I hojDe you will hold me excused for asking you tO' 
 be so good as to give me the means of placing the matter 
 rightly before the public by informing me whether the project 
 to the same effect which I laid before Lord EUesmere's Com- 
 mission in 1848, and communicated to the Trustees of the- 
 Museum in 1849, had been seen by you before you devised 
 the present work. 
 
 ]\Iy plan, with an abstract of the description which accom- 
 panied it, was, after the drawing whicli presented it came back 
 from the Trustees, published in the Builder, as you know ; for 
 I sent you a copy of tlie print, and that was two years before
 
 CONTROVERSY. 371 
 
 the scheme lately carried out was made knowa to the 
 public. 
 
 I am, yours, &e., 
 
 William Hoskikg." 
 
 To this Panizzi lost no time in replying : — 
 
 " British Museum, 
 May 1st, 1857. 
 
 « Sir, 
 
 I have to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of yesterday's date requesting me to inform you whctlier 
 a certain project of yours of building in the inner quadrangle 
 of the Museum, and which, as you state, you laid before Lord 
 Ellesmere's Commission iii 1848, and communicated to the 
 Trustees in 1849 (as 1 have just now ascertained for tlie first 
 time) had been seen by me before 1 designed the present 
 work, that is the Keading-Room and Libraries recently built 
 on that site. 
 
 I beg in answer to state that I had never seen your project 
 or the scheme to which you allude before I suggested tlie 
 work which is now completed. 
 
 I saw, when published, in the Builder, a separately 
 printed copy of it which was sent to me, 1 suppose by you, 
 without any accompanying note or letter, long after the works 
 for carrjnng out my suggestion had been commenced. 
 
 The concluding part of your letter must mean, of course, 
 that that publication took place two years before the ■'cheme 
 lately carried out liad been made known, not that you sent me 
 the copy of your plan two years before my suggestion had 
 been made known to the public. It is desirable that lliere 
 should be no ambiguity on this point. 
 
 Permit me to add that the schemes for covering over, or 
 building in the quadrangle were numberless. My colleague, 
 Mx. Hawkins, had often suggested, long before 1850 a commu- 
 nication by con-idors across the quadrangle, from the front 
 entrance to the several departments, with a central building 
 for the Trustees' Meeting-Koom and olHcers standing round it. 
 BB
 
 372 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 You suggested a great Centa-al Hall with one floor of 120 
 feet in diameter, two inscribing octagonal corridors presenting 
 niclies to receive statues, and extensive wall surface fit to 
 receive reliefs and inscriptions with connecting galleries, etc. 
 
 The Hall was intended by you for the exhibition of the 
 finer and more important works of sculpture, besides a quadri- 
 lateral hall to contain ample staircases, etc. 
 
 I, on the other hand, have suggested and have seen built 
 a circular Eeading-Koom, 140 feet in diameter, with amazing 
 shelf room for books of a totally novel construction. No 
 central hall, no quadrilateral hall nor ample staircases, no 
 space, niches, or wall-surface for the exhibition of works of 
 sculpture, statues, or inscriptions as you suggested. How 
 your scheme can be designated as being to the same effect as 
 mine, and how, had 1 seen it, it can take the merit of 
 originality from mine, others will say. 
 
 Yours was the scheme of an architect ; thick walls, ample 
 staircases, etc. Mine the humble suggestion of a Librarian, 
 who wanted to find, at a small cost of time, space, and 
 money, ample room for books and comfortable accommodation 
 for readers, neither of which purposes you contemplated. 
 
 Yours, &c., &Q., 
 
 William Hosking, Esq. A. Panizzi." 
 
 Mr. Hosking- also attempted to extract information 
 
 as to the alleged piracy from the architect of the new 
 
 Reading-Eoom. 
 
 "Athenaeum, 30th April, 1857 
 
 " My dear Sir, 
 
 Will you be so kind as to tell me whether you ever 
 saw the drawing, or any copy of it, of my project for building 
 a modified copy of the Pantheon at Kome within the enclosed 
 quadrangle of the British Museum, before the scheme of the 
 analogous work recently executed under your directions at 
 the same place, and attributed to Mr. Panizzi, was com- 
 municated to you ? Yours &c., &c., 
 
 To Sydney Smirke, Esq. VriLLiAM Hosken'G." 
 
 I
 
 CONTROVERSY. 373 
 
 How much success Mr. Hoskingr attained in this 
 attempt will be seen on a perusal of Mr. Smirke's 
 
 answer : — 
 
 " May 2, 1857. 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 I beg to acknowledge tlie receipt of your letter of 
 
 yesterday. I recollect seeing your plans, or rather I had. a 
 
 glance over them at a meeting of the Trustees, shortly after 
 
 you sent them. 
 
 When, long subsequently, Mr. Panizzi showed me his 
 sketch for a plan of a New Reading-Room , I confess it did 
 not remind me of yours, the purposes of the two plans and the 
 treatment and construction altogether were so different. 
 
 The idea of building over the quadrangle is of very early 
 date, it was certainly mooted in the Museum fifteen years ago. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Sydney Smtt!ke, 
 
 It may as well be mentioned in this place, that as 
 Panizzi in his letter already quoted, disclaims origin- 
 ality in choosing the position of his New Eoom, so 
 Mr. Hoskinw, in a subsequent letter, dated 4th of May, 
 1857, to Mr. Smirke, admits that " It is quite 1 o 
 years since Mr. Hawkins proposed to build corridors 
 across it (the quadrangle) to facilitate intercom- 
 munication." Neither of the opposing parti-es, how- 
 ever, takes note of the fact that, as early as 1836-7, 
 Mr. Thomas Watts, the late Keeper of the Depart- 
 ment of Printed r>ooks in the British Museum, had 
 actually suggested the construction of a Reading- 
 Room in the very spot of Panizzi's selection. 
 
 He had written in the Mechanics Magazine for 
 March 11th, 1837, commenting upon the waste of 
 space occasioned by the empty quadrangle, '' A Read- 
 ing-Room, of ample dimensions, might have stood iii 
 2b
 
 374. THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 the centre, and been surrounded on all four sides 
 by galleries for the books, communicating ^vith each 
 other and lighted from the top." A little further on, 
 however, he half retracts his o^\ai suggestion, re- 
 marking, " So much has been expended on the great 
 quadrangle, that it might seem barbarous to propose 
 tilling up the square, as ought to have been originally 
 done." The grand concej)tion of the cupola, by 
 which architectural effect was to be taken away only 
 to be restored with interest, had not da\vned upon 
 him ; and, in fact, the reverence expressed by so 
 many for the architecture of the inner court would 
 have been more intelligible, if the court had been 
 more accessible. 
 
 As regards originality, therefore, in this portion of 
 the respective designs there can be no possible 
 ground of discussion. 
 
 Still Mr. Hosking could not be comdnced that, in 
 other points, his design was not feloniously used and 
 himself consequently wronged by Panizzi, and so 
 published a long pamphlet dwelling, amongst other 
 things, on the alleged fact that the latter must have 
 seen the copy of the Builder which he sent to him in 
 May, 1852. 
 
 To this allegation Panizzi gave a categorical denial ; 
 but a short statement, dated May 18th, 1858, in 
 answer to the longer pamphlet, will show sufficiently 
 for our present purpose the line of attack adopted 
 by his opponent, and his OAvn method of defence. 
 
 Hemarhs on Mr. Hoshing''s Claims to the Design of the British 
 
 Museum Neto Building. 
 1st. — Mr. Hosking having suggested " a modified copy of
 
 CONTROVERSY. 375' 
 
 the Pantheon," a massive building for the exhibition of sculp- 
 ture, with no accommodation for readers or books, now claims 
 the merit of the structure which I suggested, and which has 
 been built, was intended, and is used, solely, for readers and for 
 books. His scheme incUided quadrilateral halls, central halls, 
 ample staircases, corridors, &c., all of the usual materials ; the 
 building which I suggested and have seen carried out, is 
 original in plan, use of materials, arrangement, and construc- 
 tion. Mr. Hosking says that it is not the plan of the Pantheon 
 that he claims, " but the application of its form, disposition, 
 and proportions ;" and the plagiarism he alleges, is the appli- 
 cation of such his device, with certain of his combinations, 
 contrary to honour and good faith, not only on my part, l)ut 
 also on that of the Trustees. It will be obvious to anyone 
 who will inspect the building, that neither the form, nor the 
 disposition, nor the proportions of the Pantheon, have been 
 adopted in the new building at the Museum. There is no re- 
 semblance whatever between the architectural features of the 
 two schemes. Mr. Hosking proposed a reduced Pantheon, — a 
 cupola 120 feet in height, and the same in diameter. The 
 cupola of the Eeading-Eoom is 140 feet in diameter, and 10b* 
 feet in height. Are these two conceptions alike ? 
 
 2nd. — ]Mr. Hosking says that I am a " pirate," having taken 
 from his scheme my suggestions for building the Reading- 
 Room and surrounding Libraries ; which suggestions I made 
 on the 5th of May, 1852. Instead of using hard words and 
 dealino- in jxeneralities, it would be better that Mr. Hosking 
 should declare specidcally which of his suggestions have been 
 adopted in the new building. I aflirm none, not even the 
 most trifling. Indeed such an appropriation was impossible, 
 as I am going to prove. Mr. Hosking states that, on the 14th 
 of June, 1852, he sent me a copy of that portion of the 
 Builder, dated June 22, 1850, in which his scheme of building 
 was set forth. I distinctly aver that I did not receive that 
 portion of the Builder on the 14th of June, 1852, nor in any 
 part of 1852 or 1853, and that I never knew of Mr. Hosking's
 
 37G THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 plan till the latter part of 1854, when 1 did see, for the first 
 time, the extract from the Builder of the 22nd of June, ISoO. 
 
 3rd. — Lonof after the works for the new buildiiifj were 
 begun, I found in my study at the British Museum (not at 
 my private residence), a paper merely addressed, to me, in 
 which was carelessly wrapped up a copy of what professed 
 to be an extract from that number of the Builder. I showed 
 it at once to Mr. Jones and to Mr. Fielder, as a document 
 just received, and wondering whence it came. I learned 
 then, for the (irst time, from Mr. Fielder, who Mr. Hosking 
 was.* The moment I received Mr. Hosking's letter of the 
 30th of April, 1857, informing me that the extract from the 
 Builder had been sent by him, I showed it to both those 
 gentlemen, who recollected, immediately, my having shown 
 them that extract, as I have just stated. The works for the 
 new building were begun late in March, 1854, the contract 
 Avas made some time after : I became acquainted with Mr. 
 Fielder after the contract was made. 
 
 4th. — Mr. Hosking admits that I could not have received 
 his paper in May, 1852, when I put forward my " first 
 design," but is positive that I had received it when I j^ut 
 forward " the other, early in 1854." My answer is, that I 
 never put forward any design whatever after May, 1852. I 
 have freely made suggestions to Mr. Smirke ; he has most 
 unreservedly consulted me from May, 1852, to the present 
 day; liut I have never made any other design than that 
 shown by the two plans of May, 1852, accompanying my 
 report of the 5th of that month, and printed by order of the 
 House of Commons on the 30tli of that same mouth. 
 
 5th. — Mr. Hosking asserts that if the cupola rested merely 
 on its iron supports (which it does, in fact, as any one may 
 see) it would tumble down ; and, as if to show that he has 
 not the most distant conception of what the Museum Reading- 
 Eoom ought to be, he actually proposes that the King's 
 Library should be used as such. 
 
 * The name of Mr. Hosking occurs repeatcdlj' in tlie printed document 
 here referred to as that of the author of the plan therein put forth.
 
 CONTROVERSY 377 
 
 6th. — If tlie new Eeading-Room and Libraries at tlie Britisli 
 Museum have any merit, they have, by universal consent, 
 that of being in every -way adapted to their respective pur- 
 poses. The fittings, the tables, the warming, the lighting, 
 the peculiar system of ventilation applied, the multifarious, 
 minute arrangements adopted in order to economise space 
 and for the accommodation and comfort of readers, as well 
 as for the ready access to books, are certainly not less im- 
 portant than the building of which they form an integral and 
 vital part, but upon none of which has iVIr. Hosking put forth 
 his views. His suggestion of placing works of art in a room 
 120 feet in diameter, lighted from the top of a dome at a height 
 of 120 feet, speaks for itself. 
 
 7th. — On the publication of my plans by order of the House 
 of Commons, in June, 1852, they were much canvassed in the 
 public press, and severely animadverted upon in the Quarterhj 
 Review. The possibility of their success was long denied, and 
 Mr. Hosking was silent. That success is now established, and 
 Mr. Hosking claims the merit as his own. 
 
 B. M., May 18, 1858. A. Panizzi. 
 
 Previously to the issue of this statement, Pauizzi 
 had asked for, and obtained, from the architect his 
 opmion on the dissimilarity between the two plans. 
 
 " Grosvenor Street, 
 
 April 8th, 1858. 
 
 "Dear Sir, 
 
 I feel no hesitation in complying Avith your 
 request, and stating that the idea of a circular Keading-ltoom 
 with suiTOunding Library, and with the divisions formed wholly 
 of book-cases, was perfectly original and entirely your owji, 
 and totally unlike the solid masonic structure devised by ^Ir. 
 Hosking for the exhibition of sculpture. The two plans 
 neither did, nor do, strike me as having any resemblance to 
 each other, and that is what I meant to express in my note of 
 last July. The architectm-al features of the present dome I
 
 378 THE LIFE OF SIE ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 am aiiswercable for, not you, and it is obviously as unlike the 
 Pantlieon as any two domes can be. It was Michael Angelo's 
 cupola of St. Peter which suggested the present lines of yours. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Sydney Smirke." 
 
 Neither Panizzi nor Hosking lacked supporters 
 amongst the numerous critics and judges who, as a 
 matter of course, came forward on such an occasion ; 
 and a war, supported by newspapers on either side, 
 was vigorously carried on for upwards of a year. Into 
 the details of the controversy it would be tedious and 
 irrelevant to enter ; but whoever will undertake im- 
 partially to peruse the records of it (many of which 
 are still extant), will have neither doubt nor difficulty 
 in ascribing the victory to Panizzi. 
 
 But as " there is a river in Macedon and there is, 
 moreover, a river at Monmouth," so it must be ad- 
 mitted that there were, at least, three sterling points 
 of resemblance between the two designs. They are 
 as follows : — 1st. That for each was chosen the same 
 plot of ground, but that the merit of originality in 
 such choice belongs to neither designer. 2nd. That 
 both buildings had domes, but these domes so dis- 
 similar that comparison is out of the question. 3rd 
 (and here lay the most striking point of resemblance). 
 That in design, purpose, execution, proportion, and 
 every other detail, Panizzi's building differs *' toto 
 ccelo " from the structure devised by Hosking. 
 
 The whole story gives occasion for melancholy 
 reflection on the common and vulgar fortune of so 
 many great men, whose claims to invention or dis- 
 covery are constantly challenged by those of whose
 
 THE NEW READING-ROOM. 379 
 
 existence they never heard until their own works 
 were perfected. There is reason to believe that the 
 claimants to the invention of the Archimedean screw, 
 are almost equal in number to those who have sug- 
 gested building in the inner quadrangle of the British 
 Museum. 
 
 The following is a description of the room : — 
 " The Reading-Room is circular. The entire 
 building does not occupy the whole quadrangle, there 
 being a clear mterval of from 27 to 30 feet all round, 
 to give light and air to the surrounding buildings, 
 and as a guard against possible destruction by fire 
 from the outer parts of the Museum. The dome of 
 this Reading-Room is 140 feet in diameter, its height 
 beins 106 feet. In this dimension of diameter it is 
 only inferior to the Pantheon of Rome by 2 feet ; St. 
 Peters being only 139 ; Sta. Maria in Florence, 139 ; 
 the tomb of Mahomet, Bejapore, 135 ; St. Paul's, 
 112 ; St. Sophia, Constantinople, 107 ; and the Church 
 at Darmstadt, 105. The new Reading-Room contains 
 1,250,000 cubic feet of space; its 'suburbs,' or sur- 
 rounding Libraries, 750,000. The building is con- 
 structed principally of iron, with brick arches between 
 the main ribs, supported by 20 iron piers, having a 
 sectional area of 10 superficial feet to each, including 
 the brick casing, or 200 feet in all. This saving of 
 space by the use of iron is remarkable, the piers of 
 support on which our dome rests only thus occupying 
 200 feet, whereas the piers of the Pantheon of Rome 
 fill 7,477 feet of area, and those of the tomb of 
 Mahomet, 5,593. Upwards of 2,000 tons of iron 
 have been employed in the construction. Tlic wciglit
 
 o80 THE LIFE OF SIR A.NTHOXY PA>'IZZI 
 
 of the materials used in the dome is about 1 ."J 00 tons 
 viz., upwards of 200 tons on each pier." 
 
 It may be considered that we are open ro the im- 
 peachment of plagiarism, greater even tliuii could be 
 ascribed to Panizzi, inasmuch as we hax- nsken our 
 statistics from a penny book — that most accurate one 
 sold at the Museum at this very moderat*^ 1 trice — and 
 having borroAved from this valuable little pi il)li cation, 
 we can but claim as our excuse the worth of its con- 
 tents, and the consideration of those iciuUHS into 
 whose hands the small publication may ii<\cr have 
 fallen. 
 
 A domed building possessing beauty of jjpjX'arance 
 is by no means easy of construction, and <o\uo of the 
 most celebrated in the world are conspi* nou-ly defi- 
 cient in grace and elegance, especially a.^ regards the 
 exterior. 
 
 Fortunately it has fallen to the lot f'l' the new 
 KeadinCT-Room to be concerned onlv willt tlio mo;:t 
 manageable side of its dome — viz., the inside. 
 
 By this, as will be universally allowed, ciilicism is 
 disarmed. The proportions of the room ;jrc admir- 
 able, and the lines of architecture full of gi-ace and 
 beauty. The lighting is based on the most srientific 
 principles, and the dome itself (only inferi(jr in dimen- 
 sions to one other in existence) maintain^ its own 
 appearance as to actual size, and is ol :;randeur 
 proportionate to its general lightness and dcLijince. 
 
 The spectator will, however, be most Muick with 
 its style of internal decoration, a grand c\;niiple of 
 success, when our attempts have hithcrio been so 
 futile.
 
 THE NEW KEADING-ROOM 381 
 
 The fear of tampering with colour has ever been 
 one of our idiosyncrasies, and it may be observed in 
 this instance. 
 
 True, that in our uncertain climate and obscure 
 atmosphere, Nature herself lends but little aid in the 
 matter, eitiier as regards instruction or example ; 
 but the colouring of the lieading-Room may be pro- 
 nounced free from indifference or conventionality, and 
 to the freedom observable is added a boldness and 
 originality Avhicli must be seen to be truly estimated 
 at its proper value. 
 
 To give the reader, however, some general notion 
 of the manner in Avliich the colourin"; has been man- 
 aged, we quote, without apology, one more passage 
 from the small hrochurc to AAhich we have alluded : — 
 
 " In the decoration of the interior dome, light 
 colours and the purest gilding have been preferred. 
 The Great Room, therefore, has an illuminated and 
 elegant aspect. The decorative work may be shortly 
 described: — The inner surface of the dome is divided 
 ii>to twenty compartments by moulded ribs, which are 
 gilded with leaf prepared from unalloyed gold, the 
 sofiitcs being in ornamental patterns, and tlie edges 
 touching the adjoining margins fringed with a leaf- 
 pattern scolloped edge. Each compartment contains 
 a circular-headed window, twenty-seve^i feet high and 
 twelve feet wide, with three panels above, tlie central 
 one being medalliou-shaped, the whole bordered with 
 gilt mouldings and lines, and the field of the panels 
 finished in encaustic azure blue, the surrounding mar- 
 gins being of a warm cream colour. The details of 
 the windows are treated in like manner — the spandril
 
 382 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 panels blue ; the enriched column and pilaster capSy 
 the central flowers, the border moulding and lines 
 being gilded — the margins cream colour throughout. 
 The moulded rim of the lantern light, which is. 
 painted and gilded to correspond, is 40 feet in diameter. 
 The sash is formed of gilt moulded ribs, radiating 
 from a central medallion, in which the Royal Mono- 
 gram is alternated with the Imperial Cro^vn. 
 
 " The cornice, from which the dome springs, is 
 massive and almost wholly gilded, the frieze being 
 formed into panels bounded by lines terminating at 
 the ends with a gilt fret ornament. Each compart- 
 ment of the dome is marked by a bold enriched gilt 
 console, which forms at once the support of the main 
 rib and the base for a colossal marble statue, a series 
 of which it is proposed to place on the cornice. 
 
 " Between the cornice and the floor the space is 
 filled with the bookcases and galleries of access, the 
 cornice, standards, and railings of which are wholly 
 gilded, the panels of the soffites of the latter being 
 blue, having gilded ornaments therein." 
 
 It will have been observed that the original draft 
 of Panizzi's scheme proposed to provide space for a 
 larger number of readers than was ultimately found 
 advisable. The problem of accommodating readers 
 was, indeed, less momentous than that of accommo- 
 dating books ; and any account of Panizzi's edifice 
 would be most imperfect which did not take some 
 notice of his solution of this latter difficulty. As 
 akeady stated, the space in which the new Reading- 
 Room was to be erected was quadrangular, while the 
 room itself was to be circular. The quadrangle is
 
 THE NEW READING-KOOM. 383 
 
 335 feet by 235 ; the diameter of the dome of the 
 Eeading-Eoom, as ultimately constructed, was 140 
 feet. The circle thus inscribed in the quadranii;le 
 left, consequently, ample space for the construction 
 of additional rooms. After deducting a clear space 
 of from 27 to 30 feet left, for the sake of air and 
 light, between the exterior of the nevv building and 
 the inner wall of the original Museum, the former 
 was still 258 feet by 184, equivalent to an area of 
 47,472 square feet. The amount of this space ex- 
 ternal to the Reading-Eoom (about three-eighths of 
 the whole) was occupied: — 1. By a circular gallery 
 in four tiers, including the basement storey, carried 
 <^ntirely round the Reading-Room. 2. By four cor- 
 ridors in three tiers, each forming a quadrangle 
 parallel with the interior walls of tlie original !Museum 
 structure. 3. By four apartments of triangular shape, 
 ■filling up the spaces left vacant between the circle 
 and the quadrangle in which it was inscribed. Ac- 
 commodation was thus provided for about 1,200,000 
 books, or five times as many as the Museum had pos- 
 sessed when Panizzi became Keeper. This result was 
 •obtained by great economy of space, there being no 
 Avails except the exterior wall, the partitions being 
 formed by the books themselves arranged fore-edge to 
 fore-edge, except against the external wall, the shelves 
 of double bookcases being divided longitudinally by 
 a wire lattice. These shelves are placed between 
 grooved uprights of galvanized iron, and upon metal 
 pins inserted into holes made for the purpose in tlic 
 wooden lining of the grooves. Sufficient space is left 
 between these rows of bookcases to admit of the pas-
 
 384 THE LIFE OF SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 sage of two barrows, and the entire- remaining space 
 is available for the storage of books. The roof is 
 glass, and the flooring of the galleries is formed of 
 open iron gratings to allow of the transmission of light 
 to the basement. The presses are everywhere of the 
 same dimensions, eight feet by three, so that each 
 gallery is eight feet high. The shelves are made of 
 zinc covered with leather, the multiplicity of perfora- 
 tions in the wooden lining of the uprights allowing 
 of their being placed apart at any interval required, 
 and, thanks to Mr. Watts's elastic system of number- 
 ing the presses, the books destined to occupy them 
 were removed from their previous 1-ocality without the 
 alteration of a single press mark. They consisted, 
 for the most part, of acquisitions made since 1845, 
 the date when Panizzi's quoted report on tlie de- 
 ficiencies of the Library was laid before the House of 
 Commons. The ground floor of the Keading-Room 
 Avas occupied by 20,000 volumes especially selected 
 to serve as a Reference library. These were partly 
 chosen, and the whole were admirably cataloi>-ued by 
 Mr. Rye, then Second Assistant-Keeper, wlio also 
 drew the coloured ground plan of the Rcading-Room, 
 and superintended the placing of the volumes. 
 Several picked Assistants worked extra time under 
 him for many days, and the task was only comi^leted 
 just in time for the opening of the room. The gal- 
 leries were flUed with periodicals, and all the books 
 above and below were bound, or, at least, gilt and 
 furbished, with an especial view to decorative eflect. 
 
 It only remained to provide for the management of 
 the Room by the appointment of Mr. Watts as Super-
 
 THE NEW READIXG-ROOM 385 
 
 intendent. '- The readers," wrote Mr. Winter Jones 
 in 1859, '• liave thus placed at their disposal, for sLx 
 hours every day, the services of a gentleman whose 
 intimate acquaintance Avith the Museum collections, 
 extensive knowledge of the literature of his own and 
 foreign countries, and acquirements as a linguist 
 rarely to be met with, render him peculiarly fitted to 
 carry out the chief object of the Trustees." 
 
 This description, wliich has already been drawn out 
 to a length rather exceeding our original intentions, 
 but whicli liio interest of the subject somewhat justi- 
 fies, may appropriately be concluded ^vith a notice of 
 the last ornaments added to the Keadino--Iloom : — 
 
 Here is a bust of Panizzi, by Baron ^larochctti, 
 placed over the principal entrance ; an admirable^ 
 likeness, but, whatever its merits, the position in 
 which it was to have been placed met at the time with 
 strenuous opposition on the ground of convenience 
 even from Panizzi himself. 
 
 «B. M., ]\ray 14di, 1856. 
 
 "My dear Sir Henrv, 
 
 I had tlie curiosity to go and see whei-e it was pro- 
 posed to place my bust, 1 need not say that the condescension 
 of the Trustep*! in permitting it to be exhibited anywHere is 
 as gratifying to me as the mark of regard wliich prompted my 
 fellow-labouvt r,> in the Printed-Book Department to subscribe 
 for that work ; I am, therefore, much flattered by the sug- 
 gestion of the Building Committee, but my personal feelings 
 and gratification ought not to prevail over the public con- 
 venience, and on this ground I earnestly beg of them to re- 
 consider that >)i»io;estion. 
 
 I confess I am astonished at Mr. Smirke not objectint,' to 
 the proposed >iU'; he well knows that the corridor leading
 
 386 THE LIFE OP SIR ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 from the hall to the New Reading-Room is not too wide as it 
 t>, were it possible it ought to be wider — he knows that he is 
 obliged, and has agreed with me to make two recesses or 
 niches, one on each side, in which attendants may sit in that 
 corridor, out of the way 'of the readers going to and from ; 
 lastly, he knows that that is the only place in the Library 
 open to the public, to the walls of which can be affixed large 
 maps, on rollers for ready use ; the only objection to this 
 scheme being the narrowness of the corridor, and knowing 
 all this he leaves it to me to point out the inconvenience of 
 leaving such an useless obstruction as my bust placed there. 
 
 I again say that the public convenience and utility im- 
 peratively require both the walls of the corridor to be 
 reserved for public use, and the thoroughfare to the Eeading- 
 Room to be kept quite clear. 
 
 Yours, &c., &c., 
 
 Sir Henry Ellis, &c., &c. A. Panizzi." 
 
 It is evident that the ultimate destination of the 
 bust had not been fixed upon up to the 7th of March, 
 when Mr. Smirke addressed the follo^ving letter to 
 Panizzi : — 
 
 " In the public corridor leading to the New Reading-Room 
 will be a wide, handsome folding door, over this, there is a 
 piece of blank wall which will form the termination of the 
 vista on approaching the Great Room ; I want to put some 
 object there that the eye might dwell on with pleasure as you 
 advance along the corridor. What do you think of a circular 
 niche over the door with a Bust of the Queen in it i 
 Minerva's head might do — but the Queen's would be more in 
 accordance with the sipirit of the times ! " 
 
 A curious incident, with happier details than 
 the great cause of Hosking v. Panizzi, must not 
 be omitted from the history of the New Read- 
 ing-Room, It will be remembered that, in 1823, 
 the Duke of Modena had executed a well known
 
 THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR 387 
 
 effigy of Panizzi ; and it happened, in after 
 years, that this so-styled " Dnchino " potentate's 
 friend and ally, Austria (who would fain have 
 dealt with the i^reat Carhonaro in a more effcc- 
 tive manner), struck with honest admiration of his 
 genius, as displayed in the New Reading-Room, after 
 failing to obtain actual possession of his head, judged 
 it expedient to take what advantage she could of 
 that head's cerebral development. Accordingly, on 
 the completion of Panizzi's work, she instructed her 
 Ambassador in this country (Count Apponyi) to apply 
 for information as to the plans, construction, &c., &c., 
 of the Xew Room in the British Museum, with a 
 view^ to adapting them to the projected New Library 
 of the University of Vienna. The following corres- 
 pondence contains an even more valuable tribute to 
 Panizzi's reputation than the honour already paid to 
 him by his adopted country: — 
 
 " Londres, le 9 Juln, 1857. 
 
 " Monsieur k" Comtt.', 
 
 L'adiniration imiverselle qu'a excite la cons- 
 truction et rorganisation dv la nouvelle salle de lecture da 
 Musee Britannique a Londres a fait naitre au ]\Iinistere 
 de rinstruction Publique en Autriclie le desir de connaitre 
 phis a fond tout ce qui se rapporte a retablissemcnt de cette 
 saUe dans le bvit d'en tirer avantage pour la bibliotlieque de 
 rUniversite de■_J^'ienne qui va etre nouvellement construite. 
 
 J"ai ete en consequence charge, M. le Comte, d'avoir 
 recours a Tobligeante intervention de ^^ E., a I'eftct d'obtenir, 
 de la maniere la plus detaillee qu il sera possible, les plans, et 
 descriptions relativement a la construction etaux arrangements 
 interieurs de la dlte salle, dont la perfection est digne de ser- 
 vir de modele a tons les etablissements de ce genre. 
 CC
 
 o88 THE LIFE OF SIK ANTHONY PANIZZI 
 
 J'espere qii'en vue du but que se propose le Grouveniemcnt 
 Imperial, celui de S3I.B. ne se refusera pas a la demande que, 
 par Tentremise de V. E., je me permets de lui adresser. 
 
 Veuillez, &c., ^*v:c., 
 
 (A Lord Clarendon.) AproNYi." 
 
 To this Panizzi, much amused and doubtless flat- 
 tered, as he should haAo been by the whole affair, 
 which he had communicated as a good joke to a few 
 of his very intimate friends, sent a courteous reply 
 with the required information. 
 
 The effect of the new Reading-Room in encourag- 
 ing study was speedily perceptible. During 1856 the 
 number of visitors had been 53,422. From its open- 
 ing to the public on May 18th, 1857, to the end of 
 the year they Avere 75,128. " The general success of 
 the New Room," said the Edinhiirgh Heview, " is, in 
 fact, alarming." The remark proved just. The con- 
 course of readers Avent on increasing until, in 1862, 
 it was necessary to raise the limit of age from 18 to 
 21, a measure recommendable on other grounds. The 
 result proved how large a proportion of the visitors 
 were youths under age, who merely resorted to the 
 Reading-Room to get up their tasks. The average 
 daily att(3ndance fell from between nearly 400 and 
 500 to about 360, and so continued until within the 
 last few years, wdien, from causes which do not fall 
 within the scope of a history of Panizzi's administra- 
 tion, the daily average again rose and is now about 
 450, or nearly treble that of the old Reading-Room. 
 
 Thus has been presented to our readers a short 
 history of the steps by Avhich the present Reading- 
 Room became a realized fiict, and the important part
 
 SUCCESSi'TL EFFORTS 389 
 
 wliich Panizzi played in its design, erection, orna- 
 mentation, and gradual deyelo]3ment — a Eoom, ^Thich 
 Avorld-known will ever associate liis name with itself" 
 and its wonderful treasures, and will remain a noble 
 monument of his zeal for the welfare and grandeur of 
 an Institution so dearly loved. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 •yj^iSI^ ' ' ' • ^ ' ' 
 
 S. STKAKEK A.NU S'lNS, I'iU.MliKS, LOMJON AXU KtUHlLL.
 
 DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 JUL 3 1 19 
 
 30 
 
 
 RECD . 
 
 ULl 4 1980 
 
 
 
 OC 
 
 T 6 1980 
 
 
 
 RECD C 
 
 CT 6 1980 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U S A 
 
   
 
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 3 1970 00395 0224