One of Mr. CARY’S earliest steps in the matter was to apply to his friend and fellow-poet, Mr. Samuel ROGERS. ROGERS—to use his own words—was one who had known CARY ‘in all weathers.’ His earnest friendship induced him to write a letter of recommendation to the three Principal Trustees. After he had sent in his recommendation, a genuine conscientiousness—not the less truly characteristic of the man for all that outward semblance of cynicism which frequently veiled it—prompted him to think the matter over again. It occurred to him to doubt whether he was really serving his old friend CARY by helping to put him in a post for which failing vigour was but too obviously, though gradually, unfitting him. His misgiving increased the more he turned the affair over in his mind. He then wrote three letters (to the Archbishop, Chancellor, and Speaker), recalling his recommendation, and stating his reason. With the Speaker, ROGERS also conversed on the subject. Mr. ABERCROMBY asked the poet: ‘What do you know about a Mr. PANIZZI, who stands next to CARY?’ ‘PANIZZI,’ said ROGERS, ‘would serve you very well.’ ‘To tell you the truth,’ rejoined the Speaker, ‘we think that, if Mr. CARY is not appointed, PANIZZI will be the right man.’ At that time, Mr. PANIZZI was not personally known either to the Speaker or to the Chancellor. I give these details, first, because they became, in after-days, a very vital and influential part of the History of the British Museum. No appointment was ever made during the whole of the hundred and fifteen years which have elapsed betwixt the first organization of the establishment in 1755 and the year in which I write (1870) that has had such large influence upon its growth and its improvement; and, secondly, because in a published life of the excellent man whose temporary disappointment led to a great public benefit a passage appears which (doubtless very unintentionally, but not the less seriously) misrepresents the matter, and hints, mysteriously, at underhanded influence, as though something had been done in the way of treachery to CARY. ‘The Lord Chancellor and the Speaker,’ writes CARY’S biographer, ‘acting under information, _the source of which was probably known only to them and their informant_, [Sidenote: _Life of Henry Francis Cary_, vol. ii, p. 200.] resolved on passing him over, and appointing his subordinate, Mr. PANIZZI, to the vacant place.’