THIERS wrote to me a capital and most friendly letter, of 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 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 they 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.” ----- Footnote J: Proposed on the 17th December, 1845; elected 17th February, 1846; resigned his membership 18th December, 1873. Footnote K: The sobriquet of the Right Honourable E. Ellice. Footnote L: Lord Clarendon. ----- 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 beneficial 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 statesman 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. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] CHAPTER VIII _The Royal Commission, 1847-49._