The life and correspondence of Sir Anthony Panizzi, K.C.B., Vol. 1 (of 2): Late principal librarian of the British museum, senator of Italy, etc.Fagan, Louis
History
The life and correspondence of Sir Anthony Panizzi, K.C.B., Vol. 1 (of 2): Late principal librarian of the British museum, senator of Italy, etc.
Fagan, Louis
Panizzi, Anthony, Sir, 1797-1879
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-buttoned black coat,
and a plain white neckcloth. Panizzi was anxious that this work of art
should not fall into strange 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,
When I recover what I have lost, I mean to subscribe 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 enough of
my own to support, I cannot 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. ROGERS.”
“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 purpose; 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 difficulty 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. Gaskell and
myself thought you entitled, above many others, to be included amongst
our chosen few. I was too proud to leave to others to inform you of
our scheme.
Yours, &c., A. PANIZZI.”
“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 if 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 exquisite, is so valuable, when an
original may be had from Richmond at nearly the same price.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account