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
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 unsatisfactory. Before quitting the subject of Panizzi’s connection
with Holland House, we should hardly be justified in omitting all
mention of an affair 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 following
titles:—“Foreign Reminiscences, by Henry Richard Lord Holland: Edited by
his Son, Henry Edward Lord Holland. (London, 1850).” And “Memoirs of the
‘Whig Party During My Time,’ by Henry Richard Lord Holland: Edited by
his Son, Henry Edward Lord Holland. (2 vols., London, 1852.)” The first
of these works the author had, we understand, entrusted for revision and
correction to the late Nassau Senior. It was afterwards, for _further
assurance_, 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 press.
* * * * *
It seems, however, that Lord John Russell, who had been instrumental in
collecting the greater portion of the materials composing these volumes,
had felt some alarm as to certain matters being published in them, and
notably in the _Reminiscences_, which might possibly reflect
detrimentally on the character of Lord Holland’s father, and he
accordingly communicated his apprehensions to the author, accompanied 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 acrimony. 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 wounded feeling; and by a letter, not in our
possession, but 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 Holland, 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 wrath,” and it must be owned that his
Lordship’s reply, 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,
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