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
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 way
for the frontier.
It may not be uninteresting 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 approached
the carriage and demanded his passport. It was, of course, handed over.
On returning it the man said, “_Buon viaggio, Signor 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, through a friend of Count Munarini, then
Minister of Foreign Affairs. In addition to this passport, he had also
armed himself with another document, almost 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 règle_. Nevertheless, he succeeded at the instigation of a
notorious spy named Antonioli in robbing the fugitive of a portion of
his luggage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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