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
The relations between the two—so long as they lasted—seem to have been
of an amicable kind. Panizzi assisted his new acquaintance in the
Italian works on which he was engaged, and, although he never appears to
have been inclined to admit him to any very intimate friendship, yet a
good deal of intercourse seems to have taken place between them,
especially in matters relating to the peculiar study with which each was
occupied. Panizzi, indeed, acknowledges that the last time he met Mr.
Keightley the latter insisted upon his accepting a copy of his works,
and that he (Panizzi) “peremptorily objected” to doing so. It maybe
admitted that this was somewhat discourteous, and perhaps _hinc illæ
lachrymæ_. Be that as it may, what must have been his astonishment to
receive, three months afterwards, the following letter from his quondam
friend, of whom during that period he had quite lost sight:—
“Sir,
When next you stab a friend in the dark, if you wish to be
unknown, hide your hand a little better than you have done in my case.
But I have reason to suppose that you did not desire concealment, as I
find it was commonly known that you were the author of the article in
question. Indeed no one who knew your style, &c., could doubt for a
moment. I never saw that article till last Saturday, and before I had
read the first column I named the writer of it. It is not safe to
attack one with whom you have been in the habit of conversing. He has
too many keys.
When I recollect that it was written at the very time I was
endeavouring to serve you, I must regard the action as a piece of the
basest treachery and darkest malignity that can be conceived. I should
not condescend to notice it, but that I required to inform you that I
know you, and that our acquaintance is at an end. ‘I bide my time,’
and may yet repay you, but not by a stab in the dark.
I am, yours, &c., &c.,
THOMAS KEIGHTLEY.”
Following closely upon this letter came Mr. Keightley’s article in the
Foreign Quarterly. It may be safe to conclude here—_hoc ergo post
propter hoc_.
Panizzi, his temper already not unreasonably ruffled by the letter,
appears to have been terribly put out by the Review. He winds up his own
appeal to the proprietors of the “Foreign Quarterly” with a burst of
indignation and menace, which, had it been carried into execution might
have brought him into collision with the laws of his “adoptive country.”
Dreading and deprecating any such forcible expression of his ire by the
outraged author, Mr. W. S. Rose sent him the poetical epistle which we
subjoin.
“Brighton, April 15, 1835.
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