The life and correspondence of Sir Anthony Panizzi, K.C.B., Vol. 2 (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. 2 (of 2): Late principal librarian of the British museum, senator of Italy, etc.
Fagan, Louis
Panizzi, Anthony, Sir, 1797-1879
5. Because the said Antonio Panizzi, on account of the failure of his
engagements with regard to the Catalogue of printed books, and the
fictions and absurdities of the only fragment thereof hitherto
published, appears to have deserved reprehension rather than
promotion.
6. Because it removes the said Antonio Panizzi from an office in
which, under the guidance of common sense, his erudition, energy, and
activity might have been serviceable, to a station for which he
appears to be unfitted by his arrogance and irritability, as patent in
certain blue books, and by the notorious verbosity of his composition.
&c., &c., &c.,
BOLTON CORNEY.
The Terrace, Barnes.”
Can any protest be more short-sighted or ungenerous than this of “Bolton
Corney’s?” The concise note of Lord Palmerston speaks volumes to the
discerning mind as to his opinion of such vulgar and insulting trash.
But for his Lordship’s discriminating kindness in forwarding the
document for Panizzi’s reflection and information, the matter would be
scarcely worth dwelling on for a single instant.
Again reference must be made to Mr. Francis Haywood, who, it will be
remembered, was Panizzi’s earliest friend at Liverpool, and who, it can
well be imagined, was delighted to see his _>quondam_ Italian and
penurious friend of 1824 now at the head of the greatest institution of
its kind in the universe. Appended are Panizzi’s letters previous to
receiving his appointment as Principal librarian:—
“B. M., February 20th, 1856.
“My dear Haywood,
All my friends have always laughed at my doubting to succeed;
I alone have hitherto been mistrusting. If I am now to believe what I
hear and see in writing, I cannot have any doubts. It seems, even to
me, that the thing is as safe as it can be. The Archbishop is as sure
as the Chancellor and the Speaker, and so is Sir G. Grey, from what I
hear on authority that I cannot possibly doubt. But the thing is not
done, and there is, therefore, the _possibility_ of a miscarriage.
What pleases me is that in this house _all_—excepting, of course,
Madden and Hawkins, who looked to the promotion themselves—are
strongly for me.
Yours ever,
A. PANIZZI.”
“March 4th, 1856.
“My dear Haywood,
I have information on the perfect accuracy of which I may
rely, that at Saturday’s Cabinet my appointment was decided on. You
may rest assured—there is no doubt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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