I myself felt all which you now feel in 1827, at the time my predecessor was approaching his end. I had aided him with all my power for some years; and I can show you various letters which are still precious to me, expressing his continuous gratitude. A week or two before he died he said to me, ‘Well, Sir, I shall soon depart, and you will be my successor.’ I said, ‘O! My dear Sir, I doubt.’ He raised his voice and said, ‘Who are they to have but you?’ A stranger, you know, was put first, when the two names were presented to Lord Lansdowne to lay before the King. Mine was put second. Lord Lansdowne, from his own knowledge of the experience I had had in the Institution, powerfully seconded by the then Earl Spencer’s recommendation to the same effect, gave the palm to the second candidate; stating in his subsequent letter to me, that without any derogation to the _merits_ of Mr. Clinton, His Majesty had been pleased to appoint me ‘Principal Librarian.’ I cannot help thinking your fears groundless. I cannot believe that any stranger, did he know the toil of mind to be encountered before experience can be obtained, would wish for such an appointment. Ever truly yours, HENRY ELLIS.” Four days after the receipt of the above, Panizzi addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other Principal Trustees, _>mutatis mutandis_, as follows:— “British Museum, February 18th, 1856. “My Lord Archbishop, Having just been informed by Sir Henry Ellis that he has resigned his situation of Principal Librarian, I trust I may be permitted to draw the attention of your Grace and of the other Principal Trustees to my services, as giving me some ground to hope that I may not be deemed unworthy of having my name submitted to the Sovereign as being a fit person to succeed Sir Henry. The efficacy and importance of those services have doubtless been noticed by the Trustees at large, as they were by the Commissioners of Inquiry into the British Museum, as expressed in their report. I shall not, therefore, presume to do more than refer with respectful confidence to the opinion which both the Trustees and the Commissioner entertain of them. I have the honour to be, my Lord Archbishop, &c., A. PANIZZI.” From the Lord-Chancellor he received the appended reply, which needs no comment, nor could Panizzi have expected his Lordship to act otherwise:— “40, Upper Brook-street, Feb. 18th, 1856. “My dear Sir, In answer to your application, I can say no more than that I feel it my bounden duty to consult exclusively the interests of the Museum.