pray, and believe only in the sincerity of my intentions.” In the middle of the year 1855 Panizzi had sufficiently matured his plan of action to be able to enter definitely on the execution of his great design. He had been hitherto much hampered by the difficulties of obtaining sufficient money to make a beginning of the enterprise. If this could be accomplished in time, he arranged to start for Italy himself in July of the same year. Although the main purpose of his journey was undoubtedly the deliverance of Settembrini and his fellow-captives, he thought it best to keep this purpose as far as possible concealed. An opportunity, however, had occurred, whereby he might probably combine the business of his office with the pleasure of succouring his unfortunate friends. On the 25th of July he applied to the Trustees of the British Museum for an extra month’s leave of absence, at the same time informing them that a circumstance had lately come to his knowledge whereof advantage might be taken to render a portion of his vacation useful to the Library; this referred to the then impending sale of books belonging to Filippo Senesi of Perugia. An extract from a letter to Sir James Lacaita, shows something of the embarrassments under which Panizzi was labouring for want of sufficient funds for his undertaking:— “B. M., 26th July. “... The escape seems most feasible in company with an English friend. I shall direct it myself in person. No danger for us. What I require is money. I have £300 of L—--; to this I shall add £100 of my own, which I shall borrow. I want £800 at least. I must see Gladstone to-day. I know not what he means to do. Do all you can at Edinbro’ to find me money.” This obstacle, however, was happily overcome, and on the 3rd of August, he thus wrote to Lacaita:— “The affair promises well, and the difficulties are enormous, but as I have found money beyond what I had hoped, I am of good courage. There is no danger of being defrauded, for I pay no one now; but there is a possibility of being betrayed. The sum needed is enormous, and is required for the chartering of a steamer, which is to be found. Time presses. Mr. Gladstone has behaved wonderfully, or properly speaking Mrs. Gladstone, who has given me £100 of her own, and found £200 more amongst her friends.”