Immediately after Mr. Grenville’s death, a portrait of him by an Italian artist (C. Manzini,) was offered for sale. It is painted on ivory, representing him at the age of 85, wearing a close-buttoned black coat, and a plain white neckcloth. Panizzi was anxious that this work of art should not fall into strange hands; and consequently, together with other friends of the venerable book-collector, started a raffle, the tickets being sold only amongst a selected few. Samuel Rogers was named as one of them, and this originated the following correspondence:—
“August 29th,
St. James’s Palace.
“My dear Mr. Panizzi,
When I recover what I have lost, I mean to subscribe to everything and to everybody. But now, alas, I have nothing to spare—I cannot even afford to give you a mutton chop—and having poor enough of my own to support, I cannot contribute to other people’s.
I shall be happy, however, to contribute my mite in this instance, though not to raffle for the portrait, for to tell you the truth, the portrait I do not care for; I had rather trust to my recollections.
Yours, &c., &c.,
S. Rogers.”
“B. M., Monday,
“My dear Sir,