This miniature is now in the National Portrait Gallery.
The following is from Panizzi to Lord Rutherfurd respecting his friend’s death:—
“22nd December, 1847.
“You will have seen by the newspapers that poor Mr. Grenville is no more, he had no reason to complain on leaving this world, after so long and happy a life, which he had enjoyed within ten years of his death, and from which he departed before either bodily or mental infirmities had rendered it a burden to him; but, I who have lost one of the best friends I have had, whose kindness was uniform as it was excessive, I have certainly good reason for sorrow. A man alone in the world, a foreigner, without any other ties of affection or blood, concentrates all his feelings in his friends, and to lose one of them is a greater loss to him than it is to others, whose heart is filled by other objects.”
The circumstances of the gift of Mr. Grenville to the Museum having been fully considered, brief allusion has here to be made to that which threatened to become magnified into a national commotion, imperilling the safety of our Public Institutions, and foremost amongst their number, the British Museum. The year 1848 was memorable for the Chartist demonstration. The principles and intentions of the agitators are well known; however, on the 10th of April they proposed to hold a meeting of 200,000 men, who were to assemble at Kennington Common, and to march thence in procession to Westminster, and present a petition to Parliament. The Bank and other Public Institutions were occupied by the Military, organized by the Duke of Wellington; these were strengthened by no less than 150,000 persons of all ranks, voluntarily sworn to act as special constables, and amongst the number Panizzi was enlisted on the 8th of April.
The British Museum seems to have been one of the places in danger of being attacked by the mob; it was, therefore, considered prudent to take prompt and decisive measures to protect it from any possible assault. Though Sir Henry Ellis was the chief officer of the Museum at the time, Panizzi may be said to have taken the part of the real General, and was most active in swearing in his subordinates, some of whom had Chartist tendencies themselves, as, possibly, he had himself; but the safety of the Museum was paramount to all other considerations, and, to an objector, he replied, What! not defend the place from which you get your living!!
Mr. Cowtan in his “Memories of the British Museum,” tells us “that all persons employed upon the establishment, either in the various departments, or as artizans at work upon the building, were sworn in as ‘special constables,’ making in all 250. Major Baron, of the Royal Engineers, was sent to suggest the best means of barricading, and to place the force at hand in the best positions for defending the Museum, in case of an attack. The military force consisted of fifty-seven rank and file, and two officers. To this must be added twenty pensioners from Chelsea College. Fifty muskets, with proportionate ammunition were supplied, as well as cutlasses, and pikes for from two to three hundred persons. Provisions for three days were laid in, &c., &c.”
Scouts were sent out to bring authentic accounts, but the same “Memories” also inform us that “one or two, who, before the event took place, were loud in their protestations of devotedness to the Museum, and willingness to lay down their lives in its defence, began to funk and to look unutterable things.”
The following letter to Sir H. Ellis, referring to this subject, is well worthy of perusal:—
“British Museum, Friday night, April 7th, 1848.