Thine, ever di cuore,
A. Panizzi.”
Panizzi’s intimacy with the Langdale family was, notwithstanding this great loss, kept up as of old, and to her last days Lady Langdale was a frequent guest at his house. After her husband’s death, she, laudably anxious to perpetuate the memory of so worthy a man, committed the materials for his biography to Mr. (afterwards Sir T. D.) Hardy. The book was published in 1852, and it happened that, as in the former case, Lord Holland had aroused the fears of Lord John Russell, so in the present, for like reasons, was the wrath of Lord Brougham evoked by the “Memoirs of the Right Honourable Henry Lord Langdale.”
It is really difficult to discover anything in Sir T. D. Hardy’s book which could have stirred up the sœva indignatio in Lord Brougham, as expressed in the subjoined letters, still less any aspersions on the memory of Lord Langdale himself.
“Scarborough, 31 July, 1852.
“Caro Signor Antonio,
As you interfered (most unadvisedly I think) respecting that book of Hardy’s, probably at the request of the family, I strongly recommend you to give Lady Langdale advice which may prevent more harm being done. I had not seen the book when I saw you. I have now seen it, though I have not read the whole. I have read quite enough to show me into what scrape Lady L. has gotten herself, by giving his papers to a person who, with the best possible intentions I have no doubt, is so ignorant of everything connected with the subject, except records, that he has fallen into the grossest mistakes.... There are one or two letters of Lord Langdale himself of which both Lord Denman and I are agreed in exceedingly lamenting the publication....
Now as I understand Mr. Hardy has more letters and is going to publish another volume or two, it really would only be an act of kindness to Lady Langdale and of justice to Lord Langdale’s memory, to take care that some friend of the family, who was also acquainted with Lord Langdale personally, and with the history of their time, should superintend Mr. H’s operations, and save him from falling into such mistakes.
It is impossible to doubt that he is well acquainted with records, and what he has given on that subject is extremely valuable. It is equally certain that Lord Langdale deserves the highest praise, and nothing can be more just than to give him the fullest credit, not only for what he did, but for what he wished to do. If Mr. Hardy has attacked almost every one else, that is his own affair, and I dare say no one will much complain of being assailed when it was done in order to exalt (unnecessarily, because he did not need it) so excellent and useful a person as Lord Langdale....
Yours truly,