[J]. Manzoni thus begins his famous “Cinque Maggio,” or his Ode on the Death of Napoleon, which has been translated by Mr. Gladstone.
Another year was entered upon, and the Principal Librarian yearned for rest. On the 5th of June, 1866, he addressed a letter to Sir George Grey, earnestly requesting that he might be released from his official duties, and on the 18th of the same month received an answer from the Treasury informing him that immediate steps would be taken to appoint a successor. Eight days afterwards, on the 26th of June, Mr. John Winter Jones was selected as the new Principal Librarian. On finally relinquishing his post, Panizzi addressed the following circular letter to the heads of Departments:—
“British Museum, July 16th, 1866.
“I cannot leave the Museum, and close my official connexion with those with whom I have had the honour and pleasure of serving the Trustees for so many years, without returning to all and each of them individually my warmest thanks for the efficient help which I have received from them in the discharge of my duties. Although conscious of having at all times acted to the best of my ability, and only for the advantage of the Museum and of those connected with it, I wish to add that, if I have ever given unnecessary pain to any one, I regret it most sincerely, and trust that credit will be given to me for having been uniformly influenced solely by a sense of duty.
“Allow me to request that you will bring this communication to the individual knowledge of every person in your Department. I shall always take the warmest interest in their future happiness, and shall never cease to feel the sincerest regard for them.”
Numerous and hearty were the responses, and it must have been highly gratifying to their recipient to know that his endeavours had gained the approval of all, and that, now that the battle was over, so far as he was concerned, he could rest satisfied with his own share in the struggle which had ended so triumphantly for himself. It will be unnecessary to quote more than one of the replies, that from his successor:—
“British Museum, July 18th, 1866.
“I have communicated to all persons in this Department the kind and generous letter you have been so good as to address to me on the subject of your retirement from the post of Principal Librarian. On this event there is but one feeling throughout the Department—that of deep regret that we are about to lose one who has the strongest claims upon us all, not only for acts of personal kindness, but for substantial benefits.
“It is no secret throughout the House that whatever improvement has taken place in the condition of those employed in it has originated with yourself and been won by your exertions. They are indebted to you for increased pay and extended vacations. They are indebted to you for the abolition of the system of payment by the day, which was injurious to the service and painful to the feelings of the gentlemen employed. Your exertions procured for the Library those increased grants which have rendered possible its vast growth and the high position it at present occupies. In short, we feel, and are proud to feel, that all the important improvements in the Institution had their origin in this Department while you were its Chief Officer, and that the very great development of the Museum generally commenced at the period when you became Principal Librarian.
“For myself, I shall always feel most grateful for the unvarying kindness with which you have treated me during the long period of nearly thirty years that I have acted more or less immediately under your superintendence. Your advice, support, and encouragement have never been wanting to me in all cases of difficulty; and if the present state of the Library deserves commendation, it is to you that the praise is mainly due.