Close upon these followed the official letter from the Home Office:—
“Whitehall, March 5th, 1856.
“Sir,
I am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to inform you that the three Principal Trustees of the British Museum have recommended to Her Majesty two persons (of whom you are one) whom they judge fit to execute the office of Principal Librarian, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint you to execute the said office of Principal Librarian of the British Museum.
I am to add that, in accordance with the suggestion of the three Principal Trustees, made with reference to various changes in the duties of this office, recommended by the Royal Commission in 1850, Her Majesty has been pleased to direct that your appointment shall be made subject to any change in the duties or emoluments of the office which Parliament may think fit to make.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
H. Waddington.”
The actual appointment, under Her Majesty’s sign manual, bears the date of the next day, viz., the 6th of March, 1856.
Panizzi had been privately informed of the intended resignation of Sir Henry Ellis at least a month before, for, on the 2nd of January, he wrote to Sir George Grey, recommending himself to H.R.H. the Prince Consort, under whose instructions the Hon. C. Grey wrote the following letter:—
“Buckingham Palace,