Bolton Corney.
The Terrace, Barnes.”
Can any protest be more short-sighted or ungenerous than this of “Bolton Corney’s?” The concise note of Lord Palmerston speaks volumes to the discerning mind as to his opinion of such vulgar and insulting trash. But for his Lordship’s discriminating kindness in forwarding the document for Panizzi’s reflection and information, the matter would be scarcely worth dwelling on for a single instant.
Again reference must be made to Mr. Francis Haywood, who, it will be remembered, was Panizzi’s earliest friend at Liverpool, and who, it can well be imagined, was delighted to see his >quondam Italian and penurious friend of 1824 now at the head of the greatest institution of its kind in the universe. Appended are Panizzi’s letters previous to receiving his appointment as Principal librarian:—
“B. M., February 20th, 1856.
“My dear Haywood,
All my friends have always laughed at my doubting to succeed; I alone have hitherto been mistrusting. If I am now to believe what I hear and see in writing, I cannot have any doubts. It seems, even to me, that the thing is as safe as it can be. The Archbishop is as sure as the Chancellor and the Speaker, and so is Sir G. Grey, from what I hear on authority that I cannot possibly doubt. But the thing is not done, and there is, therefore, the possibility of a miscarriage. What pleases me is that in this house all—excepting, of course, Madden and Hawkins, who looked to the promotion themselves—are strongly for me.
Yours ever,
A. Panizzi.”
“March 4th, 1856.