“British Museum, February 18th, 1856.
“My Lord Archbishop,
Having just been informed by Sir Henry Ellis that he has resigned his situation of Principal Librarian, I trust I may be permitted to draw the attention of your Grace and of the other Principal Trustees to my services, as giving me some ground to hope that I may not be deemed unworthy of having my name submitted to the Sovereign as being a fit person to succeed Sir Henry. The efficacy and importance of those services have doubtless been noticed by the Trustees at large, as they were by the Commissioners of Inquiry into the British Museum, as expressed in their report. I shall not, therefore, presume to do more than refer with respectful confidence to the opinion which both the Trustees and the Commissioner entertain of them.
I have the honour to be, my Lord Archbishop, &c.,
A. Panizzi.”
From the Lord-Chancellor he received the appended reply, which needs no comment, nor could Panizzi have expected his Lordship to act otherwise:—
“40, Upper Brook-street,
Feb. 18th, 1856.
“My dear Sir,
In answer to your application, I can say no more than that I feel it my bounden duty to consult exclusively the interests of the Museum.