Animadversions on the library and catalogues of the British Museum. A reply to Mr. Panizzi's statement; and a correspondence with that officer and the Trustees.
- Nicholas Harris Nicolas
- Date:
- 1846
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Animadversions on the library and catalogues of the British Museum. A reply to Mr. Panizzi's statement; and a correspondence with that officer and the Trustees. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![selection of a Foreigner for a ]>lace which ouglit undoubtedly to be filled by an Englishman, 1 cared less about it than most other persons. All I desired was an efficient Officer, who, by doing his duty with zeal, courtesy and intelligence, would enable the Pub- lic to consult the Library with comfort. For some time, whether from Mr. Panizzi’s system of Press- marks, or as T believe (and shall explain why here- after) from his attending Adgilantly to his duty, the imj)rovement was manifest. He was tlien attacked, and if I remember rightly, on more than one occa- sion ; nor was his peculiar position forgotten. To aid, as far as might be in my humble power, a person so peculiarly placed, who I then thought was fitted for his Office, and from whose administration I looked for the two great desiderata of a Public Library—of access, and a good practical Cata- logue at the earliest possible moment, T wrote to him the following letter: TO A. PANIZZI, ESQ.* Torrington Square, 20th October, 1837. My dear Sir, Having heard to day, with great surprise, that a reader of the Library of the British Museum had expres.sed dis- satisfaction at the new regulations which you liave intro- duced for obtaining books, I Hike the liberty of offering you the opinion of a person who has constantly* used the Library for sixteen years, and who, perhaps, is not very likely to be suspected of bestowing indiscriminate or venal praise. The great object of a public Library is dispatch in pro- * Tliis letter is printed from the copy sent to me by Mr. Panizzi, which agrees with the copy in his pamphlet.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28038988_0060.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
