25 



nobility. It is lamentable to contemplate the Departments 

 of the British Museum likely to be given up to such per- 

 sons, when the services of a man like Mr. Reid, who has 

 been thiry-five years in the Museum, are compensated by 

 a salary of ^500 a year ; and while it would take an Act 

 of Parliament to give promotion to Mr. Granville, the 

 pillar of the Reading-Room, a gentleman, courteous and 

 communicative in three languages, for many years past on 

 a pittance of something under five pounds a week — about 

 the pay of four of the housemaids, or three of the window 

 cleaners. As if, however, Mr. Fagan's present position 

 and future were not sufficient, Mr. Jones has for the last 

 two years been endeavouring to create a new office of 

 assistant-keeper of Prints and Drawings for him. Mr. 

 Reid, knowing what the value of the assistance would be, 

 has resisted change, which he might otherwise have ap- 

 proved, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who seems to 

 have had some inkling of the real state of the case, emphati- 

 cally stated last yea£ that he will never put his signature to 

 such an appointment. Mr. Jones, however, is like Words- 

 worth's earthquake — he " is not satisfied at once" ; and, 

 to do him justice, he may be actuated bylhat sense of 

 favours past and to come towards Signor Panizzi, which is 

 called gratitude. So he has renewed his endeavours this 

 year, and although it is hardly likely that, in the face of 

 recent revelations, this scandal will now be perpetrated, still 

 there is a rumour that an increase of salary, to the extent 

 of £100 a year, has been just now granted this rising 

 young man. 



We have, however, left out of sight the important post 

 of Italian-speaking gentleman in the Secretary's office, 

 for which Mr. Fagan was at first so urgently needed. 

 Naturally enough, the necessity for this addition to the 



