Sir Henry Layard.

1895

The late Sir Henry Layard was a man to whose abilities, achievements and personal qualities but scant justice was done in the obituary notices which appeared at the time of his death.

He did not "wear his heart upon his sleeve," and those who had only a slight acquaintance with him may perhaps be excused for not perceiving the stanch and genuine kindness of that heart — a kindness which none of his friends could fail to experience, but his achievements and his career are written large in the history of the nineteenth century, and the impetus which his researches and discoveries gave to the study of archaeology — to say nothing of the inestimable value of the light they throw on the Old Testament narrative — will never be forgotten or underrated by those whose opinions on such subjects is worth having. Sir Henry Layard's later years were chiefly devoted to historical, archaeological and artistic research, and during his residence in Venice, where he spent a considerable part of every year, he came to be regarded almost as an unaccredited representative of his country in that city. — John Murray in Good Words.