[LAYARD

In the 1840s Layard, supported by the British ambassador at Constantinople, made astonishing discoveries in ancient Assyria, including famous sculptures now in the British Museum and Ashurbanipal's cuneiform library, getting to know and like the local people. Elected M.P. in 1852, he pressed for the rights of Turkish peoples as against Russian pretensions to control Turkey for the sake of Christians only. When war broke out he visited the Crimea and was strongly critical of the British generals. On 15th June 1855 he made a famous speech in the Commons, saying that in public appointments merit had been sacrificed to private influence. This block 'sketched in the House of Commons' must have been engraved and printed within a few hours.