The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-18
RAwLINsoN's RECORD.
The EngIfshman's Great Work for
Humanity and Science.

New York Tribune.
Sir Henry Cres.vickc Rawlinson, major
general. who died in London a few days
aga aEathe left Of a an lofegssfip Was o one : 81 th mae
men, more numerous in Great britain
than in America, VINO unite in their ca
great literary or scientific achievements.
Lord Salisbury, Prime Minister and prae-
Ma siGal e eleedTle,an primo ana M genafai and rfle elassI;
cal scholar; Mr.. Balfour, leader of the
Commons and metaphys.cian. and many
ject OF the present sketch rendered politi-
cal, military and diplomatic services to
the British empire sufficient to insure him
also did a literary, geographical and ar
Genealogical work that entities him to a
century. His younger brother. it is true,
has been a more prolific and more popu-
lar lar ty writer. f But it # was Mol he who angs gass that hat
two have made the name of Rawlinson
more eminent than ever before since it
first became conspicuous in the days Of
Did Indian soldiers stin tell of Raw
linson's ride which the young man
all to Panwell-seventy-two miles-in
three hours and seventeen minutes. That
for a few weeks later he was sent to Per-
STA. Were the serious part of his life work
began.
For six years he was in the Persian serv-
ice, visiting every part of the empire and
doing a great and varied work. Es-
pecially useful was he to the Shah in re-
the rank of major, and his Majesty be-
slowed upon him therefor the insigna of
the Order of the Lion and the Sun. But
he did more than serve the Shah. He set
himself to- the stupendous task Of de-
lions, beginning with the trilingual
(Median, Persian and Babylonian) tab
let's found at the site Of ancient Ecbatana.
In 1887 he copied the first column of the
great Behistun inscriptions, in the cunei-
form characters, engraved on the polished
f farce Of ar 2 fop Lofty S,,n rGsk At feet the f heIght tS Of
ground. To copy these, from the fraii
support of a ladder. which rested on a
a perilious undertaking indeed, for which
only a very ardent antiquary. would have
Gdi a,iga his Ms neck Sel But in this way the
the learned world a new historical science.
Then came a rupture Of relations between
of which all British officers left the service
of the Shah. .Rawlinson at once proceeded
he was in 1910. made British political agent
at Kandahar. His services in that arduous
office were cf inestimable value; All through
within and attacks without. His name was
commanding generals dispatches from the
field, and the honor of G. b., was conferred
upon him: He resnrn ned to india with the
Peterborough to resume duty in the latter
country in an important office. But he
was resolved to continue his study of Gen.
trail Asian ANTIQUITIES. and therefore pre-
ferred to so to Bagdad in a much humber
capacity.
At Bagdad he made copies and transla-
tons of a number of ancient inscriptions,
and sent them to the British museum.
commissioned him to superintend the ex-
eavations at Babylon and Nineveh, which
Layard had begun. This he did, sending
home many cargoes of slabs and other
relics. On his return to England in 1855 he
was made a crown director of the East
india Company, and in 1858 he became a
member of the Council of India. The next
spring he was commissioned as major
general and sent to Teheran as British
minister to the court of Persia. He re-
turned home in 1855. and was promptly
elected to parliament. He had been pre-
viously elected in 1858, but had to decline
the seat in order to enter the Council of
India. In 1868 he retired from parliament
and became a life member of the Council
of India, in which office he rendered most
valuable services TO the empire. In pol
tiles he was originally a Liberal. but in
party. especially in its Asian policy. He
never abandoned the position he took in
his mastery work, England and Russia
in the East" that Herat, as 1.-The key of
India must be secured against Russian
5 occupation at all hazards, and that in the
event of Russia's hostile approach TO that
city it would be indispensable to the safe
ty of India that England should resume,
with the consent and in friendly co-opera-
ton with the AmeerS forces, her military
occupation of Western Afghanistan.