TALBOT1186

Royal Asiatic Society,
5, New Burlington Street,
London <manuscript> 3 <October> ¹ 1856

D^r Sir,

You cannot do us a greater honour than by becoming a member of the Society, and I will put up your name for election as soon as you authorise me to do so. Our first meeting is in November, as you will see by the card enclosed; ² but if now elected, your payment for this year is null.

I have shown your letter to Sir H. Rawlinson ³ and he thinks it would be a more satisfactory proof of the truth of the decipherment, if you should take up something which is quite new, much as the Annals of Tiglath Pileser, ⁴ which will appear at the same time as those of Sennacherib. So many hints, and even translations of parts of the latter have already been printed by Hincks, Layard ⁵ and Rawlinson himself (in the outlines &c) that your versions however independent, would not be thought so by determined objectors. Tiglath Pileser Annals are lithographed, but not yet printed off I believe the Trustees of the Museum ⁶ will issue the two together; and if not, they would doubtless furnish you with a copy for the very valuable use to which you would apply it. Colonel Rawlinson has no right to issue any; in fact it is an understood thing that he will not make his own copies, (which will have translations attached) published public, until the Government copies are out. I have no doubt the Society would readily be the medium of carrying out your proposal.

I remain D^r Sir
yours very truly

Edwin Norris

H. Fox Talbot Esq