15. Edith Villas. S. W.
Jan 4th 1873.
My dear Sir,
The particulars of the Assyrian project are as follows.
The day after Mr Smith1 read his paper, the D.T.2 wrote & offered him £1000 to be followed by further sums. The offer seems to have been made in the first instance somewhat in the same spirit as that of the proprietor of the “New York Herald” to Stanley.3
Doubtless they know that newspapers expected a prestige was to be acquired by doing so.
Since, Mr Arnold (son of Dr Arnold) the Editor 4 has become greatly interested on more scholarly grounds. He proposed to accompany Smith, but now sees that he cannot well be absent so long. The quid pro quo is that Mr Smith is to write home “letters” to the “D. Telegraph.” All that he may find is to be presented in the name of the D.T. to the B. Museum.
It has passed through “Trustees” meeting, though opposed by Sir Henry Rawlinson. Dr Birch did not ask him to come – he came unasked. There is of course some feeling of rivalry in various directions too long to enter into here.
I am glad you think some one like myself should accompany him, because I had a letter from Mr Layard 5 (whom I knew when living at Venice some years ago, while engaged for the Science & Art Dept) in wh he expresses his regret that I was not with him at Nineveh. Mr Smith would like me to go too, and I am not unwilling to once more cross the Alps! But, it would cost some £200 and I do not feel that I can afford to expend such a sum. I would willingly go if my bare expenses were paid. People all seem to think I ought to accompany him.
I am sorry I have not been able to send you the “reverse” yet, but there is a great demand for them and the weather is atrocious for silver-printing.
Mr Smith would like to start about the 20th inst, but he has had no official instruction yet. He proposes returning during the hot season.
in haste & Yours very truly
S. Thompson
H. Fox Talbot Esq
Please cite as “TALBOT6700,” in Ɛpsilon: accessed on