TALBOT8186

D^r Hincks

Millburn tower Edinburgh¹
Jan^y 20. 1862

D^r Sir

I am afraid the address “Caen” will hardly find M. Ménant. His correct address is, juge au Tribunal de Lisieux.

Rénan is a savant of Considerable reputation. It is a pity that he should remain so incredulous respecting the cuneiform discoveries. But I understand he also rejects Champollion’s discoveries in the hieroglyphics: and that Silvestre de Sacy did so, the eminent Arabic scholar.

Yet nothing can be more certain than the general soundness of Champollions system. I received the paper you sent me on Arioch and Belshazzar, for which I am obliged. I see nothing to prevent the identification of the proto Chaldean king Urukh with Arioch the cotemporary [sic] of Abraham, but further evidence is necessary. I should be glad to see his city Ellasar identified with a cuneiform name. I have endeavoured to convince Oppert that he is wrong in the passage of the Birs N. Insⁿ which he translates “42 ages have elapsed”. but I have not succeeded in convincing him that he is in error. From his letters I find that he admits a great number of values of signs, which I reject, for want of evidence, though quite willing to admit them if evidence is produced.

Did you ever publish any supplement to the list of values which you gave in the Trans^ns of the Royal Irish Academy? With respect to the meaning of the name of Nebuchadnezzar, I would refer to pl. 50 of the B. Mus^m volume, new series, col 4. l.10 where I think Kudur means a Crown. The king says, I placed the Kudur on my head. This I identify w^h רחב of the book of Esther, the Persian King’s crown, κιταρις of the Greeks.

I remain D^r Sir Yours vy Truly
H. F. Talbot