TALBOT8764

6 Michael’s Grove
1 Dec^r 1863

Dear Sir,

Thanks for your Hammurabi and Esar Haddon,¹ which I have gone through before, but shall now do so again, as I have them in more manageable condition. How do you make[cuneiform] nu in l. 2.? Is it not the same word which follows [cuneiform] in Bellino’s nebuchadnezzar. i.49. ii.5. & twice in E. I. H. slab [cel?] vi.? Ménant ² also reads dannu. The final [cuneiform] in l. 5. and elsewhere I believe is what Oppert³ calls the mimmation, strongly expressed at that early date. The Nukhus of l.18, certainly means cultivation, or cultivated land, in several cases, perhaps fertility or prosperity. It translates the Persian shiyati in l. 5 of the Hamadan inscription Lassen’s O. Perhaps this may [sic] the meaning of the Hebrew in Gen. xxx.27. & I King’s xx.33. As soon as I can have a day or two of leisure, I shall go over the whole inscription; but I am now full of office work. I was laid up during a whole month from middle of October to middle of Nov^r and am by no means right yet, which will account for much neglect of Cuneiforms.

Two large stones of the Michaux [sort?] are now in the Br. Mus. ⁴ in perfect condition, and in Hieratia, very interesting. I find nass [cuneiform] written [cuneiform] this shews that [cuneiform] is in fact [cuneiform] plus [cuneiform] “Gods,” which in the Scythic was written [cuneiform] & pronounced Annap, a strong proof of the Turanian origin of the Alphabet. In like manner [cuneiform] is made [cuneiform]. Rawlinson⁵ has found many fragments of the first Tiglath Pileser corrobroation of the synchronous Tablet before found. He talks of getting out the next volume but he is far too sanguine. it is simply impossible. Bowler⁶ too is laid up, which is against us. We are all getting old, and simply laying a foundation for our successors. It is a pity that the Government has withdrawn its support. They will barely pay for the finishing of the work already begun.

Believe me I am faithfully
Edwin Norris

F Talbot Esq
&c &c

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot, Esq
8 Rutland Square
Edinburgh