TALBOT9667

ROYAL OBSERVATORY

EDINBURGH

22^nd June 1870

Dear Sir,

In connection with a notice on cubits now printing in an Observatory Report, and where the measure which the Romans called cubitus is shown to have been really a human cubit or forearm in length, i.e. 18 inches & a fraction; – but the Ancient & Chaldæan measures, which we call cubits, were not cubits because they were nearly 21 & 25 inches long, – will you kindly allow me to ask by what sound did the cuneiform character of the Assyrians express those larger-than-cubit linear standards of theirs? Also, did such sound mean anything else?

Did it vary in different ages of the cuneiform writing; & if so, at what dates & <illeg>?

Have you any special knowledge, that you would not object to give out, on the length in British inches of the Assyrian & Babylonian standards of linear measure at given dates?

NB I am most anxious about the very earliest, say 2300 B.C.

Pray excuse my plainess <sic> in asking for such very positive, though short information. I am only desiring now to quote you as an authority, but briefly and rather as a reference to your other works on the subject,

& I remain

Yours very truly

C. Piazzi Smyth