British Museum
9th December 1870
My dear Sir
The 3rd Volume of the Inscriptions ought to be out at the end of this year as the proof sheets of the Index have been ordered for Press, and the Board has authorized the issue of the work so that it will no doubt be soon in your hands. Another volume of bilinguals and other inscriptions is commenced but the want of fresh materials is greatly felt as our most important – historical documents – are exhausted. This year I had proposed & hoped also to get inserted into the estimates a grant for £1000 to recommence excavations, examine again the archive chamber at Kouyinjik as the state of the collections proves that at least half was left behind – and to try and find a Babylonian Library as we know so little of the history of the Babylonian monarchy. My efforts I regret to say have been unsuccessful which is the more to be regretted as political events point to the possibility of the Mesoptamia and Assyria changing hands should Russia make any serious progress in the East. There were no doubt some but not <invariable?> difficulties but I do not yet despair as private enterprize which is more unfettered very possibly <illeg> take the matter in hand. As to the Sinig questions – The Syro-Egyptian is verbally different I doubt if it numbers more than a trace of members. Allways a weak Society it struggled on under the guidance of one or two enthusiasts but at last finally collapsed. The same fate overtook the chronological Institute. The present attempt is to found a Society with the same scope as the other two but with enlarged power so as to have a journal for Assyrian Egyptian, Ph œnician and other researches connected with Biblical lands and even if possible should funds be attainable to carry on operations in these countries but this must be deferred for the present. I am not very sanguine as to the success of the Society – we have not more than <301?> promises at present but shall no doubt obtain more members when once fairly launched Today the proposed laws of the Society are to be considered and the body organized. Sir H. Rawlinson is favourable to the Society and Mr Bosanquet has I understand agreed to join as Treasurer should 100 members be enrolled. After this evening it will be possible to take a clearer view of the position and prospects of the Society. There is nothing very new at present in Assyrian and the war keeps all continental studies as far as France is concerned. The Berlin Zeitschrift fur ägyptisch Sprache however regularly makes its appearance
Yours vy Truly
S Birch