Dr Birch.
B. Musm
Lacock Abbey
Friday 20 October
Dear Sir
The claim of Mr Smith’s <1> family for a pension appears to me the clearest case that has ever yet occurred, and if Mr Gladstone <2> were now Prime Minister it would be certainly granted.
But Ld Beaconsfield <3> is very probably unacquainted with Mr Smith’s writings and discoveries, for although a literary man himself his genius lies in quite a different direction.
If the Trustees would take the unusual step of memorializing the Minister on the subject I should think the pension would readily be granted, and why should they not do so?
If it be said that it would be a thing unprecedented, I can only reply, “make a precedent”! for everything must have a beginning at some time or other. Until this question of the pension is decided one way or other I think it better to withhold my subscription to the fund raised for the benefit of the family.
The Museum has now lost <4> its right hand man in Assyrian Philology. Will it be obliged to suspend its cuneiform publications? If I can be of any assistance to the Museum I shall be very happy to be so Especially if I can work while remaining at home, copies of lithographs being furnished to me – Work in the Museum would be less easy to me –
Pray inform me if there is any truth in the newspaper statement that the trustees have appointed Mr Rassam <5> to continue the excavations at Niniveh, <sic> and that he has got a firman for two years? – I have seen nothing as yet of Records volume seventh, <6> will it be out soon?
Yours Truly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. George Smith (1840–1876), Assyriologist. Mrs Smith received a pension of £150,00 a year. [See Doc. No: 02397].
2. William Ewart Gladstone (1809–1898), statesman and author.
3. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–1881), Conservative Prime Minister (1868 and 1874–1880).
4. Smith had died on August 19th.
5. Hormuzd Rassam (1826–1910), Turkish archaeologist.
6. Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments: Assyrian Texts, v.7, September 1876 (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons).