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Document number: 9573
Date: 18 Sep 1869
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: GRIVEL Joseph
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Last updated: 29th October 2011

le 18 Sbre 1869
Hôtel Panton, Panton Street 281 Londres

Monsieur

En passage à Londres j’ai eu l’occasion de voir le glossaire assyrien qui a paru dans le journal de la Société asiatique. Ce travail m’a paru très-utile pour les personnes qui s’occuppent de l’interprétation des textes assyriens et dans ce but j’aurai désiré me le procurer s’il en a été fait un tirage séparé, parceque le prix des deux volumes 1867 & 1869, est trop élevé. Oserais je donc vous demander, Monsieur, si vous pourriez me faire obtenir ce travail à un prix de faveur.

J’ai traduit la stand: Inscrip: de Sardanapal dont nous avons une copie en Suisse, ignorant alors qu’ele se trouve dans Layard Ins: Cet ouvrage (Inscriptions de Layard) qui m’aurait été tres utile pour ma traduction à cause des variantes, me manque encore. L’essai de traduction dont je me permets de vous offrir un exemplaire , renferme encore bien des inexactitudes que j’ai rectifiées depuis et j’ai même préparé un commentaire philologique sur chaque expression. J’aurais désiré pouvoir publier ce travail ; Mais d’après les renseignements qui m’ont été fournis tant à Paris qu’à Londres, je vois que je dois y renoncer à cause des frais que cette publication me procureraient inutilement.

Agreez, Monsieur, l’assurance du respect de
Votre humble serviteur

Jos: Grivel

dès demain matin
adresse Jos: Grivel, Directeur Fribourg / Suisse


Translation:

18 September 1869
Panton Hotel, 281 Panton Street London

Sir

When I visited London, I had the chance to see the Assyrian glossary which was published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society. This work appeared very useful for people who are interested in interpreting Assyrian texts, and with this aim in mind, I would have liked to procure it if had been printed separately, because the cost of the two volumes from 1867 & 1869 is too high. Could I therefore make so bold as to ask you, Sir, if you could obtain this work for me at a special price.

I have translated the standard inscription of Sardanapalus of which we have a copy in Switzerland, but I did not then know that it was in the Layard Institute: I still do not have his work (Layard Inscriptions), which would have been very useful for my translations because of the variations. My attempt at a translation, a copy of which I have taken the liberty of giving to you, still contains inaccuracies which I have since confirmed, and I have even prepared a philological commentary on each expression. I would have liked to be able to publish this work; but from the information which I was given, both in Paris and London, I can see that I should relinquish the idea because of the unnecessary cost which this publication would entail.

Please be assured, Sir, of the respect of Your humble servant
Jos. Grivel

From tomorrow morning
Address Jos: Grivel, Director Freiburg/ Switzerland

Notes: