D^r Hincks

Lacock July 5. 1857

D^r Sir

At the time you sent me the draught of a memorial to the Trustees of the B. Museum I was in expectation of moving to London for 2 or 3 months – but this intention was frustrated by serious illness in my family – Next Wednesday however we mean to move to Tunbridge Wells and from thence I shall take an early opportunity of visiting Town where I have not been since last Autumn – I wish therefore to know whether the circumstances which have lately occurred the decision of the Council of the Asiatic Society to print the Translations &c. &c. have made any difference in your views as to the expediency of sending to the Trustees such a memorial – being desirous to be guided by your wishes in this matter, and thinking that perhaps the circumstances may be considered to be changed by what has occurred.

I am in hopes that some good has been effected by the experiment of the independent Translations – Some things I could have wished differently managed – I regret particularly that more time was not allowed, or rather that copies of the lithograph were not sent to yourself & D^r Oppert 2 months earlier. Yet altho’ you had only time to translate one half of the inscriptⁿ I hope that this, which must extend to near 400 lines will be quite sufficient to demonstrate the concurrence of your authority & testimony with that of Rawlinson as to the general meaning of some of the most important parts of the inscriptⁿ I have little doubt that this Experimentum Crucis as it has been called, has been of much service – Something of the kind was evidently wanted – But is it possible that the Athenæum can be correct in saying that the French Academy of Sciences ignores the whole of the Cuneiform discoveries, and pronounces them to be “empiricism” – ??

I have no doubt that our experiment will convert a large number of candid and learned persons who have hitherto been sceptical and that if they will closely examine the Translations & Transcriptions they will find still more reason to be satisfied of the correctness of the system discovered by yourself and Rawlinson –

Believe me D^r Sir Yours vry Truly

H. F. Talbot