<blind stamp>
Killyleagh
28th Decr 1861
My dear Sir,
I received your letter today with the pamphlet that accompanied it. In my last letter I forgot to refer you to translations of mine fm the Annals of Sennacherib (Taylor) which appeared in the first two numbers of the Museum, an Edinburgh publication (Gordon). To a great extent they agree with your version of the same passage – but there are a few important differences. I should like much to ascertain whether the 53d line of Column 2 of the great <Nabunachid?> inscription is correctly given in the BM volume. I cannot think that it is. I have no confidence whatever in Rawlinson who has in very many instances corrupted the text. As I suspect, he has misunderstood the meaning & then changed what he found to what he thought there ought to be.
It would have been much more satisfactory if the lithographer had been allowed to copy fm the original text.
Unless I saw a copy carefully taken by a person who knew nothing of cuneatics & who was not guided by any one that did – or what would be still better) a photograph or rubbing I would not believe that <Nabunachid?> could have made a statement so absurdly false as the <printed?> copy represents him as making.
I wish you would examine the original of this line. I think, however, you have totally misconceived the meaning of this paragraph – every word in which presents to me a distinct idea <illeg> of the very different ideas fm what they do to you.
I hope to send you my Journal of Irish Literature paper next week. I presume I shall get the copies by the 3d or 4th of next month
Believe me Yours vy truly
Edw Hincks
H F. Talbot Esqre
Unfortunately I overlooked your additional notes in p.363. In no instance, however, does your <connection?> bring you to what I think right though your second version of sabinh is nearer than the first. In You hit the root: but the <final?> point is that we have here a series of infinites. Your read sumsut <cuneiform> with the printed copy. I copied fm the original ku for su. Perhaps, however, I fancied the existence of the wedge I have drawn in outline.