Entryhill House
Saturday 20. Sept^r /73

My dear Sir

I received yesterday the number of the Biblico-Archæological Transactions which you have been so kind as to send me, and for which I beg to thank you very much. Its contents are highly valuable, and your own two articles interest me particularly, and especially the ‘Religious belief of the Assyrians’, which has hitherto been so obscure a subject

In the Daily Telegraph, 5. Aug. p. 5. col^m 4. Geo. Smith, on his Excavations at Kouyunjik, says that

"In the Palace of Assur-bani-pal &c a portion of a curious Syllabary was unearthed", & that "it was divided into four columns of writing, the first containing the sound attached to the Cuneiform signs – the Second the Signs themselves – the Third the names of the Objects which the signs represented – the Fourth the Words & ideas of which the signs were the representations."

Surely this must be a very valuable ‘find’, & analogous to the Rosetta stone as affording a key to the Egyptian hieroglyphics, in reference to the Cuneiform signs & the languages of the Inscriptions themselves.

Mrs Menteath and I anticipate with pleasure the return of your self and family to Bath in winter, and with United regards

I remain Yours truly
C. G. Stuart Menteath

H. F. Talbot Esq.

I also thank you much for the notice of "The lost Canon of Berosus."

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^re
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham.