British Museum Dep. of Orient. Antiq.

Saturday 6^th May

My dear Sir

I send you Assurbanipal down to P. 304 – I have got the work set up as far as P. 320 and have again run through the money – but I have shortened some things and shall be able to conclude the book at P. 328 if I do not give a commentary I place myself in your hands in the matter – I do not feel at liberty to ask you for any more money – and a commentary might be issued in another volume or you yourself might wish to write a work on the subject – the work has cost so much money that I think it might now conclude but if you wish I will give some a connected English Translation of the principal cylinder about 20 p. (without cuneiform) and a discussion of the meanings of words &c. about 60 pages – I must now again thank you for your kind support in the work and await your answer as to what I shall do with it

Yours respectfully

George Smith

H. F. Talbot Esq