Lacock Abbey,
Chippenham.
March 2. 1872
My dear Sir
I think you for sending the newly discovered portion of the Sargina inscription. It is fortunate that the best preserved part is the beginning, which is so curious and interesting.
Can you inform me what is the meaning of the word <cuneiform> which occurs twice in the inscription
I have commenced the third No of my Assyrian Glossary and have printed about 46 pages of it. It will contain a considerable number of new words and some new renderings of old words whose sense has been hitherto mistaken.
I am very much obliged to Sir H. Rawlinson for his consent to my receiving copies of the sheets of vol. IV and I beg you will give him my best thanks when you see him next, or if you have occasion to write to him.
My paper is gone to the Printer – It was thought desirable to give the Cuneiform text of the first 12 lines, which I had omitted in my MS when first sent to the Society (on Febry 1st) – I have therefore since added the Cuneiform – I suppose M. Oppert’s translation will not be very different There is a doubtful word suri, which I translate ‘bulrushes’ because rushes are call’d Sari in Egyptian and Coptic. But I have never met with the word elsewhere –
I remain Yours vy Truly
H. F. Talbot
G. Smith Esq B. Musm