Lacock
March 6. 1875
My Dear Constance
Many thanks for the Daily Telegraph – Mr Smith’s <1> discovery is indeed a most important one, and is likely to excite universal attention especially in the religious world. It appears that the Babylonians possessed writings handed down from great antiquity, relating the early history of the world and that the Jews and other nations accepted more or less of these histories as true, adding nevertheless traditions of their own which they thought equally trustworthy.
Mr Smith has recently published the Deluge tablet <2> in the original Cuneiform characters and I have been studying it. I agree with Mr Smith in all the essential points, the building of the ship, the deluge, the letting the birds out of the ark to see if the land was dry, Noah’s sacrifice of Thanksgiving on coming out of the ark &c. &c.
On some minor matters my translation would differ from his.
I have written to Mr Menteith <3> to ask him if he would like me to send him this Daily Telegraph.
Cox knows of a footman to succeed Alfred. He has written to you. Shall I send him over to Bath to find out where he lives at present?
Pearson’s bill all right
Your affte
Henry
Notes:
1. George Smith (1840–1876), Assyriologist. [See Doc. No: 04265].
2. Possibly George Smith, ‘The Chaldean Account of the Deluge’, reprinted from the Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology (London: British Museum).
3. Charles Granville Stuart Menteath (1800–1880), barrister.