BM
2nd March 1873
My dear Sir,
The work in which M. Lenormant <1> has written an account of an inscription of Dungi lately purchased at Paris is the March number of the Revue Archeologique. The other work in which both M. Oppert <2> & M. Lenormant have published Assyrian dissertations is the newly started, Melanges d’Archeologie Egyptienne et Assyrienne <3> 4th Paris 1872 (Librarie A. Franck F Vieweg proprietaire Rue Richelieu 67)
It was founded by the late Vicomte de Auyé <4> and will it is to be hoped be kept up with spirits The expenses of our last Transactions pt. II were due to many causes amongst other the Egyptian Type cost £12ּ0ּ0ּ but it is to be expected that after first start the cost will diminish. The Society however has done quicker and I think it may be added newer work than any of the old established and chartered bodies. Should you in your circle of friends be able to secure a few more recruits it would be a favour. Our numbers are now 180, but 200 are desirable for carrying us on and when we can get more we wish to publish quarterly Transactions. Smith will I hope obtain something good: he is very sanguine. This is a kind of prospecting of the ground as it is not possible to do much after the bad weather sets in One idea has been to clear the whole mound of Kouyunjik <5> – so as to make it like another Pompeii but that one work alone would cost £10,000. Difficulties may arise with the Turkish Government which is aware that there things are worth money and are forming a Museum at Constantinople
Believe me Yours vy trly
S Birch
H. Fox Talbot EsqeNotes:
1. François Lenormant (1837–1883), French archaeologist.
2. Prof Julius Oppert (1825–1905), German Assyriologist, active in Paris.
3. Melanges d’Archeologie Egyptienne et Assyrienne (Paris: Imprimerie Nationale (1872–1877).
4. Possibly a mistake for Vicomte Emmanuel Charles Oliver Camille de Rougé (1811–1872), Egyptologist, founder and author of several books on egyptian heiroglyphics.
5. See Doc. No: 09621.