BM
1^st May 1873

My dear Sir,

Your paper is too late for the May meeting but will come on in June and appear in our next number which ought to come out in July. You will I hope contribute some translations, to the proposed work of Bagster which will popularize the subject – You have I suppose a complete copy of the Ishtar inscription of which there are I think two versions. Some additional pieces were joined by Mr Smith. Lenormant copied the whole lately on the occasion of his visit but your versions will come out first. Mr Smith is a bad correspondent no letter later than the 18^th February has reached me Did you not see the telegram about his proceedings in the Daily Telegraph. He appears to have obtained some new cylinder of the age of Tiglath Pileser. My editorship of the publication will be only nominal – just to ask the authors to observe some uniformity nothing more as the revises will be sent to them for correction. Nor will my name appear on the title pages It is necessary to have some one to set the wheels in motion

In the Egyptian section, very few translations will come from my pen Would you draw up a list of texts desirable for translation, and what you would like to undertake Sir H. Rawlinsons hands are so full of other matters, and he has such a reluctance to appear in company that not much if any assistance will be derived from him. But an attempt must be made and when begun future editions will improve. Bagster looks forward to a large sale

Yours vy trly
S Birch

H. Fox Talbot Esqe

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^e
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
nr Bath