5. Richmond Grove
Barnsbury. N.
28th Jany. 1875.
My Dear Sir
I am very much obliged to you for your generous letter and have talked the matter over with Dr Birch <1> and he agrees with me in requesting you to furnish as soon as possible the following texts for Vol V. <2>
Nabonidus <3> the long text
Nakh I Rushtan <4>
Tomb of Cyrus <5>
Michaux Stones <6>
these are the most pressing the other texts which you kindly promise can go into Vol VII the December issue
As Mr Rodwell <7> has begun the India House <8> Nebuchadnezza <9> this it will be best to leave in his hands. And Mr Sayce <10> has promised the Blk Obelisk of Shalmaneser <11>
There is a sad want of poetical and mystical texts to vary the Volume. Do I understand that you definitely decline to give us the Amil-urgal and War of the Evil spirits <12> Please to favor me with a reply so that I may tell Miss [Bagetus?] what to announce
I rem Dear Sir Yrs faithlly
W. R. Cooper.
H. Fox Talbot Esq. FRS
&c &c &c
[envelope:]
Henry Fox Talbot E. F.R.S.
&c &c &c
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Notes:
1. Dr Samuel Birch (1813–1885), linguist, Keeper at the British Museum, London.
2. Of the Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons).
3. Probably two among the newly found dated cuneiform tablets brought back by George Smith in 1873 and 1874 and mentioned in George Smith, Assyrian Discoveries (London: Sampson Low, Marston, Low and Searle), p. 387. [See Doc. No: 04364].
4. Probably WHFT, ‘Inscription of Darius at Nakshi Rustam’, Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons), v.5, 1875, pp. 149–153.
5. Cyrus the Great of Persia ( ca.590/580– ca.529 BC); he was buried in his tomb at Pasargadae.
6. Dating from the time of Tiglath Pileser I.
7. Rev John Medows Rodwell (1808–1900), orientalist.
8. India House, London, which held various items. Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, 1st Baronet (1810–1895), orientalist was on the India Council.
9. Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Chaldean dynasty of Babylonia (reigned ca.605– ca.561 BC).
10. Archibald Henry Sayce (1845–1933), Egyptologist & Orientalist.
11. He means the ‘Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser’ (9th century BC).
12. WHFT, ‘War of the Seven Evil Spirits Against Heaven’, Records of the Past being English Translations of the Assyrian and Egyptian Monuments (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons) v.5, 1875, pp. 161–166.