6 Michael’s Grove SW

21 March 1871.

My dear Sir

I have no doubt your N^o 269 is right, and I am wrong, my explanation is that much of my work was roughly done years ago, and not sufficiently reconsidered when I came to print. Of course I write every article anew, but the ground plan remains; my memory has no initiative power; and this will account for my frequently relapsing into an old error, which I may have corrected two or three years previously. I ought to have called my books “Hints and Material for an Assyrian Dictionary” but the Bookseller protested against it. In the third passage <cuneiform> pursuit of my will” I think I must be right . Considering my age I take credit for industry, having got through about sixteen pages a month. – You are probably right in nabali, but the genitive case is rather in my favour, though I fully admit the uncertainty of the case endings. I fear mount Meru is too far East to stand for any place in media. N^o 2 in pl 16 is merely a lesson in spelling and pronunciation, so far as l.5. Then comes mà annitu <si?> ninsa, which I do not at all understand, but which may imply “this is the advise and address” followed by so-and-so king of Assyria &c.” line 11 will be “and thou powerful lady mistress of the house of Assurbanipul &c &c

I can hardly ever venture on the reading of the proper names

I am writing this at 11 p.m. and this must be my excuse for mixing up of subject: the night is my favourite time for working, but I having been reading some tiresome proofs of the concluding bit of the letter M being corrections, requiring much close attention

I remain My dear Sir Yours faithfully

Edwin Norris

H Fox Talbot Esq

&c &c &c