Foreign Office
24 Feb 1865
Dr Sir
I have made on the other side a copy of the little Inscription, I cannot say that I understand it all, You may be more successful.
Thanks for your paper which I have run through, and must say that I think your identification probable; it is at all events very ingenious and curious.
My dictionary is copied out fair to the end of k: but I am more and more dissatisfied with it, as I have so many words uncertain. As I give all the rapprochements that I find, it will be useful perhaps for a more lucky guesser.
The 2d volume is all printed, and only wants for a Table of Contents, which is to be description.
I am dear Sir Yours faithfully
Edwin Norris
H Fox Talbot E
&c &c
[notes added to bottom of both pages, beginning after the cuneiform lines, and verso of a page, in Talbot’s hand, in pencil]
K)? error for shat? no see note to l.12
N) thou shalt not speak as thy ancestors never spoke. (100)
O)alik inni, part of the name. Come to me! yes.
100) Sam? for Sha ma, id quod, that wch
101)not write to me. 108) not say to me.
102) baritu (father) u darat-sa, & his wife – Yes –
103) this god Tsir is named on tablet, as Uduk bit khire[?], spirit of hearsu[?]. Tsir-enirat, Tsir etarat, Tsir has heard me ęçň
104) rabat, Eldest daughter. Exoratus fuit. Sch. like Ismi Bel.
105)marat. Lady? mar. dominus – marat daughter. dannat eldest.
106) proby dannat, great –
107) atti thou? or grandmother? fem. of alta. of father. 108 over
108) “Thou art marat dannat the great Lady?” name of the Queen?.
Atti marat dannat, may h. bn the first words of some prayer to Ishtar. good
Norris treats of this line p. 273
[envelope - annotated in ink by WHFT:] Norris letter to the Princess.
H. Fox Talbot Esq.
58 Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh.