British Museum
August 15/71
My dear Sir
I have the pleasure of sending you a copy in ordinary Assyrian Characters, of the tablet you wanted – I trust you may find it of use in your studies – I hope Harrisons have sent you the 32 pages of Assurpanipal<1>
Yours respectfully
George Smith
H. Fox Talbot Esq
[long cuneiform text, numbered and with comments in Talbot’s hand]
100) The army of the King reached Egypt
101) bel (ya)
102) who tried to desert & return to Assyria
103) let the king send him to death or crucify him. cf. ushali
104) soldiers five? or my?
105) iltappar adu I send themselves, Assur 197 asbur adu. altapras-sur if altapra. cf. 189
106) hath sent ma no news (diemu) And. assur 189.249. 298 One fugitive came to my camp.
107) my soldiers (wishd) to return (desert fly) to Assyria. viz. on acct of that Eclipse
108)Ki asha, most criminally. [Capafzop?] 12 asa offence crime sin.
109) ullu letter?
Notes:
1. Harrison was a printer and WHFT was assisting in editing the text for Smith's History of Assurbanipal, translated from the cuneiform inscriptions (London: Williams & Norgate, 1871). WHFT did receive the 32 pages - see Doc. No: 09796.