168 BOARD OP REGENTS. 



may deem fit, as to his experiments ; and to reply to the memorialists stating the 

 reasons why the Regents do not consider themselves at liberty to make any appropri- 

 ation from the Smithsonian fund for the purpose mentioned in the communication. 



Several communications received by the Secretary from David P. 

 Holton, were read and referred to the Executive Committee. 

 The following letters, also, were presented by the Secretary : 



[Translation.] 



Berlin, November 24, 1860. 



Sir : I have received the last invoice of publications, which through your kindness 

 has been presented to me by your great and liberal institution. The grammar and 

 dictionary of the Yoruba language, by Mr. Bowen, have especially interested me. 



Expressing my thanks to the honorable directors, I have the pleasure to send some 

 of my latest publications, with the request that they be placed in the Smithsonian 

 Library. They are the following : 



1. Two volumes of my " Konigsbuch," containing the chronological restitution of 

 the Egyptian dynasties of Manethon, and the collection of the hieroglyphical names 

 of all the kings ; being, as it were, a supplement to the great work " On the Monu- 

 ments of Egypt and Ethiopia," prepared by myself at the expense of the State, a 

 copy of which the King, at my suggestion, has presented to the Smithsonian Library. 

 Of this you have lately received the last series of plates, and the descriptive text will 

 be sent as soon as I can finish it. 



2. A dissertation, read at our Academy of Sciences, on the " Extent of the Egyp- 

 tian History after Manethon." 



3. Another similar one on several points of " Chronology." 



4. A volume of thirty-seven plates, representing the pictures executed, under my 

 direction, upon the walls of the Egyptian museum, in Berlin. 



To these I add some pamphlets relating to the introduction of a general linguistic 

 or standard alphabet for expressing foreign languages, which have either not been 

 written at all or not in European characters. They are, for the present : 



5. An English copy of the pamphlet I have published on the standard alphabet. 



6. A German copy of the same. 



7. Translation, by Mr. Lechler, of the Gospel of St. Matthew into Chinese, in the 

 characters of the standard alphabet. 



8. Translation, by myself, of the Gospel of St. Mark, into the Nubian language ; 

 printed in types of the standard alphabet. This forms part of a book which also con- 

 tains the grammar and dictionary of the Nubian and several other similar languages, 

 the printing of which is not yet finished. 



-The two copies of the standard alphabet are of the first edition. We are just now 

 printing the second, with some slight alterations and a much more complete collection 

 of alphabets. I shall send it in time, and would not, at present, have transmitted the 

 first edition, the small number of copies of which has actually been withdrawn, if it 

 were not of special interest for a library to follow up the gradual development of a 

 subject of general importance. 



You will see from the pamphlet that most of the missionary societies have decided 

 to introduce the alphabet, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 

 sions included, and that the number of books printed in these characters is rapidly 

 augmenting. I know of sixty or more. I do not know whether you have any op- 

 portunity of exercising an influence among the savans of your country in favor of 

 the adoption of the standard alphabet. At any rate you will allow me to recommend 

 such a course. Mr. Bowen, from his Yoruba grammar, seems not to have had any 

 knowledge of it ; while Mr. Crouther, his learned predecessor in the grammar of this 

 language, has already adopted it in his later publications ; and Mr. L. Grout, also of 

 the American Board, has made use of and has earnestly recommended it in his excel- 

 lent grammar of the Zulu-Katfir. 



I should feel very grateful, if you will let me know whether there has been any 

 attention given to this question with you, and if you would communicate tome what- 

 ever may relate to the subject. The original languages of America will bo found 

 transcribed in much greater number in the second edition of the standard alphabet ; 

 and, if you know of any scholar who makes the study of these languages his specialty, 

 and who could give me instructions as to the exact pronunciation of the letters of 

 some of them, I would be much obliged if you would make me acquainted with him. 



