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two. The values of many characters were thus determined ; those of 

 others were ascertained by comparing different modes of writing the 

 same words in the inscriptions which commence with the same for- 

 mula ; and, finally, when the equivalence of two sets of characters, 

 lapidary and cursive, was ascertained, more values were determined 

 by comparing the proper names in the great inscription with their 

 representatives in the other languages. By such means Dr. Hincks 

 has constructed an alphabet, or syllabary, of the third Persepolitan 

 writing, containing the values of ninety-five characters, together 

 with the corresponding lapidary characters ; and he has given a 

 series of numbers from the rock inscription at Van, exhibiting the 

 mode of expressing numerals in cuneatic characters. 



Before I take leave of this subject, one more remark is necessary. 

 It has been assumed by every writer who has hitherto engaged in 

 the investigation of the cuneiform inscriptions, that the writing of 

 the second and third kinds (as well as that of the first) is alpha- 

 betical. This fundamental position, however, has been recently 

 assailed by Dr. Wall, in a very able critical paper read before the 

 Academy ; and arguments of much weight have been adduced to 

 distinguish the principle of these two kinds of cuneiform writing 

 from that of the first, and to prove them to be ideagraphic. It is 

 not my duty (even if I were competent to the task) to offer any 

 opinion upon the question thus raised. I have only to observe that 

 what has been said above, respecting the progress recently made in 

 deciphering these two kinds of writing, is based upon the ordinary 

 assumption, and must be received with the reserve which necessa- 

 rily attaches to a controverted position. 



With Mr. O'Donovan's archaeological labours I regret to say that 

 I possess no direct acquaintance ; and, accordingly, in the present 

 notice of them, I am compelled to lean upon the friendly aid of the 

 Secretary of the Academy, who is himself a large contributor to the 

 same department of literature. 



Mr. O'Donovan's vast acquirements connected with Irish ar- 

 chaeology may be traced, in a great measure, to his connexion 

 with the Ordnance Survey. In the course of the duties which this 

 connexion imposed upon him, he visited every part of Ireland for 

 the purpose of tracing the ancient names of places, and of collect- 



