402 PLEASANT WAYS IN SCIENCE. 



1500 or 2000 years, in Assyria, had not been more than 

 once copied during the interval in Babylonia. " Search in 

 Babylonia," says Mr. Smith, " would no doubt yield earlier 

 copies of all these works, but that search has not yet been 

 instituted, and for the present we have to be contented with 

 our Assyrian copies. Looking, however, at the world-wide 

 interest of the subjects, and at the important evidence which 

 perfect copies of these works would undoubtedly give, there 

 can be no doubt," Mr. Smith adds, "that the subject of 

 further search and discovery will not slumber, and that all as 

 yet known will one day be superseded by newer texts and 

 fuller and more perfect light" 



Printed 1>y P.ALLANTYNK, HANSON & Co. 

 Edinburgh &* London 



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