144 MR. BOSCAWEN ON THE MIGRATION OF ABRAM. 



two things have occurred which might have caused some slight alterations in 

 what I have written. With regard to Professor Sayce's remarks on chrono- 

 logical points, you all know that these are troublesome questions, and I am 

 inclined to place more dependence on the evidence of the monuments than on 

 that of the Greek writers to whom he appeals. The subject is one on which 

 our knowledge is growing day by day, and very often a statement or discovery 

 by a brother Assyriologist upsets a theory we may have been working out for 

 years. Assyriology is not a full-grown science as yet, though it is continually 

 growing in importance, and one can hardly take up a commentary or any 

 work on Biblical matters which does not make use of the work Assyriologists 

 have spent their lives in producing. I do not doubt that there are many 

 things in my paper which will have to be altered ; for I do not think that 

 any one can at the present time write a paper on Assyriology that will be 

 a standard work for more than a few years. The question of further excava- 

 tions, which has been touched upon by several speakers, is a most important 

 one. In regard to matters bearing on the early days of Chaldean and 

 Jewish history, the excavations already made have far exceeded in their 

 results anything we could ever have expected ; but there are still many 

 buried cities closely connected with early Biblical history, still hidden 

 under mounds that have comparatively been but scratched. Some of 

 these cities are of the greatest antiquity and importance, and I hope the 

 day is not far distant when the spade may rescue treasures of even greater 

 value than those Mr. Eassam has obtained from the city of Sippara. I 

 have urged, in the name of this Society, the question of proceeding with 

 these investigations as one that ought not to be allowed to drop, and I 

 venture to think that we shall yet be able to stir people's minds to a due 

 sense of the importance of such a work. I must thank the meeting 

 for the way iu which my paper has been received, and I have also 

 to thank those who have spoken for the attention they have paid to it 

 before coming here to-night. The subject is one on which we may differ 

 to some extent, but all will agree as to the importance of the proof of the 

 historical character of the Migration of Abram from Chaldea ; therefore, I 

 heartily thank those who do not entirely concur with me for the interest 

 they have shown in the matters discussed. In rejDly to a question put to 

 me with regard to the origin of the Hebrew language, I must leave that 

 to those who have studied the connexions of the Semitic and other 

 languages more closely than I have. I am afraid that Mr. Proctor, like 

 some others, has elaborate theories which often are found to run directly 

 in the face of monumental evidence. We cannot connect the Pyramids 

 with the time of Abram, for long before he left Chaldea these towered 

 their heads over Egypt. 



The meeting was then adjourned. 



Note. — Professor Sayce writes to say that he has been slightly mis- 

 understood (p. 140) ; he did not identify Sargani and Serug, but thinks 

 their common origin will be recognised by every Semitic scholar. He adds, 

 in reply to another remark, that there are four ways iu which Sargon could 

 have been written. — Ed. 



