320 M. G. MASPEEO 



The Chairman (the Eev. W. Wright, D.D.). — I am sure we all acknow- 

 ledge the debt of gratitude due to M. Maspero for his most valuable 

 paper, and at the same time desire to accord our thanks to the Rev. H. G. 

 Tomkins for his able translation, and the obligation we are under to the 

 reader. I now call upon the honorary secretary to read the communications 

 received from those unable to be present. 



Captain Francis Petrie said : Letters have been received expressing 

 regret at being unable to be present from the Right Honourable Sir H. A. 

 Layard, Sir Henry Baikly, K.O.B. ; Sir G. Grove ; Sir Charles Warren, 

 G.C.M.G. ; Mr. E. A. W. Budge, of the British Museum ; Mr. Robert 

 Cast, and the Rev. A. li^dersheim, D.D. ; most of these specially refer to 

 the great value of M. Maspero's paper. 



The translator of the paper also writes :— 



"Park Lodge, Weston-super-Mare, Aiiril 30, 188G. 



" In tran.slating for the Institute Professor Maspero's very valuable paj.:cr, 

 1 have adopted the more usual English manner of spelling the geographical 

 names and terms, instead of the French equivalents. 



•' I am very sorry I cannot be present to join personally in the discussion. 



'• It is by bringing the special learning of the accomplished Egyptologist and 

 historian to bear on the results of the survey that we can slowly gain the 

 trustworthy knowledge we desire. 



" I have not had time to study the Galilean part of the lists of Thothmes 

 Avith the care that I have bestowed on the portion which gives us the names 

 of towns in Northern Syria. 



" But it is clear that M. Maspero has set us far in advance of the identi- 

 fications proposed by the lamented Mariette ; and, having foUov.-ed step by 

 step his partial suggestions in the Egyptian ZciUchrift and elsewhere, I now 

 hail with great pleasure the grouping of this more extended treatment of the 

 Galilean district. 



" Only those who have been accustomed to the intricacies and tentative 

 progress of this kind of work can do justice to the results before us, or share 

 the pleasure that they aftbrd The student who would set these lists of 

 tributary places in the light of history should compare the paper which M. 

 Maspero has so courteously contributed with the fourth edition (lately 

 published) of his adn)irable Histoire Ancicnuc des Pevplcs lU POrient. 

 (Paris : Hachette & Cie. 1886.) 



" In the hope of soon studying with care and in detail these topographical 

 groups as they fall into their places in the whole geography of Palestine 

 and 6yria, I will only now testify the gratitude which England owes to the 

 generous spirit displayed by the learned Director - General of Egyptian 

 Archicology, who welcomes the labours of authorised explorers in connexion 

 with our English Committee, and is equally earnest in doing justice to the 

 achievements of our great survey of Palestine. 



" Ever yours, very sincerely, 



" Henry George Tomkins, 



" Captain Francis Petrie, 



" Hon. Sec, Victoria Institute.' 



