56 THEOPHILUS G. PINCHES, ESQ., LL.D., M.R.A.S. 



years B.C., or perhaps earlier. The inscriptions published by the British 

 Museum lately are in the Akkadian language and have no Semitic 

 translation at all. The probability therefore is, that they are very 

 ancient indeed, and the earliest version of these hymns being in the 

 Akkadian language, it is likely that they originated with those 

 people. (I use the word Akkadian, but perhaps I should say 

 Sumerian.) 



I am much obliged to Mr. Tuckwell for his kind remarks. I do 

 not think there is anything to answer there. 



The vote of thanks having been put and carried unanimously, the 

 meeting adjourned. 



Note upon the non-Semitic (bilingual) story of the 

 Creation. (See pp. 33 and 38.) 

 This text is treated of in Section YITI. of this paper. The lines 

 mentioned by Mr. Boscawen, " sixteen, seventeen and possibly 

 nineteen," refer to " the glorious city," the seat of the joy of the 

 gods' hearts, which Merodach had proclaimed as supreme; and 

 speak of this deity binding together a foundation before the waters, 

 in order that the gods might have a dwelling which should satisfy 

 their hearts — " a seat of joy of heart," as the original text says. 

 These lines, however, seem to me to belong so closely to the context 

 that their elimination would impair the sense ; and I am therefore 

 unable to follow him in his argument, however much I should like 

 to do so. 



