IGO 
the incutli; and on tahing oft’ the cover we found therein two terra cotta 
inscribed cylinders and a stone tablet, minutely inscribed, with a bas-relief 
on one side of it. These relics have been found to be the most important 
records of the oldest city in the world, known to the Greeks by the name of 
Sippara, and mentioned in the Bible as “ Sepharvaim” (2 Kings, viii. 17, and 
xviii. 84, &c.). The ancient historians tell us that this city was founded by 
Noah (who is called Xisuthrus) after the Deluge ; and according to tradition 
it was here that Noah buried the antediluvian records. (Applause.) Soon 
after I had discovered this new city, I had to come home ; but I left some 
workmen under trustworthy overseers to continue the explorations at that 
place ; and I have been informed, since, that they have uncovered some 
more rooms, in one of which they found a channel built with bricks, inside 
which were buried nearly ten thousand tablets, some whole and some 
broken. These, I hope, will soon reach London. (Applause.) We 
cannot, of course, say, as yet, what they contain, but it is quite pos- 
sible that they may be found to record something of even greater value 
than anything of the kind that has hitherto been discovered in the course 
of our researches. I shall be happy to give you further information con- 
cerning this very interesting discovery after I go out and return again. I 
hope to be able to go out to Mesopotamia after another month, and then I 
trust I shall be able to make a still further advance upon what has already 
been brought to light. (Applause.) 
Mr. W. Griffith. — The mention of the word recalls a passage in the old 
Testament in which the decree of Cyrus for the restoration of the Jews was 
said to have been discovered in a coflFer or earthen vessel (Achmetha) by 
Darius. 
Mr. Rassam. — Yes, in Ezra. 
The Rev. H. G. Tomkins. — With regard to the words “ Bath Sheba ” and 
Beer Sheba,” I think Mr. Rassam has not apprehended my point. The 
word “ Sheba” means “ Seven,” and the ‘‘ oath ” was celebrated by burning 
seven victims, or the cutting of a victim into seven parts ; so that the word 
“ seven ” underlies the oath. My point was that Sheba was a numerical 
symbol of a god ; but before it came to mean an oath it meant seven — seven 
being the numerical symbol of a god. 
Rev. H. A. Stern, D.D. — It affords me great satisfaction to follow Mr. 
Rassam. We have followed each other in many places, that were not very 
pleasant, but I am delighted to do so on the present occasion. Now, as 
regards the subject before us this evening, no one who reads the Bible care- 
fully can doubt that many of the most distinguished names were bound up 
with important tribal distinctions, with certain localities, and with the 
worship of the true, and the worship of false gods. Thus the progenitor of 
the Jewish people is designated Abram the Hebrew.” In Egypt, Joseph 
is continually called by that name. Now, the family of Abram at that 
early period could not have won a reputation that rendered their nationality 
familiar in a land considerably removed from Egypt. Ihr% from whence the 
