Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-07
ANCIENT RECORDS AND THE BIBLE.

Ever slnce the hierogyphics of Egypt were deci-
phered by Champolion, there has been a strong de.
sire to read the records found amid the ruins OF the
Eas, and which evidently reach back to the times of
the Old Testament, and commonly interpreted,
sustain the sacred books. This desire has been gra
fled more aud more of late years, by the discoveries
Of Layard and others in the ruins Of ancient Assy
| ria. But there felt little doubt whether the
strong desire to read these ancient records i'm
pressed on bricks and marble, as to make them sup.
port the Scriptures did not tempt the interpreters 10
| hazard much conjecture. There was some doubt
whether indeed hs true key to these ancient records
had certainly been found In order to test this ques
ton, the cxpedient was adopted which is detailed be.
| low from the London dMcnGuni. The test is salts.
factory, and the results establish beyond all doubt,
that the key to these ancient records has been found.
i Wig.
good faith of Assyran decpherers should be subject.
cd to sort of cLpertmentum crucs; and the sugges.
ton has been now carried out in manner which, 30
far at any rate the British public are concerned
ought TO act the question definitely at rest From
| amongst the Cuneiform, records, which are being
edited and published by Sir Henry Rawlnson at the
| expense OF the Government H long inscription of
nearly l,D0o lines selected for trial. This inscrip.
ton had the advanage in the first place, OF being
perfect throughout Ii further treated of great va
variety of matters embracing indeed almost every
subject OF either public or private interest relating to
the King Tiglah Pileser l., tabout b. G. l2D0j TO
whom it belonged; and it calculated to tax to the
utmost the powers Of independent decpherers Three
of the photographic copies were accordingly placed in
the hands. respectively OF Sir IIepry Rawlinson in
London; of DR.. Hncks, in Ireland, and Of Mr.. Fox
Talbot, Of Laycock Abbey; and the gentlemen were
invited to send in their transations by certain day.
each under sealed enveop, which should be opened
by q committee in London, named for the purpose
DR.. Oppert of Paris, also, who has made some pro-
gress in the study OF inscriptions, was admitted sub
s-Iucn;ly, at his own request TO join in the trial.
jury was then enpannel!ed of scholars. whose
it was thought could command general respect The
Dean of 81. Paul's consented 10 act as chairman !;
and the committee to be formed of DR.. Whewell,
Mr.. Grote, and Reverend Mr.. Cureion, Sir Gard
Eer Wilkinson, and Prof H. III. Wilson. Their
functions TO open the envelopes on an appointed
day. and to compare the ransations with each other
not with view, however, of testing or deciding on
the merits of the respective ransations, which,
mere question of individual Skill was of subordinate
interest, but iu order to satisfy themselves Of the
agreement otherwise, Of the Independent versions
aud 10 be thus in position to give critical opinion
on the validity Of the system of Interpretation. II
the translaOns were altogether discrepant it would
be evident that the decipherers must employ differ
en methods of Interpretation, and that one only OF
such methods could be right; whereas, the results
were IDENTICAL or nearly Identical, there would be the
strongest for believing in the correctness Of the
sysem OF Interpretation and in the truth OF the trans
lations because il would be against oil calculation
that three or four independent euquirers could posi-
bly, read and understand long inscription of 1000
lines in tile same way; unless they were work.
ing in the right path. The inquest, as we may
call it, was held on Wednesday, at the Rooms
of the Royal Asiatic Society, in New Burlington
street Dean Minan presided, and DR.. Whewell,
| Mr. Grote aud Sir Gardener Wilkinson were in
| nttendance-but Mr.. Curetou and Professor Wilson
were uuavoidably absent. The sealed envelopes
were opened apd the four versions were examined
aud compared, the result being as We are informed,
that the TRANSACTIONS of Sir Henry Rawlinsou, of Dr.
Hincks aud of Mr.. Fox Talbot were found to be
identical in sense and very generally in words also,
whist it appeared to be merely owing to DR.. Op'
perts very imperfect acquaintance with the English
language that difficulty found in bringing bis
version into dnison with the others. 1t may be as
we'll to state at the same time that Sir Henry Raw
nsop's was tho only version which proceeded con.
tipuously from the beginning 20 the end Of the in
scription encounterug all difficulties aud giving the
meaning, if not the literal rendering Of every sen
tence of the whole ifiy.ive long paragraphs. DR..
IInck's envelope merely contained specimen trans.
ations of different portions of tine inscription, war,
of time having prevented him from completing the
whole while Mr. Fox lalbot's version discreetly left
the obscure passages blank. 1t should be added that
considerations in the Roman character accompanied
the transnions that any scholar tolerably versed
in the Semitic tongues, but without any acquaintance
with the Cuneiform character, might himself judge ol
the correctness of the translsons by mere exani-
nation of the text"