As far as my own position is concerned, I do not feel called upon to make any changes from the statements found in chapter i., even after reading Weissbach's _Die Sumerische Frage_ (Leipzig, 1898),--the latest contribution to the subject, which is valuable as a history of the controversy, but offers little that is new.

Delitzsch's name must now be removed from the list of those who accept Halevy's thesis; but, on the other hand, Halevy has gained a strong ally in F.Thureau-Dangin, whose _special_ studies in the old Babylonian inscriptions lend great weight to his utterances on the origin of the cuneiform script.

Dr.Alfred Jeremias, of Leipzig, is likewise to be added to the adherents of Halevy.

The Sumero-Akkadian controversy is not yet settled, and meanwhile it is well to bear in mind that not _every_ Assyriologist is qualified to pronounce an opinion on the subject.

A special study is required, and but few Assyriologists have made such a study.