z 
 
 56 
 
 L58a 
 
 1820 
 
 ■ IRT OF WRITING 
 
 WITH TllK 
 
 RAPIOITY OF SPEECH ; 
 
 A SYSTEM 
 
 SHORT HAND, 
 
 MADE L.^j; OF BY ALL THE 
 
 FIFTH EDITION 
 
^ 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 ^ ■ ■ 
 
 H EXPORT BOOKSEU 
 32. GAY ST RE 
 rXBATH 
 
■ — » 
 
 V 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 ART OF WRITING 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 RAPIDITY OF SPEECH; 
 
 A SYSTEM 
 
 OF 
 
 SHORT-HAND, 
 
 MADE USE OF BY ALL THE 
 
 FIFTH EDITION. 
 
 He that has Virgo for his natal sign. 
 
 Shall ia the art of writing swiftly shine ; 
 
 His characters shall quick dispatch afford. 
 
 And evry letter represent a word ; 
 
 Short lines express whole speeches that are long. 
 
 And his Jleet pen outrun the speaker's tongue. 
 
 flKaiutjt^tfr : 
 
 PRINTED FJR THE AUTHOr, 
 
 BY J. CLARKE, 12, MARKET-PLACE. 
 
[iS^nttrelr at ^tationtts' J^alL] 
 

 DEDICATION. 
 
 THIS small hut comprehensive Treatise 
 
 upon the art of Short-Hand is respect- 
 
 S Julfy dedicated to the Gentlemen of the 
 
 ^ Law, and of the other liberal professions 
 
 of the British Empire, 
 I By 
 
 "^ Their obedient, 
 
 d Humble Servant, 
 
 THEAUTHOU. 
 
 Saturday, 24lh June. 
 H H. 87. 5 bf 10, P.M. 
 
 449570 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/artofwritingwithOOIewiiala 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE object of a Preface, like the 
 painter's skill, that represents upon his 
 canvas, in one view, the leading features 
 of the natural landscape, is, to dispose 
 into one prominent groupe the principal 
 materials which constitute the fabric of a 
 work to be presented to the Public, and 
 serve as a guide to the reader, when he 
 opens the volume, to enter upon a dis- 
 cussion of the merits or demerits of the 
 author. 
 
 But as simplicity, the choice hand- 
 maid of nature, is the most intelligible 
 
Tl PREPACK. 
 
 instructress of the sciences, the present 
 system of Stenography is concise yet con« 
 spicuous. Like the speculum, whose radi- 
 ant surface exhibits faithfully the images 
 of surrounding objects, it almost by per- 
 ception exposes to the casual observer the 
 simplicity of the author's combinations, 
 and instructs him without study in the 
 long-sought-for desiderata of the art. 
 
 This is the author's honest apology for 
 not having increased, by a diffuse Preface, 
 the expence of his little but comprehensive 
 Treatise. He seeks only the approbation, 
 of men of science ; and he is confident, 
 that the perusal of his volume will insure 
 him this proud gratification. He flatters 
 himself they will perceive in its narrow 
 though shining sphere (notwithstanding 
 the various declarations of his brother 
 authors, who, like Hercules, seem to have 
 
PREFACE. VII 
 
 fixed pillars to their discoveries) " intelli- 
 gible matter' ravisiied, without the aid of 
 plumes, from beyond the narrow kens of 
 their boasted performances. 
 
 The author readily acknowledges (and 
 he does so with peculiar pleasure) he is 
 much indebted to preceding w riters,for the 
 great perfection to which he has brought 
 the Stenographic art. He had seen their 
 labours ; and that beacon has been a light 
 to warn him of many fatal errors which 
 have greatly detracted from the merit of 
 the best performances on the subject. 
 The plan which he has adopted is pecu- 
 liar to himself, and has been universally 
 attended with the most brilliant success. 
 The selection and arrangement of his al pha- 
 betical characters, — the invention of the 
 defective sign, that unerring index of de- 
 cypheration, — and his superior method of 
 
Till PREFACE. 
 
 representing the prepositions and termina- 
 tions, the author presumes, are important 
 impiovements in this useful science, and 
 have rendered his introduction to the 
 theory and practice of Stenography as easy 
 and familiar as that of any other branch of 
 human learning. 
 

 INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 AND 
 
 atibice to tf)t ^tutrent 
 
 There are few studies, perhaps, more fascinat- 
 ing than that of Short-Hand, — more useful to 
 the man of business, — or more worthy the attain- 
 ment of every person of capacity and erudition. — 
 In the course of the two last centuries, nearly an 
 hundred authors have written on this subject ; but 
 the generality of their systems are remarkable only 
 for their imperfections. And though it is possible 
 that a few of these schemes may have been made 
 to answer in some degree, by their inventors, and 
 a few other persons of uncommon abilities and ap- 
 plication, yet, amongst the various methods that 
 have been proposed, and the different plans that 
 
10 
 
 have been adopted by individuals, only one has 
 yet appeared fortunate enough to arrest the atten- 
 tion of the public, to be extensively practised, and 
 obtain general approbation.* 
 
 If we were to trace the history of Short-Hand 
 writing, from the invention of the first Stenogra- 
 
 * The system to which we allude was published in 
 15U5, l>y James Henry Lewis, and is entitled '* Tlie 
 Ready Writer ; or, Ne Plus Ultra of Short-Hand." 
 There, as far as human ingenuity is capable, every 
 tiling is rendered perfectly easy ; for nothing is left 
 unexplained, which could possibly raise a doubt, or 
 discourage the irresolute and less diligent. That sys- 
 tem neither requires the memory to be burthened, nor 
 tile judgment to be perplexed ; so that we can from 
 experience assert, that any person who can but write 
 the common long-hand, may learn it with the utmost 
 facility. The rules are obvious, easy to \>e retained, 
 and so j)erfectly distinct, that a writer may take one 
 and reject another, at pleasure. The characters are 
 the simplest in nature ; exceedingly distinct from each 
 other when joined ; and the writing is perfectly lineal 
 and beautiful The principles upon which this author 
 proceeds are truly philosophic ; his system is regular, 
 easy to be learned, extremely legible, and capable (in 
 its most perfect state) of almost incredible dispatch. 
 
11 
 
 phic alphabet down to the present time, it would 
 appear that the improvements herein made are not 
 so considerable by far as they are commonly 
 imagined. To evince the truth of this assertion, 
 by examining separately the merits of every per- 
 formance, would here be of no use ; it is amply 
 sufficient for our purpose, that this has already 
 been impartially performed in that ingenious and 
 valuable work, entitled, ''An Historical Account 
 of the Rise and Progress of Stenography.''* By 
 the remarks which that author has made on the 
 various systems, — by a more particular examina- 
 tion of several methods on which he has remarked, 
 and by formerly learning and practising many of 
 them, it appears that most of their authors, either 
 for want of a practical knowledge or through in- 
 
 * That work comprises a great deal of curious and 
 valuable information. It contains the Stenographic 
 alphabets of all the systems ever yet published, with 
 critical remarks on their merits and defects. Many 
 useful observations in this publication have been col- 
 lected from tViat work, and we strongly recommend it 
 to the^perusal of the inquisitive student. 
 
12 
 
 attention, bave handled the subject too superfici- 
 ally ; that others bave displayed a total ignorance 
 both of the theory and practice of the art ; and 
 that no treatise, except " The Ready Writer,^' 
 has yet been set forth in a manner sufficiently sim- 
 pie and captivating to a learner. They are in 
 general too tedious to be practised with the requi- 
 site speed, too encumbering to the memory, and 
 too perplexing to the judgment. Even those sys- 
 tems that are comparatively useful do not contain 
 proper directions for writing, nor are their rules 
 fully adapted to the substratum on which they are 
 raised. 
 
 The most essential properties of Short- Hand 
 are expedition and legibility. Any scheme which 
 does not possess a sufficient degree of the first has 
 no title to the name of Short-Hand; and if the 
 last be wanting, let the method in other respects 
 be what it will, it is good for nothing. 
 
 To produce these indispensable requisites, the 
 alphabetical characters must be formed of such 
 marks as are both simple in themselves, and capa- 
 
13 
 
 ble of producing the most easy and regular com- 
 binations in the formation of words: they should 
 also be sufficiently distinct to preserve an easy le- 
 gibility, however rapidly they may be written. 
 
 The present alphabet, if properly executed, 
 possesses as great a degree of uniformity, rapidity, 
 and legibility, as any such characters are capable 
 of producing; and, by the application of "Short- 
 Hand Orthography" and the " Abbreviating 
 Rules," this system will be found sufficiently ra- 
 pid to enable a writer to copy the discourse of any 
 public speaker ; and a little practice will make it 
 easy enough to read his notes at any distant period 
 with perfect facility. 
 
 As to the precise length of time which may be 
 requisite to make a person master of this art, it is 
 impossible in all cases accurately to determine. — 
 Different persons will certainly take a longer or 
 a shorter time, according to their different capa- 
 cities, and the different degrees of application 
 they may think proper to bestow upon it. But 
 since proficiency in all other arts and sciences re- 
 
14 
 
 quires both time and diligence, it would be highly 
 unreasonable to expect skill i^i Short-Hand to 
 come, as it were, by intuition. Unless the indo- 
 lent apply, how can they expect success in this 
 branch of knowledge, or in any other I In every 
 mechanical art, it is not genius, but persevering 
 industry, which brings things to perfection.* 
 
 The present work is the result of many years' 
 practical experience ; as such it is offered to the 
 public, with the conviction that it will prove a 
 serviceable companion to all who wish to acquire 
 
 * The assistance of a teacher, when it can be obtain- 
 ed, is of great advantage in the study of this art. — 
 Men differ in their genius and perceptions, and every 
 pupil has his own peculiar views and ideas. Difficul- 
 ties present themselves to some minds which never oc- 
 cur to others, and which it is almost impossible to an- 
 ticipate. A master, however, has it in his power to 
 give such minute and personal instructions as cannot 
 fail to produce a beneficial result. He can at once ex- 
 j)lain to the student whatever seems obscure and am- 
 biguous ; can solve his difficulties, correct his mistakes, 
 assist his invention, encourage him in his progress, and 
 lead him on to practical proficiency. 
 
* 
 
 15 
 
 a perfect knowledge of Stenography in an easy 
 and expeditious manner.* It is, however, neces- 
 sary to observe, that the pupil must not attempt 
 too much at first, but should proceed gradually, 
 step by step, in the acquisition of the primary 
 part of the system, or nothing but confusion will 
 ensue. For although the system is sufficiently 
 simple and comprehensible, it requires an adhe- 
 rence to the whole of the minutiae to profit by it 
 efl^ectually : indeed, its very simplicity may be in- 
 jurious to it, by causing the ardent student to pass 
 on too rapidly, to reap prematurely the harvest he 
 is desirous to obtain. As in the matliematics no 
 problem can be demonstrated without understand- 
 ing all the preceding demonstrations, so every ad- 
 vance in this art must be grounded on the full 
 possession of all the antecedent doctrines. 
 
 * T\\t. first edition of this work was published in 1812. 
 
16 
 
 FIRST LESSON. 
 
 THE LETTERS OP THE ALPHABET, AND THEIK 
 SIGNIFICATlOxNS. 
 
 The Short-Hand alphabet consists of the follow- 
 ing letters: — a or e, h, d, forv, gov J, 
 h, k or hard c, I, m, n, o or u, p, 
 q, r, s or soft c, and z, t, w, x, y 
 or i. Each of which has its proper characlei' al- 
 lotted to it, as seen in the First Plate ; and, ac- 
 cording to to their different relative positions, they 
 serve for an alphabet, — for prepositions, — for ter- 
 minations, — and for arithmetical numbers. These 
 characters are to be called by the names of the 
 letters they represent, and to be made of the same 
 size as those in the Table. In forming words, 
 they are to be neatly ^oiwec? together, and must be 
 
FLATE I. 
 
 t^^.ey C^t^^^Z-^^i/i^^ a/^rA^/r^, tsLyn^/^ 
 
 
 
 a/tm^-e^ 
 
 . 
 
 '-'-■■ - ■ 
 
 a/ftiV^ 
 
 J- 
 
 .J'\ 
 
 
 i^y//~ 
 
 </ 
 
 / 
 
 dcmey 
 
 r a^to^f 
 
 \ 
 
 Jw^- ^n.&Tny or- 
 
 / 
 
 j: 
 
 "■* — 
 
 
 
 k^cJ^ 
 
 r 
 
 \ .^Kr^Jfy C4:ru/4^ ca^^^ 
 
 n'n^m^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 c 
 
 ^W,-<5J^ a^lO yte^ 
 
 ./i4^^ \ 
 
 /7^^^ 
 
 ■r^ 
 
 ^mry ^rn^ ^rrui/i^ 
 
 /n^^my 
 
 /n/ 
 
 '^^ 
 
 y/yny u^ty '/^^?^ 
 
 1 
 ■ny^' 
 
 r 
 
 i 
 
 
 r>t/y/A/^ 
 
 • /r- 
 
 ^/ 
 
 aA^y aA// en^r 
 
 o?^ 
 
 *i^C Mfd 
 
 o 
 
 .«^ -^^ a^ 
 
 y^j 
 
 J 
 
 . — 
 
 y6o vV^ y^AnU/ 
 
 /myy 
 
 /rtr 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^(^^ yl4/tf^ i^.^/^ 
 
 a.r^ \ 
 
 a> 
 
 V. 
 
 ^iXceJ/6 ^iJ^ce^^ .eary^^-tu/' ^^yi///^^/e^ 
 
 /U^a^yi/ 
 
 'D 
 
 yu^ y^^ y-ou/ 
 
 
17 
 
 written in the most expeditious manner possible, 
 and without taking the pen off the paper until the 
 word be finished. The letters a or e, and o or u, 
 being only a tittle and a comma, are excepted ; 
 but these are never used unless at the beginning 
 or end of a word. 
 
 With regard to the Stenographic alphabet, it 
 would be tedious and unnecessary to detail the 
 reasons which influenced us in the choice and ap- 
 propriation of each particular mark ; they are either 
 the circle, some segment of the circle, or some of 
 those straight lines by which these segments are 
 subtended : and it is sufficient to observe, that no 
 pains have been spared to adjust them to the ut- 
 most nicety ; such alterations and experiments as 
 were necessary to ascertain the preference of their 
 disposition, have been repeatedly tried; and the 
 author confidently asserts, that his present ar- 
 rangement is not only easy and simple in itself, 
 but is consistent with the general principles 
 of the art, and will be found to stand the test of 
 practice. 
 
18 
 
 Most writers on this art eitlier make their cha- 
 racters too complex, or, if they make them simple, 
 form them so much alike, that they are easily con- 
 founded with each other. In some modern systems, 
 the difference between different characters consists 
 only in one being difine and the other a thick stroke, 
 which distinction writers of Short-Hand have 
 seldom time to make ; not to mention the other 
 similarities between the characters, such as, dif- 
 ferent characters being of the same form but 
 of different sizes, and many other absurdities. 
 While, on the other hand, those who have ren- 
 dered their characters perfectly distinct, have 
 formed them so complex, as to be totally unfit 
 for the expedition requisite to follow the voice 
 of a speaker; they give the learner but little ad- 
 vantage, in point of facility, over the common 
 round-hand. Yet in this art, where the alpha- 
 bet is fundamental to everything else, much de- 
 pends upon the choice of it; and it ought to 
 be composed of characters the most simple 
 that may be, naturally to join together, without 
 coincidence. 
 
19 
 
 The first care of a student should be, to learn 
 the alphabet correctly, (see Plate I.) by making 
 the several characters as familiar to his mind as 
 those of the common alphabet. And here it may 
 be proper to remark, that every one wishing to 
 obtain perfection in Stenography, will find it 
 highly necessary to observe this injunction: for 
 to every reflecting mind it is an obvious fact, 
 that, although our progress at first be slow in the 
 acquirement of science, yet, by making ourselves 
 completely perfect in the rudiments, every impe- 
 diment is hereby removed, and our progress will 
 be easy, pleasant, and certain* 
 
 Great care must be taken, in the beginning, to 
 give to the upright, sloping, and horizontal cha- 
 racters their true direction, to make the angles 
 of them sharp and clean, and the circular and other 
 parts duly proportioned ; for upon this the legi- 
 bility of the writing will materially depend. In 
 order to perfect the learner in the construction of 
 the Short-Hand alphabet, he should write each 
 letter singly for aA^hile, in the same way that boys 
 at school practise the common alphabet ; and the 
 
20 
 
 writer will observe, that a small dot ( . ) is annex- 
 ed to each character, to direct him where he is to 
 
 begin making it. Any difficulty attending' their 
 formation may easily be overcome by repeatedly 
 
 writing them.* 
 
 In this, as in all other systems of Stenography, 
 the letters of the alphabet, and other characters, 
 will each serve (when they are written singly, or 
 stand alone) to represent some word or words, such 
 as occur rOiOsi frequently in the English language*^ 
 And so important are the words we have selected 
 for representation by the alphabetical characters, 
 that they will amount to nearly one third of th» 
 number used in any subject; and when the 
 
 * In order to use this simple character / as advan- 
 tageously as possible, it may represent r when made 
 ■upwards / "as it does d when made downwards / 
 without the least confusion : its junction with the pre- 
 ceding or subsequent character will shew how it is 
 made, whether upwards or downicards. The common 
 r is only used when there is no other consonant to br 
 expressed in the word. 
 
21 
 
 tharacters become familiar to the learner, the words 
 denoted by them may be read with perfect ease. 
 
 Those words which the single characters repre- 
 sent, and also the Tables of Prepositions and Ter- 
 minations, must be learned perfect " as a song." 
 When these are acquired, the foundation of the 
 art is securely laid. In the act of committing 
 them to memory, each student will of course fol- 
 low his own peculiar mode ; but the method which 
 the writer of this adopts on such occasions, is, to 
 commit three words to memory first, then three 
 more, and repeat the six ; afterwards three more, 
 and repeat the nine; and so on. This plan may 
 appear more tedious than necessarj'^ ; but he is sa- 
 tisfied, that with him at least it is the quickest, as 
 it is certainly the surest mode. 
 
 If any word be not immediately recollected, the 
 only inconvenience attending it will be the loss 
 of the advantage to be derived from that brief 
 method of expressing it, as the word must then be 
 written more at length, i. e. spelt by the consonants 
 which compose it. 
 
22 
 
 SECOND LESSON. 
 
 THE JUNCTION OP THE ALPHABETICAL 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 When the learner is perfectly acquainted with 
 the construction and full signification of each of 
 the foregoing characters, he may practise the 
 joining of tliem together, in order to prepare him 
 for writing words; observing, that each character 
 be properly combined with the preceding one. 
 
 As the junction of the characters is the chief 
 embarrassment a learner generally meets with, and 
 as the facility of writing depends entirely upon the 
 freedom of making and joining them; in order to 
 remove this difficulty, we have given a Table (see 
 Plate II.) wherein all the alphabetical characters 
 
FLATE II. 
 
 
 
 \J 
 
 h 
 
 Z/ 
 
 V 
 
 fV 
 
 ^ 
 
 gj 
 
 k£ 
 
 m 
 
 ^ 
 
 n p 
 
 iy^>J^Qy 
 
 q r 
 
 scz 
 
 ^^ 
 
 w 
 
 yi 
 
 ly 
 
 y^ 
 
 > 
 
 '-r 
 
 /7 
 
 ;? 
 
 Y 
 
 o -/ 
 
 / 
 
 V^ />, 
 
 fy 
 
 ^ < 
 
 \ 
 
 ^N 
 
 ^ 
 
 'X 
 
 ^-^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^\ 
 
 K 
 
 ^ 
 
 £/\ 
 
 g3 
 
 V_ 
 
 «L_ 
 
 o^ i_ 
 
 V^ 
 
 2_ 
 
 A 
 
 ^ k- 
 
 ^</" 
 
 >1 
 
 kc 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 >^ 
 
 /Tc^ 
 
 r^vT 
 
 W 
 
 cf 
 
 -y- 
 
 </ 
 
 \ 
 
 ^-c 
 
 r~ 
 
 c 
 
 -^ 
 
 \ 
 
 <x 
 
 m 
 
 ^> 
 
 X 
 
 v> 
 
 ^ 
 
 G~« rv^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 V^ 
 
 (T 
 
 •>> 
 
 n 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 f-^ /^ 
 
 <^ 
 
 v^ 
 
 /^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 (/^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 { 
 
 \ 
 
 -—I 
 
 r^ 
 
 n 
 
 n 
 
 ^ 
 
 nS 
 
 o\ 
 
 v^ 
 
 >k 
 
 V-. 
 
 v-^ 
 
 KX 
 
 c/^ 
 
 ^/ 
 
 >^ 
 
 V 
 
 c/ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 / 
 
 Vy 
 
 ^ 
 
 >- 
 
 scz 
 
 J 
 
 / 
 
 V 
 
 /^ 
 
 x^ 
 
 V^ 
 
 6^ 
 
 9 
 
 ^ 
 
 L 
 
 V_.J^ 
 
 W 
 
 ^. 
 
 C 
 
 -v 
 
 ^\- 
 
 L--\^ ^ 
 
 yi 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^-s' 
 
 r-Z/ 
 
 ny i. 
 
 /^ 
 
 s 
 
 0/ 
 
 '^ 
 
 i. 
 
 O/ 
 
 xe^ 
 
 xO 
 
 
23 
 
 are combined together in the easiest and most 
 natural manner : this will be found of more real 
 advantage to a learner than a multiplicity of speci- 
 mens would have been ; for whenever he is at a 
 loss how to join any of the characters, he may be 
 instantly informed by having recourse to this 
 Table. 
 
 The number of specimens which some authors 
 of Short-Hand consider a recommendation, are 
 only for the purpose of shewing the different com- 
 binations. If a person wishes to find any particu- 
 lar joining, much time and trouble must be 
 bestowed before he can be satisfied in his inquiry ; 
 but by this Table the combination of any two let- 
 ters may instantly be found. 
 
 The method of joining the Short-Hand charac- 
 ters does not differ from that of common writing: 
 where the first character ends, the second is to be 
 commenced, without taking the pen off the paper ; 
 and where the second ends, the third is to be com- 
 menced in the same manner; and so on to the end 
 of tlie word. 
 
24 
 
 The whole of this Table will be easily under- 
 stood by the learner, if the Stenographic alphabet 
 be well impressed upon his mind beforehand; if 
 not, the author recommends him, before he enters 
 on the present pursuit, to re-peruse his directions 
 on the alphabet. 
 
 A ready recollection of the characters is essen- 
 tial : a mere superficial knowledge of them is worse 
 than useless ! So it is with the multiplication table. 
 A child, or an adult, may easily understand the 
 principles of it, — that it is, in fact, nothing but 
 addition in another form ; but, for use, this would 
 be of little service. It is necessary, in applying 
 it, that the arithmetician should have no pause, no 
 calculation to effect, but at once give the correct 
 answer; or business would be considerably re- 
 tarded. 
 
 The common alphabetical letters placed at the 
 top and left-hand squares of the Table will direct 
 the learner to the characters sought for. Suppose, 
 for instance, he wished to find n and /> joined to- 
 gether; let him look for the ^r«^ of those letters 
 
25 
 
 in the alphabet along the top of the table, and for 
 the other in the alphabet on the left-hand side ; 
 and in the square space at the angle of meeting he 
 will find the two letters np properly united: and 
 in like manner the proper combination of any two 
 letters may be discovered. 
 
 The learner may also exercise himself by join- 
 ing all the alphabetical characters together in 
 one continued line, without taking off the pen, 
 as under: — 
 
 Alphabet joined forwards 
 Alphabet joined backwards 
 
 In the practice of Short- Hand, the characters 
 may be made either large or small, as the writer 
 pleases ,• but the smaller the writing, so that the 
 letters are proportionable in size, the more expe- 
 ditious and easy it will be, and so much the more 
 beautiful will the writing appear. At first, how- 
 ever, it will be adviseable for the student to prac- 
 tise them considerably larger than the engraved 
 
26 
 
 specimens, and decrease their size as he becomes 
 familiar with them, until at last they occupy as 
 small a space as is consistent with perspicuity. 
 
 In writing the characters contained in the Table, 
 and indeed in every thing he writes, the Steno- 
 grapher must observe, that the practice of making 
 alternate fine and strong strokes (as in common 
 writing) is to be avoided in Short-Hand : the pres- 
 sure of the pen on the paper should be slight and 
 uniform. 
 
27 
 
 THIRD LESSON. 
 
 THE DOUBLE AND TREBLE CONSONANT 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 Besides the characters appropriated to denote 
 the consonants singly, there are others to express 
 those double and treble consonants that often oc- 
 cur. These characters, being quite different from 
 the single letters which signify them separately, 
 have the advantage of being not only as short and 
 easily written, but are much more legible ; because 
 there is no danger of reading a vowel between 
 the single letters, whicli must often happen when 
 the initial characters are made up of them. — 
 These characters are always to be used when the 
 letters which they represent come either together, 
 or are only separated by one or more vowels. — 
 
28 
 
 For instance, the word stream is to be commenced 
 by the character for str q_ and then the letter 
 IM o is to be added to complete it, thus (2^-n 
 The word master, in the same manner, is written 
 with the letter m r^ and the character for str Q^ 
 joined to it, thus ''"n2_ 
 
 When these characters stand alone, they will 
 each of them serve (like those of the alphabet) to 
 represent some small words of frequent occur- 
 rence; and those annexed to them in the Table 
 are the most proper for that purpose. 
 
 Let the student who is determined not to stop 
 short of the ultimate excellence of this art, make 
 himself perfectly acquainted with this lesson ; — 
 he will see its utility as to his ease and conveni- 
 ence, when following a rapid speaker, and great 
 dispatch is required. 
 
FJLATE m. 
 
 ■ t^A^yS^o^^'^-tey oy'n^ <u^t^^^y^^o^^^ ! 
 
 
 M 
 
 y? 
 
 y6€/€.e^z^cy yO^/<}-?t^y y/^e^^u/^ 
 
 c4/ 
 
 J 
 
 ^^ryuR^ ^f^Z4ccA/ ^^f^Ay 
 
 / 
 
 \ 
 
 ^-^l' /cf^ ^/C^ 
 
 y 
 
 ? 
 
 a/a^ a^t/i^ y€f>i^/?t/^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 r- 
 
 ^i/^suyi^^ ^i/^iy^ey ^teau^^y i 
 
 . ^ 
 
 /, 
 
 ^/uc/c^ <*nyi'^?z.^y <^ot^X</y 
 
 ^ 
 
 T 
 
 .,4^ve^//y ^i.e<^y^ ^^lA/^^^x^^ 
 
 . s>^Ar- 
 
 ^ 
 
 .<i^.4:iytey ^JjA^te^y:^ ri>AA^/f^f.^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 9- 
 
 <^^^i/?^t^ ^f/grV^y J^i//^ 
 
 <^^ 
 
 1 
 Q_ 
 
 ^a/>rt^-?zay ,<*^€^n^A/ <^^?*^i>z^^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 y^^L^^^Y^ y^-e^y ^^ne-^zy 
 
 yd/i/r^ 
 
 i 
 
 yZ/f^^yC^' ydn^^^^ ./l^.^^yj^ote^ 
 
29 
 
 FOURTH ]LESSON< 
 
 THE PREPOSITIONS AND TERMINATIONS, OR 
 STENOGRAPHIC CAPITA^^S. 
 
 Th e prepositions and terminations, when selected 
 with judgment, and the characters properly ap- 
 plied, highly contribute to promote both expedi- 
 tion and legibility : two principal obj ects are there- 
 fore necessary to be attended to in their choice 
 and appropriation. First, that they should be so 
 analogically arranged as to enable the writer to 
 commit them quickly to memory, and also to recall 
 them at all times in any order that may be requir- 
 ed, with as little mental exertion as possible. — 
 Secondly, that they should possess the qualities of 
 being readily made subservient to our purpose, in 
 the various combinations to which they may be 
 
30 
 
 applied ; otherwise, the writer will derive but little 
 help from this source of abbreviation. 
 
 In the present instance, they are represented 
 by the alphabetical characters (which, for distinc- 
 tion sake, may be denominated the Stenographic 
 Capitals,) and are joined to the rest of the word, 
 of which they form a part, the prepositions at the 
 beginning, and the terminations at the end, as their 
 names imply. 
 
 Usually, the first consonant of the preposition 
 or termination is found to be the most natural ex- 
 pression for it, as being the most regular, and at 
 the same time contributing, generally speaking, 
 to assist the recollection more than any other. 
 
 In order to distinguish those words in which a 
 preposition or termination is made use of, from 
 those that have neither one nor the other, apply 
 the following marks of distinction: — First, when 
 there is both a preposition and a termination in 
 the word, place a dot over that word, thus — j/^ 
 trans-port-ation. Secondly, when there is a jar«- 
 
PLATE nr. 
 
 o(ne/ t^^'^A/^^z^^^ (^^•y^€-u//n/m-97£fy Oj^^efx^rr/ii . 
 
 I 
 / 
 
 u 
 
 cot/ 
 
 a^ ot'^ CrOd 
 
 ftcd^/fz/ cCc*^xr/n/ ^<*^>on/ 
 co7^ corn/ 
 
 M//V ■'(/ny' .4/rt/^ylU .///l/^M' 
 
 \^^it^cr ^Ar^ A^yiy At^ny 
 ^^.^cc^y y^^^comy A^A/^ 
 
 ..'dt^'ftJ -/c'^'nA ^9^/7^1/^ 
 
 iyAe/ ^-M^fnA/?z.d:^<^-n^ oty^g/?t^^'a a/^t>^t^. 
 
 c 
 
 
 /t'tey 
 
 a^Aty 
 
 9' 
 
 x^-/?^/ 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 y. 
 
 lry/<J 
 
 ..^-OtC^ 
 
 yfTia/rveL' ^nte'n^ ^myyvr' 
 o7fy/ e/t/- 
 
 y 
 
 ^-?^^v?/ 
 
 h/ey y^^y /A^J^ ^t-/^ 
 
 .emoyiy a^Aony o^i/yny M^t^/ty 
 
 rm-tAy <i^/A <^/^^ .r^-CU^^ 
 
 .edAy -<s*^ y^^/" /C^^^y ■ 
 
 a-c/^ r^^c/^ ^^cruj o-crzf ■^^u/'/ii 
 
31 
 
 position, but no termination in the word, place a 
 cowima UNDER that word, thus Vf trans-\eT&e. 
 Thirdly, when there is a termination but no pre- 
 position'va. the word, place a dot UN DER that word, 
 thus V^ friend-57«j5. 
 
 The brevity and distinctness with which the 
 prepositions and terminations are marked, must 
 strike every one who compares this system with 
 any other yet invented. They must be learnt 
 perfectly, or nothing but embarrassment will en- 
 sue. Let the learner only acquire a thorough 
 knowledge of this and the three preceding lessons 
 before he attempts any thing farther, and he will 
 be perfectly satisfied with the rapidity of his 
 progress. 
 
32 
 
 FIFTH JLESSONc 
 
 GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING. 
 
 It is much to be wondered at, that most of the 
 systems of Short-Hand, though professedly pub- 
 lished with a view to inform the unexperien6ed, 
 should be so extremely deficient of those easy and 
 familiar examples and explanations, which, by a 
 regoilar progression, would speedily enable a per- 
 son of a slow capacity to obtain a complete know- 
 ledge of the whole scheme. If we duly consider 
 the nature of learning, it must appear self-evident, 
 that a person entirely unacquainted with Short- 
 Hand characters labours under difficulties similar 
 to one who has never learnt to write, and conse- 
 quently will require as plain and copious explana- 
 
PLATE Fo 
 
 , /^ C o 5 v^^ _ C C 
 
 o /3 ,y—° L/ _ Q_ \ 
 
 ■^ £so Co r^ .yV r-o 
 
 t^ V. — ->^-5 • ---^ 
 
 /O ._-A C *— ^ \^ r— O c y -y^ 
 
 evil/ y6ney cotyn^e^^ o/^ ^l^n^^ ^eaAylAy ayn^ ydA^^ 
 .**-&t.^/rt^a,^6Ay airy^^'^yn4yCL^ u^ yn^c.^ a^^cr. tZlney 
 
 Q \ f — 5, O (— D G» 
 
 O. O C — O . C O . < — D 
 
33 
 
 tions as are generally used in teaching the com- 
 mon hand. From this plain proposition (which 
 experience has demonstrated to him, in teaching 
 a great number of different persons, of very un- 
 equal capacities) the Author has added a sufficient 
 number of specimens, &c. written in a plain easy 
 manner, and made intelligible to every capacity, 
 by a familiar explanation of the same letters and 
 words annexed in print ; so that nothing may be 
 wanting but practice, to perfect him in the science. 
 
 By the following specimens it is easy to judge 
 of the orthography of Short-Hand. When the 
 proper power of each letter is once known and 
 fixed in the memory, a habit of writing from sound 
 only will be attained with very little difficulty. 
 And in the Author's opinion, those who would not 
 cheerfully devote a few leisure hours to so useful 
 a study, or who would expect to obtain so profit- 
 able and gratifying an art without a little dili- 
 gence and attention, are highly unworthy of it. 
 
 Every word should be finished without taking 
 ofl^ the pen ; otherwise great confusion will arise, 
 
 E 
 
34 
 
 by the characters being sometimes written out of 
 their proper places. 
 
 Some compound words should be written singly, 
 as the learner will find them much easier to write, 
 as well as decypher ; example, '^^ thanks- 
 
 giving, <^ -f^ sometimes, &c. 
 
 When a word, by the common mode of joining, 
 appears unpleasantly long (as will sometimes be 
 the case), write only the radical part of it, whereby 
 much additional convenience may be acquired. 
 
 Having obtained a perfect knowledge of the 
 contents of the four first plates, the learner may 
 proceed to copy any thing for his own pleasure. 
 Such pieces as he can repeat from memory will be 
 most suitable for his first experiments, particularly 
 those which contain only short words, such as the 
 Psalms, &c. In his first essays he must express 
 as many vowels as will make his writing easy to 
 be read ; and let exactness be particularly attended 
 to. Affect not, especially at first, to write fast, so 
 much as true. The lines must be kept at a sufli- 
 
35 
 
 cient distance from each other, lest the joinings of 
 the characters should happen to extend too far, 
 and mingle with the lines above or beneath. Write 
 but little at a time, whilst in the state of beginners ; 
 and the learner must not neglect to read over what 
 he has written, two or three times, before it is laid 
 .aside : this will contribute much to his improve- 
 ment in writing ; for it tends to connect his ideas 
 of the characters and of tlie words represented, 
 which, it is evident, must be intimately connected 
 in his mind before he can either read or write with 
 much facility. At first, all diflBcult words such as 
 proper names and terms of art, may be avoided; 
 but, after a little practice in this way, he may next 
 attend to the terms peculiar to those sciences to 
 which his studies are directed. If any of these 
 terms cannot be expressed by the foregoing rules in 
 a manner sufficiently short and easy, they hausteither 
 be written in a contracted form, or a new character 
 invented for each of them. But, as the memory 
 should not be overburdened, the former method 
 is preferable, where it can be used with propriety : 
 and the learner is advised not to adopt either of 
 them, until experience hath convinced him that 
 
36 
 
 it may be used without injuring- the legibility. 
 All abbreviating rules are suited to those only 
 who have made some progress in the Steno- 
 graphic art. 
 
 When the learner can write perfectly correct, 
 and with tolerable facility, let him prepare him- 
 self for writing in public by the following method. 
 Twice or thrice a day, for about an hour each 
 time, let a person read extracts and detached 
 pieces on different subjects deliberately, while 
 the learner writes them down. Let the reader 
 increase in speed as the writer finds his ability 
 to follow him increase. Thus each day he will 
 perceive what improvement he has made. This 
 method will be found far more effectual than 
 writing a great deal at once, and returning to it 
 no more ; for experience teaches us, that frequent 
 repetitious will make a more durable impression 
 on the mind, than one long and wearied attention 
 to an object, without proper digestion, can pos- 
 sibly effect : it will also afford greater pleasure, 
 and less fatigue, to the learner. 
 
87 
 
 This mode will naturally excite the attention 
 of the learner, and create such an anxiety to keep 
 pace with the reader, as will call forth into exer- 
 cise the whole extent of his power§. It will also 
 familiarise him to the manner pf following a voice, 
 and will therefore quickly overcome that timidity 
 and confusion which always attends practitiopers 
 on their first attempts to write after a pu^hlic 
 speaker. It will be necessary for the student to 
 proceed in this manner, until he is so ready at 
 writing as to be capable of forming the characters 
 in the same time that the words themselves can 
 be distinctly pronounced. 
 
 With respect to the joining of whole words, 
 and denoting conunon phrases by single charac- 
 ters ; whenever it can be done, without creating 
 obscurity, it is extremely proper; because, in 
 writing after a speaker, every method of short- 
 ening will be found absolutely necessary. And 
 though for any other purpose there be less occa- 
 sion for it, yet such combinations, when they are 
 judiciously chosen, and the conjunction is quite 
 natural and easy, may be used with very great 
 advantage. 
 
 449570 
 
38 
 
 If the learner carefully observes these instruc- 
 tions, he may soon venture to take a speech down 
 verbatim as it is delivered ; for by this method 
 (with much less trouble than one might at first 
 sight believe) the desirable end of writing as fast 
 as words can be distinctly articulated will be at- 
 tained ; and there is no doubt but it will, after 
 many years standing, appear perfectly clear and 
 intelligible. 
 
SIXTH ILESSON. 
 
 THE SHORT-HAND ORTHOGRAPHY. 
 
 The greatest difficulty a learner finds in writing 
 Short-Hand, is, to acquire an orthography ex- 
 actly imitative of pronunciation. This will at 
 first demand a little attention ; for though our 
 usual mode of spelling is most unnatural and dif- 
 ficult, and that which this art requires as much 
 the reverse ; yet custom has in this case so far 
 prevailed over nature, that it is not every one 
 who is able to decompose a given word into its 
 constituent sounds, and to express them by suit- 
 able letters : for the orthography or spelling, in 
 this art, must be directed entirely by the ear, and 
 not by the established rules; because, if the sound 
 
40 
 
 of a word be barely expressed, it is sufficient. If 
 each word be spelt exactly as it is pronounced, 
 and no more letters made use of than such as are 
 absolutely necessary to render the word intelli- 
 gible and distinct from any other, it is all that 
 is necessary. This mode of expression is per- 
 formed by omitting the vowels, and making use 
 of the consonants; for these will generally be 
 found sufficient to convey the sound of the word, 
 and preserve an easy legibility, as in the follow- 
 ing sentence : — 
 
 Ts grtly ws to tlk wth our pst hrs. 
 And ask thm wht rprt thy br to Hvn. 
 
 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours. 
 And ask them what report they bore to Heaven. 
 
 Leaving out the vowels is not entirely peculiar 
 to Short-Hand. Many persons who have com- 
 mitted things to writing in long hand, for their 
 own private use, have made it a rule to leave 
 out the vowels; and, after a little practice, have 
 found no difficulty either in writing, or under- 
 standing what they had so written. And, as it 
 18 well known, in some of the Oriental languageit 
 
41 
 
 the use of vowels is only retained by the learner, 
 hut is entirely omitted by those who are profi- 
 cients. This being the case, there is no person 
 who need despair of an easy attainment of this 
 mode of abbreviation. The Stenographic student 
 may rest assured, that when he is conversant with 
 this art, the practice of writing by sound will be- 
 come perfectly easy and natural, and habit will 
 make reading (though much abbreviated) no hard- 
 ship at all ! 
 
 The letters called vowels are six, viz. a, e, i, o, 
 M, y, and are so very much used that no syllable 
 can be written without one or more of them ; con- 
 sequently, if they are left out, it will be of great 
 advantage for saving of time in the writing. 
 
 By a little attention it will be found, that the 
 sound of the word may be conveyed, though the 
 intermediate vowels are omitted, as also the ini- 
 tial and final ones, when they are silent. And in 
 all words whatsoever, where connexion (the master 
 key for decyphering Short-Hand) will admit of it. 
 
42 
 
 all the vowels may be omitted^ But to be more 
 particular — 
 
 No more than one vowel ought to be written in 
 any word, except in proper names and such worda 
 as idea, ide, easy, &c. 
 
 The initial vowel of a monosyllable must be 
 expressed, as in add, apt, ask, aid, &c. 
 
 The ^nal vowel (if there is no initial) must be 
 written in monosyllables ; for few, true, pay, write 
 fu, tru, pa, &c. 
 
 No short vowel need to be expressed, except 
 in some very particular cases, where it is essen- 
 tial, to distinguish the singular from the plural, as 
 man, men, foot, feet, &c. 
 
 A long vowel must be written in a monosyl- 
 lable, except in such common words as both, life, 
 sake, abide, dine, divine, &c. 
 
 A word* of more than one syllable not ending 
 with a vowel, but having a long vowel in it, must 
 
43 
 
 have that long vowel expressed, as spusl for 
 espousal; dmir, for admire, &c. 
 
 A word of more than one syllable, ending with 
 a vowel (not being a final e), must have that vowel 
 expressed; thus, for aptly, empty, concisely, write 
 pfly, mty, knssly, &c. 
 
 A word of two syllables having no Jinal nor 
 long vowel must have its initial vowel expressed 
 if it has one ; thus, write akrn for acorn, img for 
 image, aktr for a^tor, &c. 
 
 If a word has three or more syllables, without 
 either long or final vowel, write no vowel at all ; 
 thus, mhlsh for embellish, mprpr for improper, &c. 
 
 When the negative prepositions in, un, im, ir, 
 are prefixed to words that begin with the same 
 consonant with which they respectively end, the 
 initial vowel must be expressed ; thus, inmrhl in- 
 numerable, untrl unnatural, imdst immodest, irlgn 
 irreligion, &c. 
 
44 
 
 When the plural or possessive s follows a final 
 vowel, the vowel must not be omitted ; as follies^ 
 rallies, &c. 
 
 When two vowels come together distinctly 
 sounded, express only the lonff one in general ; 
 but in some cases it will be necessary to write 
 them both ; thus, resume and re-assume, resemble, 
 and re-assemble, &c. being verbs, can only be dis- 
 tinguished by the vowel a. 
 
 When the consonant following has clearly the 
 sound of the vowel, which is frequently the case 
 as to a and e, as in alter, arbour, ardent, end, 
 elder, ember, &c. these vowels are to be omitted. 
 
 When a or e form a distinct final syllable, as in 
 lethe, anna, &c. they must be expressed. The 
 final e must also be written when ending the pro- 
 nouns m,e, thee, he, she, we, ye. 
 
 When ue, ui, ou, or augh sound like w, as in 
 thou, true, fruit, though, through, &c. that letter 
 may be substituted. 
 
45 
 
 In dissyllables, trisyllables, and polysyllables, 
 some of the vowels may be expressed, and others 
 omitted, according^ as they explain the meaning 
 of the words. 
 
 The only diphthongs that require to be ex- 
 pressed in their proper sounds are ai, oi, au, and 
 ue. In polysyllables i may stand for oi and oy ; 
 u, for 00 and o sounded as u. For aa write the 
 single vowel a ; for ie, i ; for oa, oe, eau, ou, and 
 ow, (when they have the same sound) o ; for eu, 
 ew, ui, ieic, yew, and you, (when they have the 
 same sound) u. 
 
 W is never a vowel, for it is always dropt at 
 the end of words. 
 
 When the double consonants gh and ph. sound 
 like f, as in laugh, rough, enough, phantom, 
 phrensy, philosophy, &c. that letter may be sub- 
 stituted. 
 
 When X has the sound of cc, as in access, acci- 
 dent, &p. or of cts, as in facts, effects, districts, 
 
46 
 
 &c. or ofcks in such words a mocks, blocks, stocks, 
 rocks, &c. that letter may be substituted. 
 
 The foregoing rules are chiefly designed as 
 guides to a learner, or a person writing at leisure; 
 not to those who are in the act of following a 
 speaker^ Such persons may omit as many vowels 
 as they find necessary, but should take care to 
 peruse their manuscript before they venture to 
 read, publicly, what they have so rapidly and 
 contractedly written. The writer will find, how- 
 ever, that the more experience he has in reading, 
 the less occasion will he have for vowels : they 
 ought to be omitted as much as possible, and 
 never inserted unless the explanation of the word 
 depends upon them. 
 
 So far is only what may be called long Short- 
 Hand writing. We cojne now to lay down some 
 special Abbreviating Rules, which will instruct 
 the student how to shorten the former lessons at 
 least one half in the writing. 
 
47 
 
 THE 
 
 ABBREVIATING RULES. 
 
 The learner is supposed to be quite familiar 
 with all tlie foregoing lessons, and capable of 
 writing with tolerable facility : — he should now 
 endeavour to write it expeditiously. One g^eat 
 step towards accomplishing this object will be, 
 to keep his thoughts two or three words in ad- 
 vance of his pen. By this method, which will 
 soon become familiar, the formation of every word 
 will have been resolved in the mind before the 
 pen arrives at it : the necessity of consideration, 
 and consequently of delay, at the moment of writ- 
 ing it, will thus be removed. 
 
 By attending also to the following Rules of 
 Abbreviation, the learner will very soon obtain 
 
48 
 
 such a facility in writing as will enable him to 
 keep pace with the quickest speaker. These 
 Rules are few and simple, yet they will be found 
 not only more serviceable, but easier reduced to 
 practice, than the long elaborate and perplexing 
 rules which most writers on Short- Hand have 
 given. It has been the chief study of the Author, 
 through the whole, to render the art simple and 
 easy, making his utmost brevity consistent with 
 perspicuity, that the meanest capacity may com- 
 prehend it. 
 
 When abbreviations are first attempted, be 
 sure always to express the first word or words in 
 every sentence very plain, so as to leave them 
 distinct, and of an easy legibility ; by this means 
 you will secure connexion, and render the whole 
 sentence easy to be read, though much abbrevi^ 
 ated in the latter part. 
 
 Such words as are usually abbreviated in Long 
 Hand may be abbreviated in Short : as. Dr. Doc- 
 tor; (>er, over; &c. Poetic contractions may also 
 be used : as, morn, morning ; trump, trumpet ; 
 
49 
 
 e'en, evening; &c. But there are some contrac- 
 tions in Long Hand, which are not to be imitated 
 in Short: we write he will, not he^ll; will not, 
 wont ; cannot, not cant, &c. 
 
 A dot variously applied to a character, so as 
 not to interfere with the preposition and termina- 
 tion places, may be made a mark of abbreviation. 
 Example : ^'Jjl- representation, >-^^* arbitrary, 
 /^/v carefully, which is a sufficient expression 
 for these words. And in every subject there are 
 some leading words, which cannot be mistaken, 
 though they are thus contracted ; for the con- 
 nexion will immediately decypher them. 
 
 Words of more than one consonant may hav6 
 their termination expressed by the defective sign. 
 But the termination must never be omitted, if a 
 long vowel goes before it; as, employment, de- 
 stroying, &c. 
 
 In many cases the termination is so evident, 
 that no expression need be made for it» 
 
so 
 
 The terminations of the second and third per- 
 sons of verbs may be always omitted ; as, speak, 
 for speakest ; teach, for tea<:heth, &c. 
 
 Such words as connexion will point out may 
 be expressed by their initials written large; 
 one or two words in almost every sentence may 
 be expressed in this manner, without detriment 
 to legibility. 
 
 Many words may be expressed by their first 
 vowel and consonant following. 
 
 The beginnings and endings of some words, will 
 be sufficient to express them. 
 
 The first consonant and termination of a word 
 may often be a sufficient expression for it. 
 
 T!\ie first and last consonant may oftentimes be 
 sufficient to signify the whole word. 
 
 The radical part of a word may often express 
 the whole ; as, exp. for expences ; exm. for ex- 
 
51 
 
 ample; mid. for midst; Ion. f or longer or longitude ; 
 Ian. for land, &c. &c. 
 
 The articles a, an^ and the, may be omitted 
 when expedition is required. Example : " He 
 is Ca) man of (the J world, and of (an) amiable 
 disposition." 
 
 The adverbial termination ly, the y, tg, and ity 
 belonging; to substantives, and also the ize belong- 
 ing to verbs, may be omitted. Example : meek-ly, 
 slow-ly, tnodest-ly, honesf-ly, moral-ity-ize, solemn^ 
 ity -ize. 
 
 The prepositions of , of a, of an, of the, may be 
 omitted, whenever the connexion will readily sup- 
 ply the deficiency. 
 
 Not only all quiescent or mute letters are to be 
 excluded, but even some sounding consonants may 
 be dropped, and oftentimes one letter that is more 
 proper must be substituted in the room of another 
 which is less so. This rule may be extended or 
 contracted to the learner's capacity or pleasure. 
 
52 
 
 When two consonants of ihe same kind or same. 
 sound, come together, without any vowel between 
 them, as letter, little, command, &c. only one is 
 to be expressed ; but if a vowel or vowels inter- 
 vene, both are to be written, as sister, moment, re- 
 piember, &c. 
 
 All proper names of persons or places, and like- 
 wise technical terras often occurring, may he ex- 
 pressed, after the first or second time of using them, 
 by their initial and terminating character, or with 
 the defective sicjn placed under or over their initial. 
 
 Long words will frequently admit of large con- 
 tractions ; generally one or two syllables may be 
 dropped before the termination Hon, and other 
 terminations in long words. But the learner's 
 proficiency in reading his own writing will dictate 
 by experience ( the best teacher) when and ho>f 
 far he may venture on such omissions. 
 
 A number of small words may be dropped in 
 most sentences, without affecting the sense of 
 them, or even rendering doubtful the exact expres- 
 sions made use of. 
 
53 
 
 These rules ought to be used sparingly at first ; 
 as they grow familiar, they may be used more 
 extensively- But, after all, the great disparity of 
 genius renders it impossible to establish rules for 
 abbreviation without exceptions. The abilities of 
 the student, after long practice, will make rules 
 for himself. So bountiful is the memory, her 
 powers of retention are indefinite ; and habit ( like 
 the traveller exploring the world ) will at each step 
 make new discoveries. 
 
 It is diligence that accomplishes man ; and, with 
 pain, the philosopher often views genius, though 
 endowed with celestial gifts, palsied by negligence, 
 struggling in the obscure valley ; whilst ordinary 
 capacities, through their diligence, are worthily 
 vaulting on the eminences of human honours. 
 
44 
 
 ON 
 
 INCREASING EXPEDITION. 
 
 When the student has obtained a perfect know - 
 ledg^e of the theory of the art, and has become a 
 tolerable proficient in the practical part of it, he 
 may begin to employ greater contractions, and 
 even arbitrary marks, if he fancies such kind of 
 characters. These admit of much latitude; and, 
 being intended only for his own convenience, they 
 may be of his own invention, which will render his 
 writing illegible to every body but himself, and 
 effectually cut off the source of all impertinent 
 curiosity. Care should be taken however, in such 
 abbreviations, not to obscure the sense; — but 
 practice alone can teach the young Stenographer 
 the proper rules and extent of this mode of abbre- 
 viation 
 
55 
 
 ABBREVIATING MARKS. 
 
 ^M 
 
 before, behind, between 
 
 k<. 
 
 within, without 
 
 = c_. 
 
 together, altogether 
 
 ^ 
 
 understood, understand, understanding 
 
 e G- 
 
 through, throughout 
 
 ^v-/ 
 
 notwithstanding, nevertheless 
 
 
 
 one, off, often 
 
 J 
 
 into, unto 
 
 o 
 
 nothing, other, otherwise 
 
 /^ 
 
 question, answer 
 
 o 
 
 et caetera, or &c. 
 
 © 
 
 videlicet, or viz. 
 
 9 6 
 
 Marks of reference, for marginal observations 
 
 X 
 
 Represents an antithesis or opposition of words : 
 Example, eV son and datvyhter, '-^ man 
 
 
 and xooman, </ day and night. 
 
 
 Denotes a repetition of words or sentences ; as, 
 9 Lord, Lord! ^ •'^'<*r-) from everlasting 
 
 
 to everlasting. 
 
 y 
 
 Placed over a word, shews it to be the name of 
 
 
 a person or place. 
 
 / 
 
 Placed vnder a word, shews it is very much ab- 
 breviated, as misre r^. for uiisrepresentation. 
 
 X 
 
 This mark signifies that some word, words, or 
 sentence, is left out in that place. 
 
sm 
 
 THE DEFECTIVE SIGN. 
 
 When this mark y is placed under tlie last 
 character in a word, it shews the omission of some 
 letters, which the consonant clearly exposes. It 
 has many latitudes: underneath the root of the 
 verb it may express its various inflexions ; the 
 degrees of the comparison of adjectives, and the 
 adverb, &c. But the writer must be well versed 
 in grammar to assume this latitude of the defective 
 sign. He should otherwise only place it under 
 the consonant, which will clearly discover the 
 omitted letters ; as for example, /^^ confident, 
 reluctance -"^j^y- venerable \j^ This «^n may be 
 styled the mother of abbreviation, which arrests 
 and changes into form the torrent of words rush- 
 ing from the lips of the orator to perish in the 
 abysses of air. To the classical scholar it affords 
 a boundless range, and an expedition in writing, 
 " swift as the eagle's wing." 
 
57 
 
 OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 PEN, INK, AND PAPER. 
 
 For writing Short- Hand, the pen must he o^ a 
 strong barrel, well clarified, and such as will not 
 soon spoil in the point. It should be made much 
 finer than for other writing, and somewhat hartier, 
 with a short slit, and a narrow nib or ppi,nt, so as 
 to produce a fine, clear stroke, in whatever direc- 
 tion the characters may run. 
 
 A great variety of instruments have been made 
 use of for the purpose of writing Short-Hand; but 
 the best and most convenient article for that pur- 
 pose is LEWIS'S patent "Caligraphic Foun- 
 tain Pen." This instrument will prove a most 
 invaluable acquisition to the Stenographer ; being 
 peculiarly adapted to the purposes of ease, neat- 
 H 
 
58 
 
 ness and dispatch in writing. It is constructed 
 so as to furnish a regular and constant supply of 
 ink for many hours, without the aid of an inkstand : 
 thus the trouble and inconvenience of dipping is 
 entirely avoided, and the writer is enabled to exe- 
 cute his performance with twice the rapidity as by 
 any other instrument whatever. 
 
 The ink should be the blackest and clearest that 
 can be procured, that every letter may appear dis- 
 tinct the instant it is formed. This may be 
 effected by mixing a double quantity of ingredients 
 in its composition ; though the gum should be en- 
 tirely omitted, that it may be sufficiently fluid. 
 
 Wove paper is to be preferred, as it offers less 
 resistance to the pen. 
 
50 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR POINTING. 
 
 All the points, or stops, made use of in Steno- 
 gaphy are precisely the same as those used in 
 the common mode of writing, except the comma 
 and the period : the former of which is represented 
 by this character 9 and the latter by two lines 
 crossing each other, thus X 
 
 When dispatch is required, there is no time, 
 however, for pointing ; neither is there any abso- 
 lute necessity for it : few stops are required, ex- 
 cept to divide one complete sentence from another, 
 as is constantly practised in legal instruments ; and 
 for this a cross x may be adopted . 
 
m 
 
 AN 
 
 EXPEDITIOUS METHOD OF EXPRESSING 
 
 ALL KINDS OF 
 
 NUMBERS. 
 
 As one important object of Stenography to some 
 persons, is that of making secret memorandums, 
 it may also be of great advantage to them to have 
 numerical characters different from those in com- 
 hioto use. The following will all unite, without 
 lifting the pen from the paper, and will be found 
 to answer the purpose better than any others that 
 'could possibly be devised. They may either be 
 made singly, or joined together; and can be writ- 
 ten in one-third the time required for the common 
 figures. 
 
 In joining the Stenographic numerals, precisely 
 the same method is to be observed, as in writing 
 
61 
 
 words in Short-Hand : this will be perfectly easy 
 to the student who has attained perfection in the 
 six foregoing lessons, and they will be equally 
 legible as if written separately. 
 
 1234567890 
 
 / <3N wc — — <^ i — r\ a— \ 
 
 Figures joined forwards ^aaj^ 
 Figures joined backwards 
 
 This mark — must always be placed over the 
 figures to distinguish them from words. 
 Example: <Kj 23 -i^ 56 r^ 89 AsC 1825. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS : 
 
 N" 1 may be made up or down. 
 
 N° 2, 6, and 9, may be varied in the joining ; the 
 former may be turned upside down, and the two latter 
 may have the loop on either side of the line, accord- 
 ing as is most convenient. 
 
ca 
 
 THK 
 
 CONTENTS OF PLATE VI. DECYPHERED 
 
 Extruded from " The Historical Accoiint of the Rise 
 and Progress of Stenography." 
 
 The advantages of Short-Hand, though fully and 
 justly appreciated by proficients in the art, are but 
 little understood or admitted by the great majority 
 of the public. Yet the employment of a Steno- 
 graphic alphabet, and the observation of its rules, 
 not only contribute to the most useful and im- 
 portant purposes in the general intercourse of life ; 
 but tend, in a degree that would not at first sight 
 be suspected, to the improvement of the intellec- 
 tual faculties. They contribute to the convenience 
 of the merchant, and to the promotion of the best 
 interests of religion, of learning, and of ekHjuence ; 
 
./ _^,__o \ /~ (-"V \ ■ '-"""^ -J-^^ y l/^<>'-B w — 'T T 
 
 H9 -^ — '-Nr<- -^^^ \ \-^-y ^ ■ '^^ — V "^ — '^'^ ^ -^ 
 ^--7 ^Wr^— v-^-t/ — c-^^x — ^ ^^^-^ ^^^ 
 
 .c^s>\ _ .^^ - <^ r-x> . -^ .y\ \o , .^\lv^ 
 
 _2,^_ ^_ t^X .lA^_ ^-^\ U^^ . V-,^^ -^ 
 
 _ ^^ ^/^.^'^-^ - V ^ . ^t>--^\ . e^^ S: - ^ 
 o ^_ .^ ^ _ ^. Q^—? , — o •-^_ t_ , -/^ _ A — 'yu ^ — 
 
 .ri^ y un^ . ,/\j \ 1^ ^-ly C-^s ,ys _ 2^\ 
 
 
 -"^ 
 
 ^/ 
 
 
 ^\ ^^ 9- t 
 
 n-^l' . KL — -c^-Nj \ . -\:i^ . -c/-^ ^ . V^ /^ . _ \ / 
 
 ■o \ . ^^ . . ^>:o r- y ^ - — ' — -z \ ^ -—y ' 
 . > --^ \ ^ 9^ . A-— -^ X^ X 
 
 
while they tend, at the same time, to the cultiva- 
 tion of the noblest attributes, and to the develope • 
 ment of mental excellence. 
 
 The application of Short-Hand to its most 
 obvious and important purpose — that of embody- 
 ing the oral eloquence of the Orator and the Di- 
 vine, has a tendency, above every other exertion 
 of the faculties, to inure the mind to promptitude 
 of apprehension, to habits of patient and vigilant 
 attention, and to that minuteness and distinctness 
 of perception, which intellectual exercise can alone 
 bestow. To catch, with intuitive sagacity, the 
 whole scope and construction of a sentence, while 
 the speaker is himself in doubt to what sentiments 
 he is about to give utterance; to receive the im- 
 pression on the ear, with such promptitude and 
 distinctness of perception, that the hand sponta- 
 neously obeys the impulse of the mind ; to pursue, 
 without embarrassment, the most rapid flights of 
 the most vehement orator : and to sustain a con- 
 tinued and vigoronsattention, during his loftiest and 
 most extended efforts ; demands a combination 
 of qualities, which no other species of intellectual 
 discipline would be able to develope. 
 
64 
 
 The student of Short-Hand, who applies it to 
 the purpose of committing to memory the most 
 important facts of a scientific lecture, in which the 
 matter and not the form of expression is the most 
 important object, will gradually attain a habit of 
 promptly seizing the leading points of an instruc- 
 tive dissertation ; of rejecting, with intuitive 
 discernment, the common-place or unprofitable 
 observations, and embodying, for future study, all 
 that is curious, useful, and conducive to the 
 extension of knowledge, or the correction of 
 error. 
 
 Nor are its direct effects more striking or more 
 important than its direct utility. It gives form 
 and permanence to the effusions of the Orator, and 
 the exhortations of the Divine ; it embodies and 
 perpetuates the eloquence of a Burke, and ex- 
 tends through a wider circle, and to future gene- 
 rations, the pathetic and animated discourses of a 
 PoRTEUS and an Andrews. The judicial ha- 
 rangues of aMANSFIELD and aLoUGHBOROUGH, 
 
 the medical discoveries of a Monro and a Hun- 
 
65 
 
 TER, and the academical essays of a Reynolds 
 and a Barry, have been diffused, through the 
 medium of Short-Hand, over a wide expanse of 
 legal, medical, and critical philosophy. 
 
66 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS 
 
 FOR 
 
 READING, OR DECYPHERING. 
 
 Before the learner attempts to read Short- Hand, 
 he must write it, not only correctly, but also with 
 some degree of ease and freedom : to endeavour 
 to read before he can write, would only be the 
 means of embarrassing himself with that, which, 
 by a little attention and practice, will become 
 perfectly easy and familiar. It would be highly 
 unreasonable to expect, that a person who had 
 made little more progress in learning the English 
 language, than a superficial knowledge of the 
 alphabet, should be capable of reading a sen- 
 tence with correctness and fluency. It would 
 be equally preposterous in the present case, 
 for the learner to imagine he should read Short- 
 Hand (which perhaps he has only practised a 
 
67 
 
 few weeks) with that freedom and ease he can 
 Long Hand, which he has been practising for a 
 series of years. It is practice, indeed, that makes 
 even print so familiar, that we read it with so 
 much ease; to a person who is accustomed to 
 reading, the letters and words become so im- 
 pressed upon his mind, that he readily recollects 
 them without spelling. So it is with respect to 
 the reading of Short-Hand ; when once a person 
 can write it with the same ease and freedom he 
 can the common hand, the reading will be easy in 
 proportion, and he will then discover, that nothing 
 but the want of a familiar knowledge of the char- 
 acters prevented his reading them with the same 
 facility as other writing, there being identically 
 the same given in both. And though the omis- 
 sion of the vowels in the middle of words may for 
 awhile make it difficult for a learner to read even 
 his own writing without hesitation, yet that diffi- 
 culty will certainly vanish in proportion as those 
 marks become familiar to him ; as it arises not so 
 much from that omission, as from the strange and 
 unusual appearances which the characters make 
 to his eye. 
 
68 
 
 When the learner first begins to read what he 
 has written, he must proceed letter by letter until 
 such time as he knows the word by sight. Let 
 him be particularly attentive to the sounds of the 
 different letters as they rise; and also to the form 
 of the comJenec? characters in each particular word. 
 This will at once confirm him in the proper method 
 of spelling, writing, reading, and joining ; and by 
 this means he will sooner acquire a proficiency in 
 the art, than by any other method that can be pre- 
 scribed. Yet while the system is not very fami- 
 liar to him, he ought not to be surprized or dis- 
 couraged, if he should at first meet with some 
 little difficulty in making out the various abbrevi- 
 ations ; but let him persevere in the methods here 
 stated, and observe never to lay by what he has 
 written, without perusing it again and again, till 
 he can read it with ease and freedom. 
 
 It is much easier for a person to decypher his 
 own writing than that ot others, as he cannot fail 
 of having a general knowledge of the subject he 
 has written upon ; besides, there are certain pecu- 
 liarities in every person's style of wrrting, with 
 
69 
 
 which the writer himself is best acquainted, and 
 which renders his manuscript more intelligible to 
 himself than to any other person. In order to 
 assist him in the reading, it is highly necessary 
 for the learner to be very attentive to the subject, 
 and always bear in mind the sense of the preced- 
 ing sentence ; and if he is at a loss to decypher 
 any thing he has written, let him transcribe the 
 letters and marks, letter by letter, as they stand, 
 into Common Hand, and he will then read them 
 with ease and certainty. 
 
 All the letters, or characters, in each word, 
 must be separately and distinctly named, when he 
 decyphers his Stenographic notes, in order to give 
 each word its proper sound, which cannot other- 
 wise be effected. Thus, for example, the word 
 memorial is expressed by two m's, an r, and an I; 
 yet it must not be pronounced double m, r, I, for 
 that would not give the word its sound: but if 
 each letter be named separately, thus, m, ih, r, I, 
 those letters will convey the proper sound of the 
 word memorial, or at least sufficiently to be under- 
 stood, which is all that is required. 
 
70 
 
 Cy tlie rules for omitting the vowels, the same 
 character will sometimes stand for many different 
 words. Thus the characters m n r-^ may not 
 only be read man, but men, mane, mean, mien, 
 mine, moon. The characters n t \j- may be read 
 not, night, neat, net, nit, nut. This may occa- 
 sion some difficulty, at first, in the reading, but 
 by practice the learner will entirely overcome 
 that difficulty ; for an ambiguous meaning seldom 
 or never arises from representing a variety of 
 words, totally different in signification, by the 
 same symbol. To be convinced of this, he has 
 only to read the following expressions : — The he- 
 siegers sprung a mine ; and. This hook is mine : 
 here the very same word conveys two different 
 ideas ; but its connexion with the rest of the sen- 
 tence necessarily and instantaneously leads the 
 mind to its proper meaning. 
 
 There are many other words in our language 
 which are only to be understood from their con- 
 nexion; as, mean, rose, intimate, fine, &c. — 
 In such instances, indeed, the grammatical 
 connexion is alone sufficient to distinguish the 
 several meanings of the word. Thus, a rose. 
 
71 
 
 he rose, dre perfectly distinct. But in Sbort- 
 Hand, where the grammatical often fails, the 
 rational connexion will serve the same purpose. 
 In this expression, for example, a sable fr, no per- 
 son who is acquainted with the English language 
 can be at a loss to know what word is denoted by 
 the two consonants fr. The connexion, as to 
 sense, will instantly suggest, that fur (and not 
 fear, fire, &c.) is the word that is intended. 
 
 For example sake, we shall here give an exact 
 specimen or two in common writing, of the mode 
 of spelling prescribed for Short-Hand, omitting 
 the vowels in the same way, and writing those 
 words in full, that the letters of the alphabet re- 
 present when they stand singly ; by which it will 
 be seen, that no such difficulty will arise in the 
 reading of it as might, at first, be imagined. — 
 
 THE LORD'S PRAYER. 
 
 Our fthr wo art in hvn, hlwd be thy nm ; thy kndui 
 km ; thy will be done on rth, as it is in hvn : give us 
 ths dy our dly brd ; and frgv us our trspss as we frgv 
 thm that trsps gnst us : and Id us not into tmtation, 
 but dlvr us from evi : for thin is the kndni, the power, 
 and the glrv, for evr and evr. Amn. 
 
72 
 
 EXAMPLE 
 Wlkere some Words in Sentences are omitted. 
 
 FIRST PSALM. 
 
 1 Blssd is — mn — hth not wlkd kiisl 
 
 imgdly, n std way — sinrs ; and hth not sat — 
 
 — st skrnful : 
 
 2 But hs delit^ — in — Iw Lord ; and in — Iw 
 
 will — exrsis hmself day — nit. 
 
 3 And he shl be like — tre plntd wtr-side, 
 
 that bring frth — frwt — du ssn ; hs If also shl not 
 withr ; — wtsoever — dth — shl prspr. 
 
 4 As for — ungdly, not so with thm ; but — 
 
 — like — chf, wch — wind sktreth awy — — face 
 erth. 
 
 5 Thrfr — ungdly shl not — abl — stnd jdg- 
 
 ment ; nithr — sinrs kngrgation rights. 
 
 6 For — Lord knweth — way rights : but — 
 
 way ungdly shl prsh. 
 
 .^ ^ - e^^ 
 
7$ 
 
 ON THE 
 
 UTILITY OF THE GRAPHIC ART. 
 
 Of all the perfections of the mind, there is none 
 more capable of improvement than the memory, 
 and none will reward our labours with more plea- 
 sure and advantage. 
 
 How often, from the lips of some admired 
 speaker, have we heard the most instructive lec- 
 tures upon those very branches of useful know- 
 ledge with which we were most anxious to become 
 acquainted, yet without obtaining any material ad- 
 vantage from the important information he dis- 
 closed, and, through the treachery of our memory, 
 without being able to form even a cle^r and satis- 
 K 
 
74 
 
 factory idea of the subject ! When, by the means 
 of Stenography, not only the tlioughts which pass 
 in our own mind receive a visible form, and can 
 be communicated to the mind and understanding 
 of others at the most distant period ; but likewise 
 we are enabled to catch the living ideas of a 
 speaker in the very words by which they are con- 
 veyed to our own ears, — copy from the lips of an 
 orator all his studied beauties of language, his ar- 
 rangement of elegant expressions, and force of 
 reasoning, which we can with the utmost satisfac- 
 tion, review at pleasure. 
 
 But, independent of these advantages, how 
 wonderfully does the practice of Stenography im- 
 prove and strengthen the retentive faculty, even 
 of the most treacherous memory ; — it creates au 
 anxiety that awakens the attention of the writer, 
 and calls into action such a combination of quali- 
 ties as no other species of intellectual discipline 
 would be able to develope. 
 
 Of all the collateral effects of Short-Hand, its 
 influence on the memory is therefore the most va- 
 
75 
 
 luable and the most remarkable ; it is equally cal- 
 culated to give facility in the acquisition, and 
 certainty in the retention of the subject. It im- 
 proves the invention, ripens the judgment, and 
 begets habits of accuracy, steadiness, and perse- 
 verance ; it insensibly leads us to dwell with cor- 
 rectness even on the most trivial passages of a 
 public harangue, to quickness and readiness in 
 connecting one part of an oration with another ; 
 and thus, after moderate practice, it becomes an 
 auxiliary to the memory, rather than a substitute. 
 
 We are informed that Seneca, the celebrated 
 philosopher, who was enabled to repeat two thou- 
 sand names in any order after once hearing them, 
 was much addicted to the use of abbreviated cha- 
 racters, and the wonderful extent of his memory 
 is ascribed by his biographers to his repeated ex- 
 ercise in Short-Hand. But we need not search 
 into antiquity for illustrations of this kind. There 
 are many Short- Hand Writers and Parliamentary 
 Reporters of the present period, ^ivho, previous to 
 the exercise of this art, could with difficulty re- 
 member, on their return home, the head* of a dig- 
 
76 
 
 course ; yet they have been so trained to habits of 
 attention, and to regular and systematic methods 
 of investigation, and their memory has been so 
 wonderfully improved and mechanically strength- 
 ened by the practice of the Stenographic art, that 
 they are now enabled to recollect with verbal ac- 
 curacy every sentence of a long oration. This is, 
 indeed, the true nature, the chief design, and great 
 utility of the art; these are also the important ad- 
 vantages arising from the practice of it ; and if we 
 needed any further illustration, experience teaches 
 us that its beneficial influence in improving the 
 common modes of writing is not less striking, and 
 less observable, than its astonishing improvement 
 of the memory ; and that it inures the artist to 
 such a facility in the use of the pen, as is seldom, 
 if ever, acquired without it. 
 
 As the Author purposes to communicate his 
 sentiments without flattery or disguise, he cannot 
 conclude without observing, that there are many 
 systems of Short-Hand which serve only to deceive 
 the public, and degrade the reputation of the art ; 
 but, of all the attempts yet made to improve its 
 
77 
 
 utility and ex-tend its practice, the most imperfect 
 and unsatisfactory is a miserable production wliicii 
 lately made its appearance under the title of 
 ** Facilography ; or a System of easy, expedi- 
 tious Writing, entirely tuw ;" purporting to be 
 applicable to all languages, combining every ne- 
 cessary excellence for a universal system of Ste- 
 nography, and capable of expressing every word, 
 without the omission of a single letter, in half the 
 space, and in one-third of the time required for 
 common running-hand. The system is, indeed, 
 chiefly copied from a Work published in 1802, by 
 Richard Roe; and although it has been won- 
 derfully puffed ofi' by its author (a man entirely 
 ignorant both of the theory and practice of Short- 
 Hand) as an extraordinary performance, yet, after 
 all the extravagant eulogy which he has lavished 
 on his plagiarism, his system (like all others of the 
 kind) is only adapted to the purposes of secrecy, 
 but can never be regarded as a useful system of 
 Short-Hand, attainable by moderate application, 
 adapted to the majority of caj)acities, and to be 
 written with practical dexterity. 
 
78 
 
 Could this useless and unintelligible system pos- 
 sibly be written with any approach to the rapidity 
 of public speaking, or did the principles of the 
 system or the general merits of the work bear any 
 comparison with the excellencies enumerated in 
 the title-page, the perfection of Short-Hand might 
 justly be regarded as no longer a desideratum, 
 and the exertions of this author would deserve ap- 
 plause : but his performance bears no compari- 
 son with his professions. His alphabet, indeed, 
 when written with a mathematical accuracy, pos- 
 sesses an appearance of neatness, but is, in many 
 respects, difficult to form, and so destitute of 
 distinctness and rapidity, as to baffle the attention 
 of the learner, and excite the astonishment of 
 the professor. 
 
 That author's assertion, that his method is de- 
 serving of preference for its legibility and adapta- 
 tion to follow a speaker, carries with it the appear- 
 ance of mere parade and fallacy. And however 
 he may please himself vfiXhhis supposed novelty, 
 or amuse the unskilful by plausible representa- 
 tions, those who are at all acquainted with the art 
 
79 
 
 of Short-Hand, will immediately perceive that 
 his method is totally inconsistent with rapidity and 
 legibility, and that the whole system is wrapped 
 up in obscurity, confusion, and perplexity. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Primed bj J. Clarne, 12, Market-place, Manchester. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 As soon as a sufficient number of Subscribers are 
 procured, the Author intends to have the Old 
 and New Testaments, the Prayer-Book, 
 and the Psalms, curiously engraved, in a proper 
 size and volume, according to this new System of 
 Stenography, and to deliver it to the Subscribers 
 at a reasonable price ; which will be of great ad- 
 vantage to a learner, as it will very much assist 
 him in the perfection of the art. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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