As a proof of this position, to a most satisfactory extent, let us look to the 26 letters of our common English alphabet. We all know, that with these few signs may be recorded the language of a thousand tongues for a thousand ages: nor would the object be at all facilitated were the signs 26 hundred, or as many thousands, though the modes of expression are beyond all human computation.
It is also a fact of notoriety and philosophic in terest, that our alphabetic signs are now employed in common by the inhabitants of England, France, Spain, Italy, and many other countries.
By these facts we see, that the powers of arith metical figures, musical signs, and alphabetic letters, are alike unlimited, in the extent of their application. Having established this important fact respecting the use of sounds and visible signs, we may with propriety approach the subject in question.
The system of short-hand which is about to claim our attention, is not, as some have erroneously ima giner:, an arbitrary art, necessarily confined to the in defatigable reporter of speeches—it is in fact a scienee as well as an art; and as such, claims a degree of attention even from those who may never employ it as an art.
As a science, adapted to the powers and faculties of the human voice and human ear, it determines upon the use of alphabetic characters, for the purpose of swift writing, instead of arbitrary signs for words, sentences, or ideas.
In the next place, it furnishes rules, which, if re duced to practice, will enable us to record language with the least possible time, labour, and space; com patible with legibility.
It shows the common alphabet to be totally at va riance with the primary object of which is several of the letters are superfluous, and none of them well chosen, as they contain unne cessary crooks and curves, which tend to perplex and embarrass the learner, while they require time and space, to the sacrifice of ease and facility.
In this system, the alphabet consists of twenty cha racters, which are extremely simple, easily made, and readily combined, without loss of time, labour, space, or legibility, They are employed, 1st. To re present, individually, certain words, which arc known to occur very frequently. 2d. As letters, or represen tatives of sounds, to be joined together in writing all words not denoted by individual characters. 3d. For
some of the most frequent prefixes ; and 4th. For the most frequent terminations of words.
There is a symmetry not only in the adaptation of these visible signs to each other, so as to insure the greatest brevity, perspicuity, simplicity, and beauty ; but the elementary rules harmonize with each other and the whole, according to fixed scientific principles.
The learner should not be discouraged, though he be not able at once to record the entire language of a fluent speaker ; nor should he hence infer, that the system is incomplete, or the art unattainable: for with the same propriety might the young reader con demn and abandon the use of the common alphabet, because he cannot at once read elegantly,—the musician his notes, or the Tyro in mathematics his Elements of Euclid: let him persevere in practice, and he will soon attain the object of pursuit.
To turn this necessary practice to the best possible account, he should record in a common place book from clay to day such facts and other items of infor mation, as may be considered immediately interesting, or worthy of future perusal. At first, his notes should be read while the subject is familiar, and by this course, the writing and reading of short-hand may in a few days be made easy, useful, and amusing, while the art cannot fail to become a potent labour and time saving engine, not only for the actual accumulation and preservation of knowledge, but for the cultivation and expansion of the mind, and improvement of the memory. For by judicious exercise, this faculty can be trained to receive more and retain longer, whatever may be worthy of its attention.
This improvement, however, does not depend on the substitution of one faculty for another, but on their mutual co-operation, as auxiliary, each to the other. For though we are able by short-hand to preserve a literal copy of any particular subject, for our gratifi cation and instruction, thereby increasing our stock of tangible knowledge ; yet, if memory be left to lan guish in sickly inactivity, and thus gradually lose its energies or become enervated for the want of proper exercise, the loss is equal to the gain.