St. Fig. 1

Love the lire.

Fix: 2.xs+

tx V

ove the line. Fro: 3. rth & thr 320:4 9th: 3

low.

Sig: 5. rsh 7vsh

yu ch & j sh I

ttt/

A

System of Shorthand

ON

THE PRINCIPLE

OF

THE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS.

CHAPTER 1.

ALPHABET.

SECT. I.-Vowels, with their Associations. VOWEL

OWELS are for the most part omitted in Shorthand; when however they are occasionally expressed, according to the rules in Chapter II. of this system, a staccato mark serves to represent a, e, and o; but for a and e the mark is placed high, with reference to the consonant with which it is sounded, because a and e are the prevailing vowels in air and ether, the bulk of which is on high, with reference to us; for o, the mark is placed low, because o is the prevailing vowel in the word low. (Once for all, be it observed, that the more absurd an association may appear, the more easily, in most instances, is it retained in the memory.) A simple dot serves to express i, u, and y; but for i and y, the dot is placed high with reference to the consonant with which it is sounded, because i is the prevailing vowel in the word high, and because in ordinary writing a dot is placed over the i; for u, the dot is placed under, or low, because u is the prevailing vowel in under and sub: further, a dot rather than a staccato mark is ap

A 2

propriated to u, because in German the u is frequently dotted.

SECT. II.-Formation of the Characters for Consonants.

Among the consonants, the characters which represent g soft and j, r, w, and qu, must always be commenced at the bottom and be formed upwards; from the line when standing singly, from or to the annexed character when joined with other characters.

The remaining characters must, as in the plate, be formed from left to right, or from the top downwards; from the line when standing singly, from or to the annexed character when joined with other characters.

The character for b is distinguished from the character for p by being formed thicker or broader; and the learner will easily retain this, by considering that b is the initial of broad.

The character for c hard, and k, is distinguished from the character for g hard, by being formed at a different angle: the imaginary chord of the arc of the character for c hard and k, should be on the right of the perpendicular, at an angle of 45 degrees: the imaginary chord of the arc of the character for g hard, should be a little on the left of the perpendicular: the learner will retain this, by considering that the foot of an ordinary K (which is the characteristic part of the letter) advances from the perpendicular part of the letter at an angle of about 45 degrees, and that the foot of an ordinary writing-hand g is formed downwards a little on the left of the perpendicular.

The character for g hard may be further distinguished by being formed thicker than the character for c hard and k; which the learner will retain by considering that g is the initial of gross.

The character for d is distinguished from the character for t, by being formed thicker; that is, doubled: this the learner will retain by considering that d is the initial of doubled. There is the same difference between the characters for f and v, as to the angle at which they are written, as between the characters for G and k. The chord of the arc of v, is horizontal, that of the arc of fis directed a little downwards to the right

of the perpendicular, which distinguishes it again from the character for n, the chord of the arc of which is on the left of the perpendicular.

The character for ƒ is also distinguished from the character for by being commenced with a fine stroke; D.g with a thick one: this the learner will retain by considering that f is the initial of fine.

The character for is distinguished from the character for s and c soft by being formed thicker: which the learner will retain by considering that gives a thicker sound than s.

The characters for r and t can never be mistaken for each other, as the character for r always rises from the line, or from or to the character with which it is joined, the character for t always descends. For the same reason the g hard character can never be mistaken for the j, nor the n for the w.

By these means, and the omission of h aspirate, the use of compound characters* is avoided, (a point of the greatest importance,) except for the expression of two letters at a time, as th, ch, qu, &e.

C soft and s have the same sound; so c hard and k; so g soft and j. B and p so nearly resemble each other in sound, and in provincial language are so commonly used the one for the other, that the representing them by characters nearly resembling each other is not likely to produce confusion, even in hasty writing. The same observation applies to ƒ and v, d and t, k and g hard, s and %. The omission of h aspirate by vulgar speakers produces no difficulty to the hearer, and the omission of it in shorthand will produce none to the decypherer.

The following three rules must be remembered :

1. When the character for th precedes or follows the character for r, or for qu, it must be formed perpendicularly, as in Fig. 3. Pl. I. When it follows the character for g hard, it must be formed perpendicularly and with the curl on the left side, as in Fig. 4. Pl. I. When

A simple character in this system, is that which consists of one straight line, or one segment of a circle, not exceeding a semicircle. A compound character consists of two straight lines, or of a straight line and a curve,

the character for sh and ch succeeds the character for r, qu, v, f, g soft, or j, the curl must be made on the upper side, as in Fig. 5. Pl. I.

2. When it is necessary according to the rules in Chapter II. to write the same consonant twice in succession, the two may be expressed by making the character of double the usual size, as in Fig. 6. Pl. I.

3. In order to produce the greatest degree of evenness in the writing, a descending character at the beginning of a word should be begun above and terminate at the line, when the succeeding character is horizontal or descending; should be begun at the line, when the succeeding line is ascending. An ascending character at the beginning of a word should be begun below and terminate at the line when the succeeding character is horizontal or ascending; should be begun at the line, when the succeeding character is descending. The line may be either real or imaginary; but a real line stained in the paper is far preferable.

For the most part the characters of easiest formation have been carefully appropriated to the letters of most frequent occurrence, and that in regular progression; consideration having been also had of the most fre quently recurring sequences of letters (such as, ng, ngs, nd, nds, ns, ld, &c.), so as to produce on the whole the greatest degree of speed and clearness, The associations were applied afterwards, as being of secondary importance.

The learner will do well to retain the mode of joining certain characters pointed out in Fig. 7. Pl, I. Gr can never be mistaken for g, qu, as qu never follows g in our language,

SECT. III.-Associations for the Consonants.

The character for b and p is a perpendicular, and p is the first and prevailing consonant in perpendicular. The character for d and t descends like a tail, (of which word t is the initial,) and like the principal stroke of the ordinary t. The character for f and v resembles the ordinary v. The character for g hard, c hard and k, resembles the lower part of the ordinary writinghand g. The character for g soft and j resembles the