V.

PA PERS

ΟΝ

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

N. B. All the Papers under this divifion are diftinguished by the letters [M. P.] placed in the running title at the bead of each leaf.

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[A Scheme for a new Alphabet and reformed mode of Spelling with Remarks and Examples concerning the fame; and an Enquiry into its Ufes, in a Correfpondence between Mifs Sn and Dr. Franklin, written in the Characters of the Alphabet *.]

[I think it proper to mention that Mifs S-n, is the lady that appears fo confpicuoufly in the edition of Dr. Franklin's philofophical papers: and that if I am not mistaken, the name of a Sir Thomas Smith is referred to, in one of the copies which I have seen of this paper.

For the nature and intention of this alphabet, &c. I must refer to what Dr. Franklin has himself faid upon the fubject, in answer to Mifs S--n's objections; as the reader may understand the whole in an hour or two.-It is neceffary to add, that the new letters ufed in the course of printing this paper, are exactly copied from the manufcript in my poffeffion; there being no provifion for a distinction in the character as written or printed. I have no other way therefore of marking the fcored parts of the manufcript (anfwering to italics,) than by placing fuch paffages between inverted commas. -As to capitals, I fhould have provided for them by means of larger types, but the form of fome of them would have made them too large for the page: however, were the author's general fyftem ever adopted, nothing would be easier than to remedy this particular.

I hope I fhall be forgiven for obferving, that even our present printed and written characters are fundamentally the fame. The [Roman] printed one is certainly the neateft, fimpleft, and most legible of the two; but for the fake of eafe and rapidity in our writing, it feems we there infert a number of joining or terminating ftrokes, fubstitute curves for angles, and give the letters a small inclination, to which rules even the letters a, g, r and w, are eafily reconcileable. This will ceafe to appear a remark of mere curiofity, if applied to the decyphering of foreign correfpondence. But for this purpose I would add, that the French in particular, feem to treat the fmall up-ftroke in the letters h, p, &c. as proceeding originally in an angle from the bottom of the down-ftroke: they therefore begin itwith a curve from the bottom, and keep it all the way diftinct; hence forming their written r much like our written v. 'This laft letter v, they again distinguish by a loop at the bottom; which loop they often place where we place an outward curve. The remarkable terminating which they fometimes ufe, feems intended for our printed s begun from the bottom, but from corrupt writing inverted and put horizontally, instead of vertically. It is rather from bad writing than fyftem, that their n and m appear like u and w.-I could go on to speak of the formation of written and printed capitals, but as this would be a work of mere curiofity, I leave it for the reader's amufement. E.]

REMARKS [on the Alphabetical Table].

It is endeavoured to give the Alphabet a more natural Order; Beginning first with the fimple Sounds formed by the Breath, with none or very little help of huh Tongue, Teeth, and Lips; and produced chiefly in the Windpipe.

to

8 k

r n

t d

th

Then coming forward to thofe, formed by the Roof of the Tongue next to the Windpipe.

Then to thofe, formed more forward, by the forepart of the Tongue against the Roof of the Mouth.

Then those, formed ftill more forward in the Mouth, by the Tip of the Tongue applied first to the Roots of the upper Teeth.

Then to thofe, formed by the Tip of the Tongue applied to the Ends or dh Edges of the upper Teeth.

Then to thofe, formed still more forward by the under Lip applied to the upper Teeth,

Then to thofe, formed yet more forward by the upper and under Lip opening to let out the founding Breath.

And lastly, ending with the shutting up of the Mouth, or clofing the Lips while any Vowel is founding.

In this Alphabet c is omitted as unneceffary; k fupplying its hard Sound, and s the foft.-The jod j is alfo omitted, its Sound being supplied by the new Letter h, ish, which ferves other purpofes, affifting in the formation of other founds; -thus the with a d before it, gives the found of the jod j and foft g, as in " James, January, giant, gentle," "dheems, dhanueri, dhyiant, dhentel;" with a t before it, it gives the Sound of ch, as in "Cherry, Chip," " theri, thip ;" and with an ≈ before it the French found of the jodj, as in "jamais," "zhame."

re

Thus the g has no longer two different Sounds, which occafioned Confufion; but is, as every Letter ought to be, confined to one;-The fame is to be obferved in all the Letters, Vowels, and Confonants, that wherever they are met with, or in whatever Company, their Sound is always the fame. It is alfo intended that there be no fuperfluous Letters ufed in fpelling; i. e. no Letter that is not founded;And this Alphabet, by fix new Letters, provides that there be no diftinct Sounds in the Language without Letters to express them. As to the difference between short and long Vowels, it is naturally expreffed by a fingle Vowel where fhort, a double one where long; as for "mend write "mend," but for "remain'd write "remeen'd;"

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