they have been oppressed, it is that they were ignorant. They feel dimly enough, but strongly, that insurrections of the people have hitherto failed, because the people were not fit to be their own masters; so that after a riot, as La Jacquerie, or that headed by Wat Tyler, they have always been driven back again to servitude by their masters; a handful of knights could quell a rebellion ! In what consisted this inferiority of the people? In their ignorance. They had physical force, why did they not successfully use it? Because it was physical force-because it was brute strength and energy, striving in vain against an instructed few. The arm was strong, but it wanted a mind to direct it; the arrow was without its feather.

In my next letter I will endeavour to expose the weakness of the Tory doctrine.

Yours ever,

VIVIAN.

THE WRITING AND PRINTING REFORM.

PART II.-PHONOGRAPHIC LONG-HAND, AND PHONOTYPY.

"For every evil under the sun
There is a remedy, or there's none;
If there is one-try to find it,

If there's not one-never mind it."

To the system of Phonography, as explained in our former paper, there has, as yet, been offered but one objection possessing any weight. It is this:-That, supposing the probability of Phonography coming into anything like general use, the simplicity of its characters, and the ease with which they may be altered, would afford very facile means to dishonest parties (and, more 's the pity, there are too many to be found who would be ready to avail themselves of them) of making such alterations in any written document as would render it useless. Now in legal documents— such as wills, &c.-certainty is the object required, not rapidity; therefore, to meet this requirement, and complete the Phonetic mode of writing, a system of Phonetic Long-hand has been invented. To effect this, our present method of writing has been retained—the only alteration being, that new characters have been invented for such sounds as have no representative in our present alphabet, and the

redundant ones it contains have been expunged. So well has this been done, and so closely does it resemble our present long-hand, that, although perfectly Phonetic, it is easily read by those who know nothing of Phonography. In proof of this, it is only necessary to add, that the writer of these articles frequently receives letters with the address written in these characters.

No sooner was Phonography brought under public notice, than many became convinced of the truthfulness of the theory on which it was based, and commenced learning the system. To such, however, it immediately became evident there was something more needed to complete the scheme-to render it a beautiful and perfect whole. They could write the system, and read what they had written they could also read what others had written. But this was not enough. Still there was a vacuum. Hence immediately arose the question," Why not print Phonetically? If the system be good for writing, it must be equally good for printing. To be of universal benefit, the reform must be carried to that length, or it will prove a failure. It will not do to attack one part of the vicious system of heterography only-to lop off one branch of this Upas tree of knowledge-we must strike the axe at the root to be successful. We feel we have truth on our sideCan we then doubt the course we should pursue? No sooner

said than done.

At the outset, however, a difficulty presented itself. In determining to print Phonetically, there were three methods which suggested themselves as to the way in which this should be done :1st. Whether the Phonographs could be used as moveable metal types.

2nd. Whether it would not be better to form an entirely new alphabet, on the model of our present Roman one.

3rd. Whether the present Roman alphabet reformed-useless letters being rejected, and necessary new ones introduced-would not be the preferable method.

The solution of this question caused some delay in the practical part of the reform. The result was, that the last of these modes has been adopted; and, as we think, wisely; for this reason, The alphabet, being so much like the Roman one, anything printed in it may, with a little attention, be read by a person entirely ignorant of Phonography. It thus possesses the advantage of attracting rather than repelling. Curiosity will induce people

to look at it-read it; they will thus become convinced of its truthfulness; and, ultimately, converts to Phonetic writing.

But what are the advantages to be derived from printing Phonetically? inquires some utilitarian reader. We answer, that were it only the adoption of a correct method of printing in lieu of a false one-the triumph of truth over error-that alone should be enough to satisfy any one. But this is not all. Who is there that does not, in reading, often meet with words, to the proper pronunciation of which the characters used to represent them render him not the least assistance? Especially is this the case as regards names of persons and places. One advantage of Phonotypy is, that by it the sound of every word-its pronunciation-will be made, as it were, visible. And is it no advantage to do away with the present tedious preparatory step to learning to read-the learning to spell? What a saving of time will this effect! What a barrier to education-self-education, the best of all education-will thus be knocked down! On such points as this, however, to use an old saw, an ounce of fact is worth a pound of opinion.' Will Phonotypy do this? We reply in the following paragraph, which appeared in a popular periodical a few weeks since :

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"An interesting experiment has lately been made in connexion with the City of Westminster Temperance Society, Broadway, to instruct a class of unlettered adults in the art of reading, by means of Mr. Pitman's system of Phonotypy, or printing by sound. The class (conducted by Mr. Benn Pitman) consisted principally of reformed drunkards, thirty of whom were entirely unable to read. After eighteen hours' instruction had been given, in consecutive lessons, an examination took place, when the members of the class went through the sounds and articulations of the English language forming the Phonetic alphabet, with remarkable precision. They afterwards read various exercises, containing words of three and four syllables, with the greatest accuracy. A general opinion was expressed by the gentlemen present (many of whom were unacquainted with the principles of Phonotypy) that the class read English, as expressed in its new and simple character, far more fluently and accurately than could have been accomplished by the ordinary system of printing after twelve months' practice.”

In America, also, a class of six negroes have been taught to read, by the same system, in sixty hours.

To such facts as these we need add nothing. They tell their own tale.

To enable our readers to form an opinion on the merits of the System, we here give a Phonetic alphabet, followed by a paragraph" set-up " in Phonotypes, which we doubt not each one of them will be able to peruse with very little assistance from the

That the Pho

alphabet, thus proving our assertions to be true. notypes are quite equal, if not superior, in appearance to the old Roman types, we imagine few will deny. Some of them-simply because they are new-may at first sight appear strange; but a little time will soon convince of their utility, if not of their beauty.

THE ENGLISH PHONOTYPIC ALPHABET.

The sounds which the Phonotypes represent, are indicated by the Italic letters in the illustrative words placed under them.

"We hav her [in a scem hwig Sur Jon Hurfel (Herschell) had just givn,] de fuest leturz wiâ hwig it iz posibl tu rit Inglif. But, on đɛ uđur hand, wiđ đɛ adifun ov tu or trɛ mor vɣelz, and az meni consonants, evuri non lanŋgwaj mit probabli bɛ efectuali redust tu ritin, so az tu prezurv an egzact corespondens betwen đe ritiŋ and pronunsiafun, hwig wud be wun ov de most valuabl acwizifunz not onli tu filolojists, but tu mancind; fasilitatiŋ đɛ inturcors betwen nafunz, and laiŋ de fondafun ov de furst step tordz a univursal laŋgwaj, wun ov đɛ grat DESIDURATA at hwig mancind et tu am bị comun consent."-SUR JON HUREEL. Articl "Sönd," in đɛ ENSICLOPEDIA METROPOLITANA, par. 367.

That this is no crude seheme-no mere phantasy of a disor

dered brain-which we recommend, may be inferred from the fact, that three years have been spent in bringing it to its present state. In this good work, Mr. Pitman, and Mr. Ellis, B.A., assisted by several Phonographers, have been assiduously engaged. Numerous experiments have been carried on in order to obtain the best forms for the new letters required; many matrices having been cut, and afterwards thrown aside, the letters cast in them being either not beautiful in appearance or suitable to the sound intended to be represented when printed. The Phonotypes are now to be had in three founts-Pica, Long Primer, and Brevier. The " Phonotypic Journal," as well as one or two other smaller periodicals, and Milton's "Paradise Lost," are all printed with Phonotypes. A copy of the "New Testament is also in course of publication in them.

We will only add, in conclusion, in order to show the disinterestedness of those who advocate this reform, that the whole of the expenses attendant upon the construction of the Phonotypic founts, and for others that will yet be wanted-amounting at present to nearly £320, and continually increasing-have been borne by the voluntary contributions of Phonographers. Seeing that they can have no private end in view to serve, surely their's may be truthfully called." A labour of love."

PHONOPEN.

WOMAN'S WIT.

This

IN the Morning Post of February 26th, 1847, we see announced the death of Count Leopold Ferri, at Padua. gentleman is described as leaving a perfectly unique library, composed of works written by female authors amounting to nearly 32,000 volumes. We had no idea that the female mind and pen had been so prolific-nor that there existed so gallant a Bibliomaniac! We can imagine the old noble inhabiting an ancient palace in seer-famed Padua. We can see the terraced garden. That "purest of all human pleasures," which "highly refreshes and recreates the spirits. There are the marble balustrades and steps, decorated with vases of sweet flowering plants. The vine-arbour with its heavy bunches of blooming grapes is before us, and fancy so assists and sharpens our senses