130 ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 
Mr Parker, accordingly, took the trouble of getting an alpha- 
bet cut in wood ; the letters of which were in relief, and in sepa- 
rate pieces, each about an inch long. He provided, also, two other 
alphabets, one of pasteboard, and the other of metal, with the 
letters of the same size, and detached, as in the former. These 
alphabets I transmitted to Miss Mrrcnett on the 2d of June; 
informing her, at same time, of the purpose for which they 
were intended; and expressing my anxiety, that she would lose 
no time in giving the plan proposed a fait trial. Particular di- 
rections for the use of the alphabets were drawn up by Mr 
Parker; and I took the liberty of adding only a few general 
hints ; being well aware how unnecessary it was to go into 
the minutie, when addressing so judicious a preceptor. 
The outline of the plan was simply this: The name of any 
familiar object being chosen, such as egg, bread, sugar, arm, &c., 
the letters forming the word were to be put together by Miss 
Mrrcnett, exactly as they are arranged in print. Mrrcuetr 
was then to be made to touch, first the object, and then this 
word, in immediate succession, as often as possible; so as to 
form a close association in his mind, between the thing and its 
tangible name. It was left entirely to Miss Mrrcnetx’s judg- 
ment, to employ such means as she deemed best, for securing 
her brother’s perseverance in the task for such a length of time, 
as might enable him to perceive its object: And in the event 
of this primary and fundamental step being gained, the experi- 
ment was to be prosecuted, according to similar principles. 
The following is a copy of a letter which I received from 
Miss Mircuext, dated Nairn, the 30th June. 
- “ Ihave been from home during these last ten days, which 
has prevented my sooner acknowledging the receipt of your 
favour 
