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in its lateral position, *-, to a hand and wrist, seen in a side 

 view. 



A still more striking resemblance between the character and 

 the sensible object, from which it receives its designation, will be 

 perceived on viewing the letter y in its lateral position. In its 

 ordinary position, it would be difficnlt to trace any connexion 

 between this character and an eye : the sensible object, which its 

 name denotes. Immediately however on its being turned thus, j>i, 

 the resemblance is apparent. 



A similar resemblance might be traced in many other characters 

 of the Hebrew Alphabet ; enough however, it is trusted, has been 

 said to establish the truth of the observation made above : that the 

 characters of that Alphabet, when viewed laterally, resemble the 

 sensible objects, after which they have been named. This, at least, 

 is the case in many instances ; and, if we cannot trace it in all, it is 

 most probably owing to the change or corruption in their forms, 

 Avhich a lapse of ages may be naturally supposed to have pro- 

 duced. 



It is important here to remark; that this resemblance is connected 

 with the characters as seen in their lateral, and upright position ; 

 since on this circumstance are grounded the opinions I have formed 

 respecting the origin of the present mode of writing among the He- 

 brews ; and further, it should be particularly noticed, that this re- 

 semblance is to be perceived only wlien the base, not the vertex, of 

 the character forms the right side, n, not u , resembles a house ; ■->, 

 not w , resembles a quadruped ; ^, not vj , an eye : and so in the 

 other instances. These observations might seem to countenance 

 the opinion, which some have entertained, that the Hebrew charac- 

 ters Avere originally hierogh-phical, each letter conveying a com- 

 plete meaning in itself. 



i^ 



