Alphabetical Characters. 105 
of their connexion with them. Now, argu- 
ing from probabilities, the question is, which 
of these two methods he would be most likely 
to prefer, one by which he would be:reduced 
to the necessity of framing an entire new lan- 
guage, and of devising a new systenvof: signs 
altogether unconnected with the old ones; to 
be associated each with a separate object or 
idea, according as faney or arbitrary caprice 
directed; or one in which the-spoken. lan- 
guage already in use was takenas the ground- 
work of the system; the visible symbols be- 
ing associated withthe objects of thought 
only according to that regular method which 
their previous connection with: the words:-al- 
ready employed to denote these objects, pre- 
sented? On comparing these two projects, 
(without having any view as yet to alphabeti- 
cal characters) I think no one who attends to 
the subject fairly and candidly, cam hesitate 
to pronounce which way the judgment would 
be given. It will be objected that the Chi- 
nese nevertheless have fixed upon the former 
of these methods, in preference to the latter’; 
be it so; is one man’s having made an injudi- 
cious choice; a proof that no other.» man could 
ever make a better? Aetig ht 
If then it appears that in aaididtastnniet 
this comparison, our supposed enquirer would 
VOL. III. rs) 
