Alphabetical Characters. 111 
in this? Is it im any respect different from 
those enquiries which the ever active and pry- 
ing ‘curiosity of man is constantly urging 
him to attempt? 
The analysis, I grant, would at first be ex- 
tremely imperfect ; so are first attempts in all 
other cases. Some perhaps might be con- 
tented with reducing words to their secondary 
elements, if I may borrow such a phrase; 
and thus form a sort of syllabic alphabet.* 
Those who proceeded to the primary, or, as 
perhaps they ought rather to be called, uiti- 
mate, elements, would probably first distin- 
guish from the rest the more prominent and 
remarkable consonants, (such as s, d, k, and 
several. others; ) these, when once marked and 
distinguished, would be recognised on all oc- 
casions, in all kinds of words, in every con- 
ceivable connection and combination, but that 
a complete and perfect analysis of the simple 
sounds which enter into language is not ne- 
eessary for the formation of a system of al- 
phabetical writing, our own alphabets at the 
present day may convince us; and however 
defective and imperfect the original analysis 
: * Itis said, I kuow not on what authority, that the 
Tartarian alphabet is something of this kind. (See Rees’s 
Cyclop. art. ALPHABET. 
