OF THE ARROW-HEADED CHARACTER. 519 
the existence of ocular demonstration as to the 
Babylonian origin of the Greek, Roman, and, 
consequently, modern capital alphabet, to which, 
of course, I may add such nations of Europe as 
employ classic characters. It is truly singular and 
highly interesting to observe the gradual depar- 
ture from the original Babylonian character in 
the letter T, the transition or modification in 
whose form is comprised within the last 350 years, 
in which time, if we take an example from any 
old book at any of the intermediate periods, we 
shall find the gradual departure from the primitive 
form, which we endeavour to represent below. 
FIG, 14. 
300 B.C. A.D. 1500 to 1630. A.D. 1630 to 1770. A.D. 1770 to 1840. 
to A.D.1500. 
The above may serve to exhibit the gradual 
passing away of the arrow-head features, as 
evinced in the form of the letter T, with which 
more liberties have been taken than any other 
letter, all of which, however, retain the arrow- 
headed characters, more or less faithfully. 
