On an Universal Chinacidd: 99 
word denoted females, it would be jj; and when 
neuters, simply +], without gender. A reader who 
saw these characters would understand them perfect- 
ly, though in the English language he must read 
them all alike they; and the same in regard to all 
its derivatives, them, their, and therrs. In like 
manner, the words that are in italics in the schedule 
(all of which are deficient in our language, and must 
have their place supplied by other words forced 
from their natural meaning, by means of the dis- 
criminative characters) have their precise meaning 
ascertained with the most perfect accuracy, though 
we are compelled to express ourselves in the same 
inaccurate manner as formerly in speaking. In this 
way of proceeding, it is inconceivable what a num- 
ber of inaccuracies would be discovered and cor- 
rected in every language. For, if the work be car- 
ried on in the manner it is begun, all this will be 
done, not only without difficulty, but the characters 
will be formed even with greater ease than if these 
anomalies were not to be at all corrected. Thus 
will the character become universal, so that no lan- 
guage will ever miss its own excellencies in it, 
though those who use it must put up with its defi- 
ciences, and supply them in the best way they can 
“in reading. 
I shall give another example.—The Greek and | 
some other modern languages have a definite plural 
of two, called the dual number; I see no reason why 
