31 



'jt/z December, i! 



Professor E. A. Letts, Esq., Ph.D., F.R.S.E., F.C.S. 

 in the Chair. 



Professor Everett read a Paper on 



REMINISCENCES OF 

 THE INTERNATIONAL SHORTHAND CONGRESS. 



Professor Everett began his lecture by a brief review of the 

 history of English shorthand, mentioning in particular the 

 names of Bright, John Willis, Cartwright and Rich, Mason and 

 Gurney, Byrom, Taylor, and Pitman, and giving some account 

 of their systems. The earlier French systems were to a 

 large extent based on Taylor, but the modern tendency of 

 French shorthand is best seen in the system of Duploye. 

 The German systems are conducted on an entirely different 

 plan, their alphabets being formed by selecting the elements of 

 the letters of German longhand, and not by the employment 

 of simple geometrical forms, as with us. 



The German and French systems were well represented at 

 the Congress, both by the presence of delegates and by the 

 prominent display of specimens in the room set apart for the 

 purposes of an exhibition. There was a very full attendance 

 of London stenographers, and a small representation from each of 

 the principal towns in England and Scotland, but there was 

 scarcely anyone from Ireland. The Congress was well managed, 

 and its debates, though conducted with much spirit, were 

 without acrimony. The two leading men were Mr. Thomas 



