232 The Study of Liting Languages, [no. 4, kew series, 
there are two or three n*s and as many Vs, the beginner is always 
liable to forget which is which ; but the plan of noUng the sound 
by English letters with one or t^o dots under those that represent 
peculiar Native sounds, effectually prevents any such mistakes, the 
dots remind the reader in the readiest manner that they represent 
such sounds as are those upon which the attention should be espe- 
cially concentrated. Every letter in the Native language must be 
represented by one certain letter of English, so that the proper 
spelling may be known. As to the learning of the Native charac- 
ter ultimately, if the student should require it. it is the easiest thing 
in the world when the language is known in otifcr respects, and 
the whole attention is available for the letter^only. The time re- 
quired for this is most trifling but even were it considerable it 
would still be necessary to learn at first through the medium of 
the English character, on account of the enormous loss of time 
arising from Laving the attention overburthened at first. I there- 
fore reject the Native character as being, 
1st. Quite unnecessary for learning the language. 
2nd. As being a most serious hindrance, absorbing a great 
deal of the attention, when its utmost efforts are required for those 
things which are essential. 
3rd. As not being required at all by a great proportion of those 
"who need to acquire a foreign language. 
4th. As a thing that can be acquired with a hundredth part of 
the time which would be consumed at fir«t, after the other parts of 
the study have been matured. 
5th. As being more liable to be mistaken by the beginner than 
the English character. 
If it be said, but how can it be avoided when there are no ele- 
mentary books of the language in the English character : I answer, 
First, that I am here proposing a new system, and of course would 
have books prepared suitable to it : Second, that in many languages, 
as in those of Bengal, many books have already been prepared in 
this way; Third, that in many situations the student could, with 
the assistance of a NatiTe, easily proTide himself with the first ele- 
