C 1092 ) 
of introducing an Vniverfal Chara3er , in which M Nati- 
ons, though of different fpeech, (hall exprefs their common 
Conceptions ; yet, that fome Two or Three (or more) pe.r- 
fonsmay, byconfent, agree upon fuch Charadters, whereby 
to exprefi each to other their fenfe in Writing, without at- 
tending the Sound of words 5 is fo far from an impoffibility^ 
that it mutt needs be allowed to be very Fefible, if not Fa- 
cile. And, if it may be done by new-invented Charaders^ 
why not as well by thofe already in ufe ? Which though to 
thole who know their common ufe^may fignifie Sounds ^ yet 
to thofe that know it not, or do hot attend it , may be as 
immediately applied to fignifie Things or Notions^as if they 
fignified nothing elfe: And confequently , (b long as it is 
purely Arbitrary, by what Charadef to exprefi fuch a 
Thing or Notion 5 we may as well make ufe of that Chara- 
der or Colletiion of Letters, to exprefs the Thing to the 
Eyes of him that is Deaf^by which others exprefs the Sound 
or Name of it to thofe that Hear* So that^ indeed, that 
fhallbe^ toHimjaRealCharadler, which exprefTeth to A- 
nother a vocal Sound ^ but fignifiethjtb Both, the fime Con- 
ception : Which is. To undcrftand the Language. 
To thefe Fundamental Grounds of PoffibilityinNature, 
I am next to add a Confideration which madt pie think it 
Morally-pofSble, that is , not im^poffible to fucceedrin 
Pradice. And, becaufe I am tiow giving an Account to one 
who is (b good a Friend to Mathematicks , and Proficient 
therein, I fliall not doubt but this Confideratiori will have 
the force of a great fwafive. Confidering th^riefbre,, from 
how few and defpicable Principles the whole Body; of Geo- 
metry, by continual confequetice, is inforced ^ if fo' fair a 
Pile, and curious Strudlure may be raifed ^ and ftand faft 
upon fo fmall a Bottom 5 I could not think it incredible, 
that we might attain (bme confiderable fuccels in ^his De- 
fign, how little foever we had at firft to begin upon ; and, 
from thofe little Adions and Geftures , which have a kind 
of Natural fignificaricy, we might, if well managed , pro- 
ceed gradually to the Explication of a compleat Language, 
and withal, direft to thofe curiofities of Motion and Po- 
fture 
