through several nations of the east. For we are informed that the Japanese, the Tonquinese, and the Corolans, who speak different languages from one another, and from the inhabitants of China, use, however, the same written characters with them; and by this means, correspond intelligibly with each other in writing, though ignorant of the language spoken in their several countries: a plain proof that the Chinese characters are, like hieroglyphics, independent of language, and signs of things, not of words.

Our arithmetical figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c., give a very good example of this sort of writing. They have no dependence on words, each figure denotes the number for which it stands; and consequently, is understood by all the nations who have agreed in the use of these figures.

But in process of time, different nations became sensible of the imperfection, and ambiguity, and the tediousness of each of these methods of communication; they therefore began to consider, that by employing signs that should stand not directly for things, but

for the words by which things were distinguished, a considerable advantage would be gained. The first invention of this sort seems to have been an alphabet of syllables, instead of an alphabet of letters. Such a one is said to be retained to this day in some countries in India. But still, it must have been highly imperfect, as the number of characters was very great, which rendered both reading and writing exceedingly complex and laborious; till at last, some happy genius arose, and tracing the sounds made by the human voice to their most simple elements, reduced them into vowels and consonants; and by affixing to these the signs which we now call letters, taught men how, by their combinations, to express in writing the various sounds which they employed in speech. By being reduced to this simplicity, the art of writing was brought to its highest state of perfection; and, in this state, we now enjoy it in all the countries of Europe.

To whom we are indebted for this sublime and refined discovery, is not determined. The alphabet was first brought into Greece

by Cadmus, a Phoenician. It then contained only sixteen letters; the rest were afterwards added according as signs for proper sounds were found wanting. It is curious to observe, that the letters which we use to this day can be traced back to this very alphabet of Cadmus, who flourished in the time of King David. It is observed by learned men, that the ancient Greek characters have a remarkable conformity with the Hebrew Samaritan characters, which, it is agreed, are the same with the Phoenician, or alphabet of Cadmus.

The ancient order of writing was from the right hand to the left. This manner of writing was used among the Abyssinians, Phoenicians, Arabians, and Hebrews; and, from some very old inscriptions, it also appears to have prevailed among the Greeks. They afterwards adopted a new method, by writing their lines alternately from the right to the left, and from the left to the right, which they called boustrophedon, or writing after the manner in which oxen plough the ground. This manner of writing continued

to the days of Solon, the celebrated legislator of Athens. But at length the motion. from the left hand to the right being found more natural and commodious, the practice of writing in this direction, prevailed throughout all the countries of Europe.

Writing was at first engraven on pillars and tables of stone, afterwards on plates of the softer metals, such as lead. In proportion as writing became more common, lighter and more portable substances were employed. The leaves and the bark of certain trees were used in some countries; and in others, tables of wood, covered with a thin coat of soft wax, over which the impression was made with a stylus, or pen of iron. In later times, the hides of animals, properly prepared and made into parchment, were the most common materials. Our present method of writing on paper, is an invention of no greater antiquity, in Europe, than the fourteenth century.

DIRECTIONS

FOR

LETTER-WRITING.

WRITERS of letters on business or trade should never for a moment lose sight of the subject under discussion; they should be worded as briefly as may be consistent with the subject they are writing on. Indeed, a good writer, whatever may be his subject, will never forget that a comprehensive idea of it, given in short but forcible language, forms the excellence of letter writing.

Relatives, in their correspondence, must always consider their own characters. Thus a father, when writing to his son, will preserve his superiority by a gentle degree of authority; and a son will never lose sight of the manner in which he can best express his sense of filial duty. In friendship the heart