his discourse, read over the whole again, filling up some words which may be omitted. As the Short-Hand writer, without study at the moment, knows how to write in a deficient way, any word that occurs; so will he, with practice, in the same manner find himself able to write sentences, by using those words only that are requisite to give a complete outline of the signification, and that such outline as will of itself point out the touches that are necessary to finish the picture. When a person has much practice, he may affix a letter of the common alphabet for various words not in the alphabet plate: capital letters may serve for others. To arrive at perfection in this art, demands not only the exercise of much ingenuity, but also the most assiduous and persevering practice. Few, even of our professional stenographers, are able to take down every word from the mouth of a speaker. Indeed, were such exactness attainable, it is scarcely necessary; and would neither increase the gratification of the public, nor the reputation of those whose eloquence it records. THE HERMIT. BY THE RULE OF CONTRACTION. life No. 1. "To him lives well answered - Hermit, every form good; nor can -give other rule choice, than remove all apparent evil. He most certainly remove evil, said devote himself solitude recommended by example. I have indeed Prince, who - solitude, said Hermit, but gain imitators. In you fifteen years no desire my example youth I professed arms, was raised degrees highest military rank. countries head Have traversed wide my troops, seen many battles - sieges. Last, being disgusted by preferment - younger officer, and feeling vigour beginning decay, I resolved - close - life peace; having found - world full misery. I had once escaped - pursuit all this cavern, Employed Artificers therefore chose it for was likely want. final residence. into chambers, and stored For sometime after entrance into harbour; retreat, re joiced like tempest beaten sailor repose. When pleasure - novelty went away, doubt, vanities imagination, which hourly prevail upon me, because no opportunities relaxation - diversion. I sometimes a shamed think, could not secure myexercise vice, but by retiring from was rather impelled by resentment, than solitude. My fancy riots lost so much, if - escape tainly devout." scenes - folly, gained so little. In solitude, bad men, want likewise - counsel, I been long comparing evils resolve return - world to-morrow. be certainly miserable, not cer THE HERMIT, OR THE HAPPINESS OF solitude, A DELUSION. To him that lives well, answered the Hermit, every form of life is good; nor can I give any other rule for choice, than to remove all apparent evil. He will most certainly remove from evil, said the Prince, who shall devote himself to that solitude which you have recommended by your example, I have indeed lived fifteen years in solitude, said the Hermit, but have no desire that my example should gain any imitators. In my youth I professed arms, and was raised by degrees to the highest military rank. I have traversed wide countries at the head of my troops, and seen many battles and seiges. At last, being disgusted by the preferment of a younger officer, and feeling that my vigour was beginning to decay, I resolved to close my life in peace; having found the world full of snares, discord, and misery. I had once escaped from the pursuit of the enemy by the shelter of this cavern, and therefore chose it for my final residence. I employed artificers to form it into chambers, and stored it with all that I was likely to want. For some time after my retreat, I rejoiced like a tempest-beaten sailor at his entrance into harbour; being delighted with the sudden change of the noise and hurry of war to stillness and repose. When the pleasure of novelty went away, I employed my hours in examining the plants which grew in the valley, and the minerals which I collected from the rocks. But that enquiry is now grown tasteless and irksome, I have been for some time unsettled and distracted; my mind is disturbed with a thousand perplexities of doubt, and vanities of imagination, which hourly prevail upon me, because I have no opportunities of relaxation or diversion. I am sometimes ashamed to think that I could not secure myself from vice, but by retiring from the exercise of virtue; and begin to suspect, that I was rather impelled by resentment, than led by devotion into solitude. My fancy riots in scenes of folly, and I lament that I have lost so much, and have gained so little. In solitude, if I escape the example of bad men, I want likewise the counsel and conversation of the good. I have been long comparing the evils with the advantages of society, and resolve to return into the world to-morrow. The life of a solitary man will be certainly miserable, but not certainly devout. WHEN FOLLOWING A RAPID SPEAKER. Many long words, especially those in which the marks for consonants will not join neatly, may be denoted by their first syllable with as many points annexed, as there are syllables wanting. The vowel may, in many instances, be denoted by beginning the consonant from that point after the preposition, in which the vowel should be placed, according to the line. Double or treble prepositions may be joined together. Words ending in any of the terminations, which in the alphabet are denoted by Consonant marks, may be expressed by their first Consonant and vowel, together with the proper marks for its termination. The vowel must not be omitted whether it precedes or follows the consonant, otherwise the consonant might be taken for a preposition. As few English words end with the syllable to, the preposition to may be joined to the preceeding word. Other prepositions which are denoted in the alphabet by a single consonant, may in like manner be joined to the preceeding word. Prepositions generally require after them either a noun or pronoun. The pronouns being few in number, and used as substitutes for nouns, must occur very frequently, and by that means soon become familiar to the learner; pronouns therefore may be joined to the prepositions without danger of creating difficulty to the reader. The words some, any, none, each, both, &c. followed by a preposition and pronoun may be denoted by their first consonant, and may be joined to the preposition and pronoun. A point must denote that the pronoun is joined to the preposition, which must be placed above the character. The adverbs preceding the verbs, and the substantives following the pronoun in all adjectives, may be C joined to the verbs and adjectives respectively, denoting both the adverbs and substantives by their first consonant and vowels. Many common phrases formed by a substantive, are ended by the prepositions with, without, in, &c., and followed by to, of, &c. may be very conveniently abbreviated by joining together the first letter of each word Common adverbial phrases are to be joined in like manner. When the proportion of equality is expressed with some one word intervening, they may be joined together. The words, it is impossible to, may be written with merely the first consonant. An accurate and assiduous attention to the nature and idiom of our language may suggest other abbreviations, as useful and extensive as these. Proper care being taken to lay a right foundation, the legitimate way of contracting will increase in proportion to the writer's want of them. The manner of contraction here adopted is thought far superior to a number of arbitraries. Pupil must exercise his ability in writing the radical parts only of public Lectures and Speeches in common hand for a time, after that in short hand. The Experience will be the best guide; an example will be found in page 22. The omission should be supplied while the subject is fresh in the memory. The following rules are from the excellent system of Byrom, improved by Molineaux. 1. Short-Hand is one of the perpendicular hands; and that your writing may have a vertical appearance, always place yourself exactly opposite to your paper; and the equal extension of both your elbows will |
