In the same year, George Dalgaru, an Englishman, published in London a work of which the prolix title is sufficient to show its object. It runs thus, "The Art of Signs, or an Universal Character and Philosophical Language, by Means of which, Men of the most different Idioms may, in the Space of two Weeks, learn to communicate, whether by Word of Mouth or by Writing, all their Thoughts, as clearly as in their Mother Tongue. Besides which, young Persons may therein learn the Principles of Philosophy, and the Practice of true Logic, more speedily and more readily than in the ordinary philosophic Writings." The book of Dalgaru is written in Latin, and Beckman accuses him of extreme pedantry. His characters likewise were ciphers. Joachim Frisichius, professor at the Gymnasium at Riga, was employed on a similar attempt, his object being to introduce a natural, rational, and universal language, of which some sheets printed at Thorn in 1681 contain the only specimen extant. The death of the author interrupted his labours. He purposed to call his new language Ludovicean, in honour of Louis XIV., under whose patronage he pursued his labours; a prince whose generosity was extended to the learned of all countries. Athanasius Kircher also published a work on this subject, entitled "A New and Universal Polygraphia, deduced from the Art of Combination," and by means of which, says Morhoff, (Polyhistor, l. ii. c. 5.) he who understands one language only may correspond in writing with all the nations of the earth. It would perhaps be unjust to pass in silence the little-known work of father Besnier, a Jesuit, who, in a book entitled _La Réunion des Langues, ou l'Art de les apprendre toutes par une seule_, printed at Paris in 1674, has furnished many important hints for the cultivation of this branch of language. The most remarkable work, however, which has been written on this subject, is that for which we are indebted to Bishop Wilkins, the brother-in-law of Cromwell: it is entitled, "An Essay towards a Real Character and a Philosophical Language, London, 1668." It is divided into four parts: 1st, Considerations on the various languages, their defects and imperfections, from which a philosophic language ought to be exempt. 2dly, Philosophical inquiries respecting all the things and notions to which proper names ought to be assigned. 3dly, The organic science of native grammar considered as the necessary means of representing simple ideas in discourse. 4thly, The application of the general rules to every character and language. Examples, &c. This concise outline sufficiently shows the importance of the work.