reader’s ingenuity may be exercised and amused, and he will be enabled to see how far the preceding remarks are well-grounded, if we present him with a few of the original drawings, placed side by side with the characters into which they have been gradually altered, and which are now in general use. The numbers one, two, three, and four, remain the same, being the simplest form which can be devised, to maintain the connexion of the drawing with the idea conceived. [Illustration] One, [Illustration] Two, [Illustration] Three, [Illustration] Four. Ancient form. Present character. [Illustration] the human face. [Illustration] [Illustration] the moon. [Illustration] [Illustration] rain. [Illustration] [Illustration] the eye. [Illustration] [Illustration] an arrow. [Illustration] [Illustration] the mouth. [Illustration] [Illustration] the tongue in the [Illustration] midst of the mouth. [Illustration] the teeth. [Illustration] In order to save a multiplicity of characters, a single one is often placed in various positions, to convey ideas which it would be very difficult, and often impossible, to express by a simple drawing of the object: for instance, how could the idea of ‘a corpse’ be represented on paper; the figure of a man, it is easily seen, is not sufficient, since we cannot tell, from looking at a picture so unfinished as the rapidity of writing would demand, whether the breath be in or out of the body; they, therefore, take the figure for man we have before seen, and lay it prostrate, thus [Illustration]. The figure to represent a rock [Illustration] is supposed to imply a rock jutting over, and affording shelter, and from this was formed the following to denote ‘a stone,’ [Illustration], that is, as it were, a portion cut out of the rock; hence, to imply a heap of stones, the form [Illustration] would readily suggest itself. On the same principle it would be very difficult to describe hail in a sketch; but, by considering it (if we may be allowed the term) as hardened water, they add to the character denoting rain the appearance of solid drops falling; thus, ‘rain’ is expressed by [Illustration] and ‘hail’ thus [Illustration]. In representing the forms of animals, or things, no further accomplishment was necessary than accuracy of eye, and skill in delineating the various shapes; but much greater ingenuity is required in order to represent intangible or invisible substances, such as light, air, &c., or the qualities of things which we call by the term adjectives, such as those implying strength, weakness, or various actions, as to walk, to stop, to eat, to desire, &c., in fact, all kinds of verbs. This difficult matter is generally accomplished by the union of two or more simple forms, placed