PRINTED FOR SIR RICHARD PHILLIPS,
By whom Communications (Post-paid) are thankfully received.
(Price Sixteen Shillings, half-bound.)
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ADLARD, Printer, 23, Bartholomew-close;
and 39, Duke-street, West Smithfield,
When the Monthly Magazine was first planned, twleadng Meas occupied the minds of those who undertook to con
duct it. The first was, that of laying before the Public various objects of information and discussion, both,
amusing and instructive; the second was that or ending aid to the propagation of those liberal principles re
specting some of the most important tongers of mankind, which have been either deserted or virulently up-
posed by other Periodical Miscellanies; bu? upon the manly and rational support of which the Fame and Fate
of the age must ultimately depend. Preface to Monthly Mag. Vol. I.
As long as those who write are ambitious of making Converts, and of giving their Opinions a Maximum of In-
Ruence and Celebrity, the most extensively circulated Miscellany will repay, with the greatest Effect, the
Curiosity of those who read, whether it be for Amusement or for Instruction.JOHNSON.
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.
The Italian and Castilian languages owe much of their construction and con stitution to the Latin, yet they do not imitate the Latin orthography as we do, but scholastically admit no more letters in their words than they sound. I am confident, sir, that nothing would conduce so much to the beauty and security of our language, or entitle it to the esteem and confidence of foreigners, as a coalition of writers befriending one uncomplicated system of orthography. Having arranged and accommodated such a one on the priuciple of analogy, I hope you will allow it room in your next Magazine. That it will be subject to spurious remark and astringent cavil by the cursory inspector is probable, and to meet and cope with controversialists in the area of your work will be preferable than to bring up my defence after my dictionary is published. A looker-on sometimes discerns the condition of the game, and discriminates quicker than the player himself; and, if any of your able writers will examiné and frankly give me their inion of the following nomenclature, I shall esteem it a great compliment, whether publicly communicated, or privately to the care of your printer, Mr. Adlard, 23, Bartholomew-close, JOHN PYTChes.
INCE I wrote to you last, I have to
acknowledge the beneficial counsel
and co-operation of many learned men;
and I thank you for allowing the co-
lumns of your Magazine to continue re-
cruiting for the service and the security of
my dictionary. In the province of lite-
rature, wrangling and feud were never
more general than at this new era. Every
pen carries a warlike attitude, and the
restoration and future maintenance of
order and good government can be ex-
pected only from enthroned rule and so
ber authority, holding a banner or decretal,
that may attract a steady belief and an
associated allegiance. A laudable spirit
of inquiry has three centuries actuated
the orthographist, yet, hitherto, little has
been done toward bringing to precision
those principles of spelling which I am so
desirous to enforce upon general obser-
vance. I have never had the satisfaction
of being acquainted with a pen-man who
could boast of precision and complete-
ness in kis orthography, nor have I been
able to comprehend any principle on
which a writer's practice is erected, nor
any rule to which he has resolutely stu-
died an actual conformity. Every word
should be rendered agreeable and inter-
esting to the eye, soft and labent to the
tongue, and rich in concord and tone.
Many words of great dignity and sterling
worth have been discharged, and consi-
dered unfit for service, on account of
their antiquated stiffness, their Dutch-bel-
Tied plenitude, their abraded frame, or
their unauspicious influence on the ear,
which might be judiciously appointed to
the administration of thought and the re-
public of literature, by the ablation of a
senseless prefix, a supernumerary conso-
nant, or the restoration of an exiled vowel.
Where a letter or particle serves only to
breed confusion it ought to be retrench- Abasevly
ed, unless that retrenchment render the
meaning of the word equivocal.
MONTHLY MAG. NO. 272.
Mr. Pytches' Orthographical System.
Aaronnic not Aaronical. 2. 81.
Ab (yarn)
Abb. 18. 57.
Ab-wool
Abb-wool.
A-back
Ab-aft
The Abaisseur
To Ab-alienate
Abandonary
The Abaptista
Ab-articulation
To Abase
Abaseve
Aback. 33. 36.
Abaft. 33. 36.
Abalienate. 33.
Abandonery. 94.
Abaptiston.
Abarticulation. 33.
Abace. 99.
Abasive. 95.
Abasively. 95.
Abasement. 105:
Abashlesly
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