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(as a writer lately observed about Mr. Feinaigle's scheme) because a resemblance can be traced between them and the figures in form; their selection is the result of some experience of the powers of each, intended to be disposed in such a manner, that no junction of any two consonants (representing figures) should produce a greater number of correct words in the language, than any other two consonants, in all their various combinations; that 34, for example, should not have more words to represent it than 56, and thus with all the rest. But, although this has been the professed object of the author, yet, he is sorry to observe, he has not completely effected it, for some of the combinations are more prolific than others; but he thinks he has succeeded as well as the nature of the letters will admit, and the English language allow. He has attempted various other classifications, but none of them were so successful as the present.
He knows that some, which he could devise, might, at first view, appear more neat, but as power is superior to neatness, he abandoned them.—The principle that governed him was, to join the efficient with the inefficient letters of the alphabet; thus with T, which is found in a great many words, he combined Q, that may be easily seen is less common. With R and L, which are very powerful letters, he placed Z and J, that are not so.——Two letters of middling power he joined together, as N and H; M and G, &c. &c.—
The reader need not be told after this, that the assimilations he has given, were not to shew the reasons that influenced him in choosing the consonants, but merely to assist the memory in retaining them.
