50
as the letter s is always a cipher when preceded by a consonant, when they find it in a technical sentence of this nature, they immediately recognize it as the character designating the absence of shillings, as in these examples—
| £5321..0..4 | —— | Light = as = air. |
| 9259..0..8 | —— | Philip = is = a Beau. |
| 526..0..6 | —— | Lend = us = Aid. |
| 9426..0..1 | —— | Friend = so = I eat. |
| Friend = see = I eat. | ||
| 5615..0..6 | —— | Leave toil = as = I do. |
In this last example we cannot mistake the word Toil, by supposing it 15s. for the word as, is a distinct mark of the cipher that supplies the place of shillings, therefore whatever word or words precede it, must be pounds. The only probability of mistake will be, where the last character of pounds is a cipher, and that there are no pence, as in this example—£32410..3..0. If we use this sentence, which will properly represent it, I am hurt as = I go, we run a risk of making the word as, the character denoting the place of shillings, instead of its. being attached to the pounds, and might be thus written £3241..0..3; but if we make the word which precedes the shillings of sufficient length, or what is the same thing, put a certain number of consonants in it, mistakes will be prevented, as this sentence will shew = A man routs = me.
These examples may serve to guide learners in their early career.
Similar combinations will be serviceable to them where ever words are used for figures; whether employed in. re-collecting the heights of mountains, diameters of planets, distances of places, prices of articles, number of a hackney
