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the letter S, in its double capacity; for although the writer conceives, that the application is sufficiently perfect in all its bearings; yet as objections have been made by some friends, who were satisfied with his explanations; he thinks it proper to notice them here, lest others should entertain similar opinions. How can the words, as, ass, and asses, be reconciled to represent 100? (their application is not doubted, where a consonant precedes them, for then they would be all ciphers). If the readers refer to page 53, they will find it clearly expressed, that the first word As, is 100; and if they read a little further, they will find that if another consonant be subjoined to a preceding s, that such word will still be for 100, and the second consonant will have its original value, as in the word Sat, being 101. If this be easily understood, there can be no difficulty in determining that the word Ass is 100, for the second S being a cipher, when preceded by a consonant, can neither add to nor diminish the former. If it were allowed that as the first word As, was a hundred, and that another cipher added to it, would make it a thousand, then the second s would have a superior value to the t in the word Sat, or n in the word Son, &c. which words are plainly enough understood to be 101 and 102.
The subsequent explanation, page 53, will shew that Asses, can express no more than 100; as the word Spice shews; which is 197.—Three consonants for three figures; and so far from its being a defect in the system, to have several words, to represent the same figure or figures, Mnemonicians will find, that however copious the English language may be, that the words are, if any thing, too few for the purposes, to which they may wish to apply them.
If the letter S had only two powers; to be used as a cypher, when preceded by a consonant; and when begin-
