It is also intended, that there be no superfluous letters used in spelling; i. e. no letter that is not sounded; and this alphabet, by six new letters, provides that there be no distinct sounds in the language, without letters to express them. As to the difference between short and long vowels, it is naturally expressed by a single vowel, where short; a double one, where long; as for mend, write mend; but for remained, write remeen'd; for did write did, but for deed write diid, etc."
In this alphabet c is omitted as unnecessary; k supplying its hard sound, and s the soft; k also supplies well the place of z, and with an s added, the place of x: q and x are therefore omitted. The vowel u, being sounded as oo, makes the w unnecessary. The y, where used simply, is supplied by i, and where as a diphthong, by two vowels: that letter is therefore omitted as useless. The jod, j, is also omitted, its sound being supplied by a new letter, which serves other purposes.
The philosophical construction of the alphabet may be best seen in the following account, written by himself, and entitled:
