CHAP. I. The Proposal of one kind of Real Character (amongst many others which might be offered) both for the Integrals, whether Genus's, Differences or Species, together with the Derivati∣o••s and Inflexions belonging to them, as likewise for all the several kinds of Particles.
THe next Enquiry should be, what kind of Character or Language may be fixed upon, as most convenient for the expression of all those Particulars above mentioned, belonging to the Philosophy of Speech; in order to which it may seem, that the first Enquiry should be con∣cerning Language; Because Writing is but the figure of Articulate sound, and therefore subsequent to it: But though it be true, that men did first speak before they did write, and consequently writing is but the figure of Speech, and therefore in order of time subsequent to it; yet in order of Nature there is no priority between these: But voice and sounds may be as well assigned to Figure, as Figures may be to Sounds. And I do the rather begin with treating concerning a com∣mon Character or Letter, because this will conduce more to that great end of Facility, whereby (as I first proposed) men are to be invited to the Learning of it. To proceed from the Language to the Chara∣cter, would require the learning of both; which being of greater dif∣ficulty, than to learn one alone, is not therefore so sutable to that in∣tention of ingaging men by the Facility of it. And because men that do retain their several Tongues, may yet communicate by a Real Cha∣racter, which shall be legible in all Languages; therefore I conceive it most proper to treat of this in the first place, and shall afterwards shew how this Character may be made effable, in a distinct Language.
All Characters signifie either Naturally, or by Institution. Natural Characters are either the Pictures of things, or some other Symbolical