# A New and Improved System of Mnemonics/Chapter 1

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CHAP I.
OF THE SYMBOLS.
It is generally understood that man is by nature a Physiognomist; so is he also a Mnemonician.—Have we not all, individually, peculiar modes for the assistance of our Recollection? But the method introduced in the following work is systematic, and the result of much study and reflection. We have attended public lectures on this science at much expense, and yet have been but very partially instructed; and it has cost considerably more to obtain a few lessons by private tuition; whereas the small treatise now submitted to the public will convey to the mind of the student every necessary information; and that at the moderate price mentioned in the Title Page, being not more than the extra charge a Lecturer makes for his Hieroglyphics only. The Plate annexed represents a Gothic Window, having one hundred places or squares, (except the hundredth,) numbered from 1 to 100, each of which is to be filled up from the imagination with an hieroglyphic or symbol; or, in schools, a piece of canvas, with the symbols painted thereon, hung over a window of the size of the canvas, would be of excellent use.
Subjoined is the list of the whole in numerical order.
| 1 Babel Company | 2 Dr. Faustus | 3 Greyhound |
| 4 King's Jester | 5 Elephant | 6 Magpie and Nest |
| 7 Penn, the Quaker (Zealot) | 8 Rich Sailor | 9 Tired Veteran |
| 10 Boy and Hoop |||
| 11 Pillars of Hercules | 12 Boy and Swan | 13 Archer |
| 14 Jobson the Cobler, and wife | 15 Esculapius | 16 Man and Retort |
| 17 Mower | 18 Spectacle Maker | 19 Trumpeter |
| 20 House |||
| 21 Hunting | 22 Glass | 23 Shooting |
| 24 Wife or Female Friend | 25 Fire | 26 Self, or Friend |
| 27 Gentleman, Harper | 28 Cat | 29 Lady, Piano |
| 30 Globe |||
| 31 Europe | 32 Spring | 33 Asia |
| 34 Summer | 35 Elements | 36 Autumn |
| 37 Africa | 38 Winter | 39 America |
| 40 Shakespear |||
| 41 Witches | 42 Lady Macbeth | 43 Macbeth |
| 44 Comedy | 45 Garrick | 46 Tragedy |
| 47 Hamlet | 48 Ghost | 49 Grave Diggers |
| 50 St. Paul's |||
| 51 Moses | 52 Organ | 53 Aaron |
| 54 Charity Boys | 55 Pulpit | 56 Charity Girls |
| 57 Font | 58 Ringers (Belfry) | 59 Bendla |
| 60 Bee-Hive |||
| 61 Apothecary | 62 Baker | 63 Cooper |
| 64 Dyer | 65 Engraver | 66 Fishmonger |
| 67 Glass Blower | 68 Hatters | 69 Innholder |
| 70 Justice |||
| 71 Alderman | 72 Judge | 73 Tipstaff |
| 74 Counsellor | 75 Bar | 76 Jury |
| 77 Gog, Magog | 78 Guildhall | 79 King's Arms |
| 80 Noah's Ark |||
| 81 Matthew | 82 Death of Abel | 83 Mark |
| 84 Adam | 85 Tree of Life | 86 Eve |
| 87 Luke | 88 Abraham and Isaac | 89 John |
| 90 Sun |||
| 91 Mercury | 92 Venus | 93 Earth |
| 94 Mars | 95 Jupiter | 96 Saturn |
| 97 Clouds | 98 Georgium Sidus, or Herschel | 99 Comet |
| 100 Peacock |||
2. Dr. Faustus kneeling, stretches forth his hand, in which is a wand, in the act of practising (within the magic circle) his incantations. This will answer to No. 2.
3. A Greyhound begging.
4. A King's Jester, holding his right foot in his hand.
5. For the central symbol, 5, we have an eLephant and Boy; the Reap-hook will make a (5).
6. A Magpie, chattering on the edge of a nest, in which are six eggs.
7. Penn the Quaker (Zealot), stretching forth his right hand in treaty with the Indians.
8. A rich Sailor, twirling a purse of gold over his head, and cutting capers with his feet.
9. A tired Veteran, reclining his head on a drum.
10. Boy and Hoop.
And so continued to 19, each representing the figure for which it stands.
The remaining 80 are all localised, the Primary Numbers, or Tens, serving as Indexes, so that the student has only to remember the eight tens, and he will have the whole; and, as hereafter appears, the first nine will very materially assist him in these.
The twentieth serves as an Index to the next nine, thus, 20 is a House. Let the learner imagine himself in a parlour of this house, where there are two pictures on each side the glass, and a male or female friend, &c. &c.
Nothing further need be said respecting the others, as they may be readily understood by referring to them. Having got the first nine at command, the student will be soon acquainted with the tens. The Indexes commence at 20.
​The 2d symbol is Dr. Faustus; place him in imagination upon the house-top, and the 20th will be discovered instantaneously.
The symbols will stand as follow, viz.
2 20 Dr. Faustus upon the house-top. 3 30 The Geographical or Learned Dog. 4 40 Buffoon mounting the statue of Shakespear. 5 50 Elephant upon St. Paul's. 6 60 Battle of Magpie and Bees. 7 70 William Penn arm-in-arm with Justice. 8 80 Rich Sailor, having left his vessel (ark). 9 90 Tired Veteran sleeping in the sunshine.
Or by a still easier method, viz.
Ho—G Let Shakespeare in St. Paul's be(e). Jo,NA,S.
Thus, Ho. House, 20. Thus, G. Globe, 30. &c. &c. &c.