The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-20 00:00:00

Just published, in boards, Svo, with four Lithographic Plates,

Price
P 2s. 61

4 COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF
SHOUT-HAND. By T. C. FOSTER, Professional
Short-Hand Writer, and iteporter for the LIVERPOOL
STANDARD.
London: WHITTAKER and Co. Liverpool: STANDARD
Office, and MARPLES. Manchester: SowLER, and tall
Booksellers.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS,

"This system of Short-hand will be found one of the moss
complete that has ever been issued from the press—indeed,
•we may say the most complete. Utility and simplicity are
the main objects which the author has kept in view. A per-
fect mastery of the instructions which Mr. Foster has given,
will enable any one to take down te,batim, the worth of the
most rapid speaker. Nor is this the only advantage which
will accrue from an acquaintance with this system, the faci-
lity with which the notes may be afterwards read is a consi-
deration of very great importance. The alphabetical cha-
racters have the recommendation of extreme simplicity.
The signs for combination of letters, and the arbitraries, or
marks for words, will be found highly conducive to expedi-
tion in writing. In this depaitinent the author has been
eminently successful. To Ladies or Gentlemen who may
wish to master the useful art of stenography, we can cordi-
ally recommend this work, by which a student of ordinary
ability, especially if a quick writer, maybe enabled in a very
short time to take down literal reports of sermons and speeches.
We may add, that the professional short-hand writer may
also derive much instruction from this compendium.—Liver-
pool Standard.
"'lbis is an exceedingly clever, instructive, and well writ-
ten production. Generally speaking, works on stenography
are not sufficiently entertaining and attractive to obtain nu-
memus readers; but we will do Mr. Foster the justice to say,
that he has thrown much that is highly-interests-g in his
" plain instructions," and has very happily blended the enter-
taining with the useful. Our author's principal object ap-
pears to be to instruct the uninitiated; but we think his work
will prove valuable its many respects even to those whose
profession it is to practise the art. Of course his system must,
in a great measure, partake of those previously in existence,
but as regards the distinctness and decision of his vowel cha-
racter,, it is superior to any we have seen. His examples
and illustrations are also exceedingly good, and the various
lessons are given with a plainness and perspicuity which
must greatly facilitate the lent ner's progress. In short, to
all woo are anxious to obtain a speedy and accurate know-
ledge of the art of stenography, we earnestly recommend the
work."—Mandiester Couiier.

" We are of opinion that the last essay on stenography
must almost of necessity be the best, and that the person most
qualified to treat of it is a practical reporter. Dlr. Foster's
enthusiastic admiration of the art, has, we think, led a
little too far; but it by no means detracts front the value of
information derived from his own personal observation and
experience as a reporter, which is now offered to the public
in a cheap and accessible form."—Liverpool Mercury.
" We can with confidence: pronounce Mr. Foster's system
a good one. Constant practice is absolutely necessary for
any one who wishes to be a first-rate short-hand writer, either
on this or on any other system; but we believe that a
thoroughly practised writer of short-hand would find it easier
to follow a rapid speaker with this than with any othet system.
It also possesses the very great advantage of being easily
readable when written."—Liverpool Times.
"From a hasty dance through the pages, we pronounce it
excellent."—Lancashire Herald.

" Mr. Foster we know has had much practical experience
in the art, and it is practical. experience alone that can
enable an individual to form a correct :udgment of any par-
ticular system. Mr. Foster has, it appears, tried three seve-
ral systems, and has fixed upon thatl which he deems the best.
On this he has made such improvements as, in the course
of his practice, seemed best calculated to secure facility.
With his judgment matured by constant consideration of
the subject, he tells us that the s) stem which he has now
presented to the public possesses many advantai2es over
those most in use, with which he is acquainted.—LiverFool
Albion.

" We think its alphabetical characters are extremely sim-
ple, and that the signs for pluralities of letters, and the ar-
bitraries, which are snore peculiarly the author's own improve-
mer ts, are highly conducive to expedition, without inducing
any corresponding difficulty in deciphering. White Mr. Fos-
ter's arbitraries and double and triple consonants are more
numerous than those of other systems that we have met with,
they seen) all well adapted for practice, dud if so, they cannot
but be regarded as a material aid to the short-hand writer."
—Liverpool Courier.

" Mr: Foster, in this little work, has given to the world the
result of his own practical experience as a short-hand writer.
In the two great requisites of short-hand writing—expedition
and an easy facility in deciphering the characters when writ-
ten—the present system is superior we conceive, to most of
the popular works on the same subject. Persons wishing to
give the requisite application to the study of short-hand, will
find in Mr. Foster's manual everything they require. The
practicability of the system is best tested by Mr. Foster's re-
putation as an accomplished stenographer.— Liverpool Chro-
nicle.

"It is our opinion that the reporter is a far more efficient
tutor in the art of stenography than they who, however well
acquainted with it theoretically, have but little practice; be-
cause in the former case you are most likely to be presented
with a system perfected to the point of practical utility, while
in the latter it is ten to one but von are taught a system which
is found to fail upon trial, and which may require years of
alteration, amendment, cud practice to render it serviceable.
We must admit that Mr. Foster's system appears to us a very
excellent one; that its capabiltes are equal to all demands
upon it is evident from his own practice; and that it is laid
down clearly and judiciously, will be apparent to any one
who peruses the book."—Liverpool Journal.
"The little knowledge we possess of this very useful art
enables us to state that Mr. Foster's system appears to us it
very practical and easy one, and therefore a very good one.
The work is cheap and very intelligible, and we have no
hesitation in recommending it to those who are desirous of
becoming proficient* in the.;irt; and to all who desire to have
n y know ledge of it.".—Metrupalital GunNi vative Journal and
Churalt ef England GaF.ette.