New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-08-17
phonoxraphle conventIop-Re.pon.e of he''r'
q. - ~ TI, Me-. YORK Tri6ui


w, bs,.a n-onosed. recently IN your columns,
o.s.,,tI;,o of n Convention II the city 0; New
-. -, the coming Autumn. TO determine the
-: ,r;,s of the various systems Of reform in
80 smelling and printing which claiming
-, nv less OF the public attention Something OF
s;n,iiar kind proposed nearly year
,,;ch q: that time, led 20 some correspondence be
.ween ourselves and one or more anonymous VII
tcrs in The Tribune. That proposition related,
however to n trial between a single unpublished
system and that 0. Mr.. Isaac Pitman, winch "e
advocate and as both the Author and the system
were alike unknown 70 US, we insisted upon some
terms which Lad not been acceded TO when II vas
understood that the sickness OF one OF the parties
interrupted farther proceedings. The preseT, pro
oosit:on coming originally from yourself. and being
h, general representation OF al sys.ems has the sp
r.arace of entire aircss and do feel at liberty
10 decline doing whacT.r may be requisite par,
10 r.ake ;be Convention complete and successful an
satr as possible
We have al! along entertained the opinion ina, actual
Instruction and practice IN the school houses Of the land
ynld be the sres Of tests and one which you'd finally
settle the quetOn despite Of all other decisions and
hence M Boyle proI osed IN the correspondence above
referred for each parry select and teach class
from the public schools OF the city Of Eey.Yo and %
exhibit the results as one means Of nvc-ds atioI Bu,
the deG Of Convention has been suggested and wi. De
regarded perhaps By the public the better course.
D;s!ro1 therefore O satisfying those whom we deem
frends o: tho reform. wieh to announce through
your columns readiness appear the represent
a.ayes Of pnan's Photography and Phonotypy, any
paoNcf
Of the reform IN Newly designate 70 expound
the system 70 defend it from criticism the best Of
ability 10 exhibit its claims The very high considera
non IL which II Is uniformly held b those who are &C
cuained with IL and. 20 demonstrate prospects OF
speedy and general adoption both in England and Anne
RIGA consenting that the body OF men whoever they
may be- selected 10 listen 10 such exposition shall like
wse listen 10 the exposition Of any other system
systems which may brought before them provided
such sysers shall have been submitted TO exam
inanon reasonable time beforehand and opportunity
gwen 70 point their defects Il they have then and
that they shall publish TO the world their conclusions
Judgment upon the relative merits OF each -y-:ern.
The opinion thus given the public. will Of course
haze weight according the consideration attached TO
the body t'e whose opinion II and VIII add so much
OF edyautaee the system favor Of which they may
decide. To this we cheerfuly consent and VIII i'm
prove the advantage ourselves freely rnntit
successful! competitor. More than this cunno, do.
No one we presume would require OF us 10 abandon
what we either know. st honestly believed 70 be n
genuine discovery aud application OF truth in science
arr because might have failed effort OF
convincing others OF its genuineness a0andon the
right that ground make farther efforts get such
truth appreciated We do nsk such pledge OF
competitors, since we should respect any
who could consent TO give H. We should. indeed.
gard ourselves traitors TO the truth should agree
10 abandon any supposed discovery in science upon any
other ground than change of convictions
We wish therefore. 10 state explicitly, that shall give
the snre cxcrtions 10 the propagation OF Pitmans Pho
biography the day atter the decision, whether favorable
or adverse, have done the day before unless
are ovseircs convinced that better has been
presented i'll which event pledge ourselves give
J
nirers.
We foresce difficulties in the practical details of
Convention called 20 decide upon the merits OF subject
like this, bn' which we hope your wisdom or th-t OF
others taking interest IN the meeting will divide.
How long, Tor example, WI! such contention sltt vi
whom shall ii bc composed VIII popular Con
vcntion undertake sit Jury tie subject itself
wiz appoint Committee 70 net on the subject and re
por, 20 the public II numerous systems shall be pre-
sencd VIII II be possible TO Obtain the services oil
Committee, whose names will be influential with the
public Ind who IN the existing state OF pu'!c sent
Inent' and IN order TO md 80 radical REFORM WI" Ic'
vote themselves 10 inc study oi thclI ucuulsf wa uc
Committee entertain inc PTeri0"S question "hctner
a question which II IL probable. In the present stage
Of advancement, four in five OF the learned would de
eide without investigation in the negative If some OF
the competitors present merely printing Alphabet,
others merely shorthand Phonograpmc Alphabet
others both and others again long hand Photographic
Alphabet also how arc the relative merits oil things 80
diverse to be estimated These difficulties are suggested
not 10 emharrass me proceeding nut t"t 'hey ma! oc
thought upon and provided Tor.
system viii be examined Tor what Processes to be and
In each department for whit processes to have done
IN that department Thus, for example Mr. Hitchcock
of New Orleans Mr. Rich of New Hampshire. and per
hnp fifty others have Analysed the English language
ana proposed certain forms of type for u complete
printing Alphabet, without attempting any system OF
short writing based upon such analysis. ON the other
hand. Mr Boylcy OF Vermont the correspondent OF Tue
Tribune +. T. Cd and others have iavoutc systems
Of writing, the clnms oil which hev wish 10 ufs. VIII
proposing and even while III some cases thty dls'
card and dlsp0aEc the idea ot corresponding CuHi'sc
In the stylc OF printing the English language Others,
again are laboring for the arrangement OF universal
Alphabet for printing purposes among whom we believe
We may mention Prof Haldemnnn OF, Marietta College
ind Others still for philosophical universal script AL
phabe,
Through the abors o.. Mr.. Piman, Mr.. Ellis and our
own wc have been enabled TO present and urge with
great success upon the public attention in this country
as tbose gentlemen are doing abroad three distinct
branches OF the great reform which we advocate
lst a reform printing Alphabet OF the English Ian.
narc in which has been cardinal principle TO pre-
serve much of the existing Aphebe, and general ap'
pemance OF the printed pase as possible IN oFdeF 10 ID"
cltdte It's adoption
81. A StcnoPhonosrarhy adapted 10 the Lhs'sh un,
gn0se as complete system OF short name tn"' r.
fhonosraphy wIhle II Is 'ho'ousi.s p'V. ; ,i o
pnrpo-es which require accuracy IN expressing the
sound of tue language can at the same un,c III p'ryc
Consistency with itsc aud without any chansc OF thc
basis OF The system be converted into the shortest pos
still instrument of randi writing, and the script thus Oh