FOR

SPELLING REFORM

A Series of Tracts compiled from the Phonetic Journal
and other periodicals, recommending an enlarged Alpha-
bet and a Reformed Spelling of the English Language,
as a means of placing the arts of Reading and Writing
within the reach of all who speak the English Language
or wish to acquire it.

EDITED BY

ISAAC PITMAN.

TSOEVER

LONDON:

FRED. PITMAN, 20 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

BATH:

ISAAC PITMAN, PHONETIC INSTITUTE.

1878.

Price 8d., bound in cloth.

As the first Tract in this volume, price 2d., and the bound book, 8d. bear the same title, it may be necessary to observe that either work may be ordered through any bookseller under the name of "A Plea for Spelling Reform," adding the word "bound" for the book.

6-SEP

V

Printed by Isaac Pitman, Phonetic Institute, Bath.

PREFACE.

The publication of this volume at a nominal price-the cost of binding-is due to the foresight and munificence of Mr John Coltman, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Observing that the Shorthand branch of the Reading, Writing, and Spelling Reform could support itself-for persons will learn phonetic shorthand from self-interest-and that the Printing branch of the Reform needed assistance to bring it before the public, he generously gave £300 for the purpose of printing a large number of tracts in advocacy of a Spelling Reform. These tracts were to be sold at a nominal price, or distributed gratis. In a letter to Mr Isaac Pitman, dated 6th July, 1874, just after the purchase of the new Phonetic Institute at Bath, Mr Coltman wrote, "One thing I would like to see you do is, when you get into the new Phonetic Institute [it was entered in the following December,] to begin at the first volume of the Pho netic Journal and reprint, with the £300 I send you, all the most able articles that have appeared in the Journal, or in any other publication, up to the present time, which advocate a thorough reform in our absurd orthography. The old articles might be repeated in the present Phonetic Journal, and 15,000 extra copies printed of them and also of all new articles that appear in the Journal; 10,000 for circulation as tracts, and 5,000 for binding, when you have enough for a volume."

As early as possible in the following year this work was undertaken. (See Phonetic Journal for 23 October, 1875.) The first three vols. of the Journal (1843-45) were examined, the best papers extracted and reprinted in the Jour