Thus _ch_ in French derivatives should be changed into sh; _machine_, _chaise_, _chevalier_, should be written _masheen_, _shaze_, _shevaleer_; and _pique_, _tour_, _oblique_, should be written _peek_, _toor_, _obleek_.
3. A trifling alteration in a character, or the addition of a point would distinguish different sounds, without the substitution of a new character. Thus a very small stroke across _th_ would distinguish its two sounds. A point over a vowel, in this manner, _[.a]_ or _[.e]_, or _[.i]_, might answer all the purposes of different letters. And for the dipthong _ow_, let the two letters be united by a small stroke, or both engraven on the same piece of metal, with the left hand line of the _w_ united to the _o_.
These, with a few other inconsiderable alterations, would answer every purpose, and render the orthography sufficiently correct and regular.
The advantages to be derived from these alterations are numerous, great and permanent.
1. The simplicity of the orthography would facilitate the learning of the language. It is now the work of years for children to learn to spell; and after all, the business is rarely accomplished. A few men, who are bred to some business that requires constant exercise in writing, finally learn to spell most words without hesitation; but most people remain, all their lives, imperfect masters of spelling, and liable to make mistakes, whenever they take up a pen to write a short note. Nay, many people, even of education and fashion, never attempt to write a letter, without frequently consulting a dictionary.
But with the proposed orthography, a child would learn to spell, without trouble, in a very short time, and the orthography being very regular, he would ever afterwards find it difficult to make a mistake. It would, in that case, be as difficult to spell _wrong_, as it is now to spell _right_.
Besides this advantage, foreigners would be able to acquire the pronunciation of English, which is now so difficult and embarrassing, that they are either wholly discouraged on the first attempt, or obliged, after many years labor, to rest contented with an imperfect knowlege of the subject.
2. A correct orthography would render the pronunciation of the language, as uniform as the spelling in books. A general uniformity thro the United States, would be the event of such a reformation as I am here recommending. All persons, of every rank, would speak with some degree of precision and uniformity.[185] Such a uniformity in these states is very desireable; it would remove prejudice, and conciliate mutual affection and respect.