Handwriting (Vol. viii., p. 639.).—In your concluding Number of last year, E. B. requested information as to any work in English, French, German, or Spanish, giving a standard alphabet for the various kinds of writing now in use, with directions for teaching the same. I fear I shall not satisfy all your correspondent's inquiries; but the following may be of some service. I have in my possession a German work, nearly of the kind he requires. The title is, Gründliche Anweisung zum Schönschreiben, by Martin Schüssler, Wiesbaden, 1820. It is of an oblong shape, and consists entirely of engraved plates, in number thirty-two. It begins with some directions for the form
and inclination of letters; then follows an explanation of five rules for writing, which are given in the German handwriting. After exhausting the German, the author proceeds to English letters and handwriting, followed by engrossing hand. Then he gives the fractur, or black-letter characters, with some elaborate and beautiful capitals. He next gives specimens of French handwriting, and ends with Greek current hand, and plates of large capitals of ornamental patterns; all different.
If this work would at all answer the purpose of E. B., and he would wish to see it, it shall be sent to him by post on his giving his address to the writer, whose card is enclosed.
F. C. H.
I have in my possession for sale, a scarce old work, folio, a good clean copy of Geo. Bickman's Universal Penman, 1733; with numerous engravings.
D. H. Strahan.
10. Winsly Street, Oxford Street.
"Begging the Question" (Vol. viii., p. 640.; Vol. ix., p. 136.).—It may interest your logical readers to be informed of the fact that this fallacy was called the petition of the principle, this being, of course, a literal rendering of the Latin phrase. The earliest English work on logic in which I have found this Latinism is, The Arte of Logike, plainelie set foorth in our English Tongue, easie both to be understoode and practised, 1584. Here occurs the following passage:
"Now of the default of Logike, called Sophisme. It is eyther { Generall. } / { Speciall. } The generall are those which cannot be referred to any part of Logike. They are eyther { Begging of the question, called the petition of the principle. } / { Bragging of no proof. } Begging of the question is when nothing is brought to prooue, but the question, or that which is as doubtfull."
C. Mansfield Ingleby.