(Vol. ii., pp. 27. 61.)
I must apologise for adding anything to the already abundant articles which have from time to time appeared in "NOTES AND QUERIES" on this interesting subject; I shall therefore confine myself to a few brief remarks on the form of each character, and, if possible, to show from what alphabets they are derived:—
1. This most natural form of the first numeral is the first character in the Indian, Arabic, Syriac, and Roman systems.
2. This appears to be formed from the Hebrew ב, which, in the Syriac, assumes nearly the form of our 2; the Indian character is identical, but arranged vertically instead of horizontally.
3. This is clearly derived from the Indian and Arabic forms, the position being altered, and the vertical stroke omitted.
4. This character is found as the fourth letter in the Phœnician and ancient Hebrew alphabets: the Indian is not very dissimilar.
5. and 6. These bear a great resemblance to the Syriac Heth and Vau (a hook). When erected, the Estrangelo-Syriac Vau is precisely the form of our 6.
7. This figure is derived from the Hebrew ז, zayin, which in the Estrangelo-Syriac is merely a 7 reversed.
8. This figure is merely a rounded form of the Samaritan Kheth (a travelling scrip, with a string tied round thus,
