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 those old letters. In the old vowel letters the principal rule was to use each one to represent that sound which it most frequently represented in the common spelling. Then each letter must always represent one and the same sound, and each sound he invariably represented by the same letter. This would give order, system, and regularity instead of the present disorder, confusion, and chaos. The letters q and x and the long's were rejected as useless.

Ralph had ordered from Venice (where were then the best type-cutters) the dies for his new characters in all ordinary sizes of type. The type were to be cast in Holland, for greater convenience of shipping. In this cargo was only a hundred pounds of the size now called great primer. This was intended for printing elementary reading-books. Ralph had spent considerable time in his ocean voyages writing two well-graded reading-books for beginners, lessons of short, familiar words and simple ideas. No such sensible books then existed. With the type was a press. There were also all other necessary materials for printing, including plenty of paper. The printer, who was also a bookbinder, was immediately set at work on a child's primer.