From Mary Stevenson
Transcribed from ALS (draft with all but the final sentence in phonetic spelling): American Philosophical Society
[Kensitn, Septembr 26, 1768]
Diir Sr,

i have transkrib’d iur Alfabet &c. huit i ink mit bi v srvis tu oz hu ui tu akuir an akiuret pronnsien if at kuld bi fiks’d, bt i si meni inknvinienses az uel az difikultis at uuld atend i brii iur letrs & rgrafi intu kmn ius. l ur etimlodis uuld bi lst, knsikuentli ui kuld nt asrteen i miini v meni urds; i distinkn, tu, bituiin urds v difrent miini & similar sund uuld bi ron daun; and l i buks lredi riten uuld bi iusles nles ui livi ritrs pbli nu idins. In rt i biliiv ui mst let pipil spel n in eer old ue, and (az ui al find it isiiest) du i seem urselvs. With ease & with sincerity I can in the old way subscribe myself Dear Sir, Your affectionate humble Servant,

Dr. Franklin

M. Stevenson

[Kensington, Sept. 26, 1768]
Dear Sir

I have transcribed your Alphabet &c. which you think might be of Service to those who wish to acquire an accurate pronunciation if that could be fix’d, but I see many inconveniences as well as difficulties that would attend the bringing your letters and orthography into common use. All our etymologies would be lost, consequently we could not ascertain the meaning of many words; the distinction, too, between words of different meaning and similar sound [would be thrown down, and all the books already written] would be useless unless we living writers publish new editions. In short I believe we must let people spell on in their old way, and (as we shall find it easiest) do the same ourselves. With ease and with sincerity I can in the old way subscribe myself Dear Sir Your affectionate humble Servant

M Stevenson

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