Letters to John Walter

Benjamin Franklin to John Walter, April 17, 1784

Benjamin Franklin discusses a book on logography sent by John Walter, expressing interest in its method of reducing word pieces through roots and terminations. He shares his own invention for casting letters quickly and offers to teach it to Mr. Johnson, while noting an overlooked Parisian printing improvement from 1776. Franklin critiques the omission and references a pamphlet that claims to halve printing labor and costs across Europe.