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Hereditary Genius
51
in a marvellously complete and satisfactory manner, and enables us to
methodise, compare, and analyse them in any way we like.
Speaking generally, and without regarding the type in which the letters are
printed, F. stands for Father; G. for Grandfather; U. for Uncle; N. for
Nephew; B. for Brother; S. for Son; and P. for Grandson (Petit-fils in
French).
These letters are printed in capitals when the relationship to be expressed
has passed through the male line, and in small type when through the
female line. Therefore U. is the paternal uncle; G. the paternal grandfather;
N. is a nephew that is son of a brother; P. a grandson that is the child of a
son. So again, u. is the maternal uncle; g. the maternal grandfather; n. a
nephew that is son of a sister; p. a grandson that is the child of a daughter.
Precisely the same letters, in the form of Italics, are employed for the
female relations. For example, in correspondence with U. there is U. to
express an aunt that is the sister of a father; and to u. there is u. to express
an aunt that is the sister of a mother.
It is a consequence of this system of notation, that F. and B. and S. are
always printed in capitals, and that their correlatives for mother, sister, and
daughter are always expressed in small italicised type, as f., b., and s.
The reader must mentally put the word his before the letter denoting
kinship, and was after it. Thus:—
Adams, John; second President of the United States. S. John
Quincey Adams, sixth President. P. C. F. Adams, American
Minister in England; author.
would be read—
His (i.e. John Adams') son was J. Q. Adams.
His „ „ grandson was C. F. Adams.
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