1. 0 Introduction; 2. 1. General Characterization: Sources and Aims; 3. 2. Early Continental Developments; 4. 3. Language Invention in England; 5. 3.1 The Beginnings; 6. 3.2 Universal Character; 7. 3.3 Universal Language; 8. 3.4 The Turn of the Century; 9. 3.5 The 18th Century; 10. 4. Universal Languages in France; 11. 4.1 The 17th Century; 12. 4.2 The 18th Century; 13. 5. Universal Languages in Germany; 14. 5.1 Comenius and the Academy at Herborn; 15. 5.2 J J. Becher and A. Kircher; 16. 5.3 G.W. Leibniz; 17. 5.4 Logically Orientated Movements in 18th Century Germany; 18. 5.5 Pasigraphic Proposals; 19. 5.6 Conclusion; 20. 6. Notes; 21. 7. Bibliography; 22. 7.1 List of Source Works; 23. 7.2 List of Secondary Works; 24. 7.3 Works of John Wilkins; 25. 8. The Life of the Author; 26. 9. Mercury, or the speedy and swift messenger; 27. 10. An Abstract of Dr. Wilkins's Essay (1668)