alphabet ferves occafionally to represent many founds, very different from that to which it is regularly appropriated and if fingle letters thus vary in their use, the effects of particular combinations of them are yet more perplexed by irregularities *.

Various have been the caufes of this deformity; of which the chief are these, the introduction of foreign words (to which always at first, and often for ever, the found of the original language adheres) and the prevailing ignorance of the ge

Also the found of the French foft g or j, for which we fometimes use g (p. 107.) and sometimes s (p. 127.), both of them characters previously appropriated to other founds. There are two diftinct founds of th, but only one form to exprefs them. See page 131, &c.

* I fhall give one instance, perhaps the moft remarkable that can be found:-The combination -ough has nine different powers, as in 1. hiccough; 2. bough; 3. dough; 4. cough; 5. lough; 6. tough; 7. through; 8. thorough; 9. thought; pronounced like, 1. up; 2. ou ; 3. o long ; 4. auf ; 5. ock; 6. uff ; 7.00 long; 8. o fhort; 9. au.

neral

neral analogy of our pronunciation. It is to be hoped that the former of these causes will not greatly operate in future: our language is undoubtedly rich enough to fubfift for ever on its prefent stores; and the unneceffary additions which affectation may wish to force upon it, will probably be rejected by found judgment. But that the other caufe, unless vigorously oppofed, would continue for ever to vitiate our elocution, may well be apprehended, fince we daily hear improper modes of pronouncing defended from partial confiderations, exceptions supported as rules, and rules past by as exceptions.

To fo much of irregularity as is already fixed inveterately, we must submit with patience; for innovation, even with a certainty of fome amendment, is generally attended with inconvenience enough to render it ineligible. But there is not any reason why we should not endeavour, as far as we are able, to preserve our Speech from further depravations: and

it deferves a trial whether a work of this nature may not, with some confiderable degree of fuccefs, be oppofed to such innovations as would proceed from ignorance. If we can, with any approach to accuracy, exhibit the whole analogy of our pronunciation, and the deviations from it, we shall at least rob error and prejudice of their best arguments, and compel those who are determined to innovate, to do it with their eyes open. If it be objected that anomalies fo excentric as our pronunciation presents cannot easily be made obedient to any rules, it must be allowed that fome effort of the kind is therefore the more necessary; and that, next to the knowledge of general laws, it is useful to know in what inftances no law can be established.

This Work naturally divides itself in the following manner :-The First Part contains a diftinct account of the pronunciation of every letter in our alphabet, whether fingly taken, or particularly combined. In every instance the regular found

9

found of each letter or combination is laid down in a general rule, and then every exception in the language is subjoined in a methodical arrangement; so that every word which is not found in any lift of exceptions, must be confidered as strictly regular; making allowance for cafual omiffions, which it is hoped will not be found numerous.

The Second Part contains the rules for placing the accent, followed alfo by complete lifts, comprehending every exception. -And the Third Part contains the general rules of quantity, with the fame careful difplay of the exceptions.

In drawing up the rules, a chief regard has always been paid to frequency of occurrence; that being called regular which appears to be most usual, without any reference to other confiderations; practical convenience being rather the object of this Work, than fpeculative acuteness of distinction *,

The

Thus the found admitted as regularly belonging to the vowel u, is in ftrictnefs a compounded'

The rules are as few in number as appeared to be poffible, in order that they may be the more eafily retained; and as exceptions, when very general, become a kind of fecondary rules, and a fresh tax upon the memory, they have often been comprised in alphabetical lifts, when they might, with very little attention, have been presented in a more scientific form.

Such is the general design and arrangement of this Treatife ;-a Fourth Part is added, containing matters not strictly belonging to the subject, but such as, having been collected, it seemed better to add than to fupprefs.-Laftly, Indexes are fubjoined, to enable the Reader to collect with ease the different remarks which may be made concerning each word.

The whole Book, if it performs what its Compiler intends, will offer a clear and

found, yoo ;-but that being the found moft generally given to it, and from which it is named, there was no doubt that convenience required it to be confidered as regular. The fimple vowel found of a is expreffed in English by ...

intelligible