Mr. Harvey's Obfervations, &c. 735 
Osservations on AtpHaseTicAL CHARACTERS; and 
particularly on the Encuisx ALPHABET: with an 
Attempt to fhew its Infufficiency to exprefs, with due 
Precifion, the Variety of Sounds, which enrich the 
Language. — By Mr. Samusr Harvey. 
( Read by the Author March 23, 1792.) 
eee 
AWN CUJUSLIBET AURIS EST EXIGERE LITERARUM sonus? Nony 
HERCULE, MAGIS QUAM NERVORUM. sic 
Quianctill, Inflit. 
ner PA Oa 
SECTION I. 
O much has been already written, in commen- 
dation of the Englifh Language, that it would 
be fuperfluous in this place to add any thing to 
the eulogies which have been, from time to time, 
beftowed thereon: and indeed fo numerous are the 
fources, whence, as from various treafuries, it has 
derived its riches; and fo many and excellent thofe 
authors, who, for more than a century paft, have, by 
their writings, been fuperadding dignity and reputa- 
tion thereto, that its fuperiority, above many lan- 
guages which might affert a much higher antiquity, 
has been for fome time acknowledged, by thofe 
whom we ought not to fuppofe actuated by par- 
tiality 5 
