176 Mr. Harvey's Obfervations 
the feven, I, and Y, are equivalent; the former 
whereof, and likewife U, are made to ferve as often 
for diphthongs as for vowels.* 
Now, as to the confonants, I fhall be as concife 
as the fubject will permit; not dwelling unnecef- 
farily upon fuch as always preferve their genuine 
and individual properties; but making upon each 
fuch few remarks, as appear to have efcaped the 
attention of others. 
A Scuzme of the Englifh Alphabet is hereto 
fubjoined, wherein all the fimple founds are enu- 
merated, and collated with thofe of the learned 
and fome of the principal modern languages; that 
is, however, as far only as is at prefent known of 
the pronunciation of languages, no longer fpoken 
by 
* So indefinite is the knowledge, which children generally 
acquire, concerning the ufes and exceptions of the Englifh 
Alphabet, that it cannot be reafonably expetted, that they 
fhould be able of themfelves to read every common word, 
with fufficient exaétnefs, although they might have been 
inftruéted for fome months. On the contrary, in frequent 
inftances, they require the conftant collateral aid of tra- 
dition, as if their bufinefs were to be initiated into the 
myfteries of fo many hieroglyphics, which had no afhinity 
to the alphabet they had been taught. Now as children 
may be fuppofed in veneral to poilefs a fimilar capacity, 
in moft places, it would be a fubjeét of curiofity to inquire 
in what countries, at what ages, and under whatever 
other comparative circumftances the greateft number of 
children acquire the beft and fpeedieft knowledge of 
reading and writing their native language, 
