180 Mr. Harvey's Obfervations 
one half of it, that isto fay f, be a fimple found, 
this the has, as well as all the languages enume- 
rated. 3 
How far the Englifh outnumbers thofe languages 
in variety of fimple founds, I have already endea- 
voured to fhew: it remains next, however, to enter 
into a more particular enquiry concerning each, 
and this fhall be done in the order of the foregoing 
fynoptical table of confonants, and firft of the 
letter B.* 
B. 
There is little difficulty refpe&ing the pronun- 
ciation and ufe of this letter, the Englifh “and 
moft other Nations giving it the proper found. 
In the Spanifh, indeed, it is frequently ufed inftead 
of V, to which the Royal Academy of Madrid 
gives 
_ * Mr, Sheridan, after having enumerated, in a long lift, 
the great irregularities of the vowels, obferves that, ‘“« we 
*¢ fhall not find the ftate of our confonants much better.” 
- © B is often mute, as in—debt, tomb. C has three founds, 
“ask, 5, fh, in care, ceafe, focial, F has its found marked by 
“ two different combinations of letters, ph in Philip, gh in 
“laugh, G hastwo founds, as gold, gentle. J has the fame 
“* found as that of the ed. G. joy. S has four founds, s, z, 
“¢ th, zh; in yes, rofe, pafion, osier, T has alfo four founds, 
* t, 5, fh, ch, in tell, fatiety, nation, queftion, X has three 
“ founds, gz, ks, =; in example, vex, Xerxes, Th has twa 
** faunds, then, and thin, Ch has three founds, , fh, chs 
“ chorus, chaife, chair. Gh has two founds, g, ghoft; f, 
“ laugh; and is often mute, as in daughter.” 
* 
