192 Mr. Harvey's Obfervations 
In the Englifh, too, it generally ferves as a weak 
afpirate at the beginning of words, but even in this 
cafe, the article an is almoft as often prefixed as if 
the h were filent ; which deftroys in a great meafure 
the force of the afpirate, and fometimes to a hearer 
gives confequently an equivocal found.* ‘This often 
occurs, not only in the hurry of converfation, but 
alfo in the more deliberate acts of writing and 
printing. 
An owl, and an ox, are not oftener written and 
printed perhaps of late, than an houfe, an horfe, an 
hiftory, and fuch like words. But this ufe of the 
article is very unlike its application in the words 
which the poet gives to King Richard, as noticed 
by Dr. Johnfon: 
Ahorfe! ahorfe! my kingdom for a horfe ! 
Where 
words, whofe form and quantity are the fame; and with- 
out the accents, or fome fubftitutes for them, what dif- 
ference is there between fuch words as eey%¢, albus, and 
wey NS, ferpens ; aox06, urfus, and Apuoc, auxilium $ 
€ioc, vita, and i0¢, arcus; bed, dea, and béa,: fpelta- 
culum ; Lugy, papilio, and Lux, anima; and a great 
number befide? The context, it is true, might often lead 
to the fenfe, and might as often leave it involved in 
‘ambiguity ; sto Loot fignifies, thefe men live; ero: Cace 
means quite the reverfe, 
\ d ; + We 
* Before words, wherein cuftom has only retained h - 
for appearance of etymology, without giving it any found, 
the cafe is very different ; as, an honourable houfe, &c. 
