206 Mr. Harvey's Obfervations 
of elemental founds. But founds alone, without 
a fkilful mixture, and apt difpofal into words, are 
not enough to give fuperiority to a language in 
any greater degree than merely asa greater variety 
of colours would excel a judicious defign in chiar= 
ofcuro,* or as the wild concurrence of many mulfical 
tones would furpafs the fcientific touches of a few 
well tuned notes. ‘The harmony of colouring is 
perhaps a thing not. yet completely underftood : 
painting by the eye alone, may be like playing 
upon an inftrument only by the ear; when neither 
all eyes nor all ears can be equally correct. 
If fuch things be fo difficult, how much more 
fo muft be a knowledge of the complete harmony 
of the far more numerous elements of language, 
taking confonants and vowels together. Such a 
knowledge may, poffibly, be referved for man, 
as one part of his expectations in the fpheres of 
future happinefs. 
As the fallen leaves and fcions of the foreft are, 
at one time fcattered abroad, and again driven to- 
gether 
* This is only to be underftood as far as it relates to the 
ear; for it is fufficiently evident, that ideas may be con- 
veyed to the mind by the moft unpolifhed languages ; 
neverthelefs it is always moft agreeable when founds feem 
to harmonize with ideas. Mild and gentle thoughts 
fhould not be uttered with tones of afperity; nor fhould 
foft words be ufed for expreffing the boiftcrous paffions. 
+ See the relative harmony of mufical notes, colours, 
and vawels, page 172, 
