468 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I67O. 



for the English tongue,) considered very exactly the accurate formation of all 

 sounds in speaking, without which, it were in vain to set upon this task. For 

 if we do not know, or not consider, how we apply our own organs in forming 

 those sounds we speak, it is not likely that we shall this way teach another. 



It remains now, for the perfecting the account which at present you desire of 

 me, only to tell you what progress we have already made. He has been 

 already with me somewhat more than two months; in which time, though I 

 cannot be thought to have finished such a work, yet the success is not so little, 

 as to discourage the undertaking : but as much as I could hope for in so short 

 a time, and more than I expected. So that I may say, the greatest difficulty 

 of both parts being almost over, what remains is little more than the work of 

 time and exercise. There is hardly any word, which with deliberation he can- 

 not speak; but, to do it accurately, and with expedition, we must allow him 

 the practice of some considerable time. 



And, as to the language ; though it were very indifferent to him who knew 

 none, which to begin with, yet, since it is out of question, that English to him, 

 is likely to be the most useful and necessary; it was not advisable to begin 

 ■with any other. For though he can pronounce the Latin with much more ease, 

 as being less perplexed with a multitude of concurring consonants ; yet this is a 

 consideration of much less importance than the other. To this therefore having 

 applied "himself, he has already learnt a great many words, and, I may say, a 

 considerable part of the English, as to words of most frequent use : But the 

 whole language being so copious, though otherwise easy, will require a longer 

 time to perfect what he has begun.* 



* The person to whom the foregoing letter refers, is Mr. Daniel Whaley (son of Mr. Whaley, late 

 ©f Northampton, and mayor of that town.) He was on the 21st of May 1662, present at a meet- 

 in<y of the R. S. and did in their presence, to their great satisfaction, pronounce distinctly enough 

 such words as by the company were proposed to him ; and though not altogether with the usual 

 tone or accent, yet so as easily to be understood. About the same time also (his Majesty having 

 heard of it, and being willing to see him) he did the like several times at Whitehall, in the presence 

 of his Majesty, his highness Prince Rupert, and divers otliers of the nobility, though he had then 

 employed but a small time in acquiring this ability. In the space of one year, wliich was the whole 

 time of his stay with Dr. Wallis, he had read over a great part of the English Bible, and had at- 

 tained so much skill as to express himself intelligibly in ordinary affairs ; to understand letters writ- 

 ten to him, and to write answers to them, though not elegantly, yet so as to be understood : and 

 in the presence of many foreigners (who out of curiosity have come to see hinij) has often not only 

 read English and Latin to tliem, but pronounced the most difficult words of their languages, even 

 Polish itself, which they could propose to him. 



Nor is this the only person on whom the doctor has shown the effect of his skill, but he has 

 since done the like for another, a young gentleman of a very good family, and a fair estate, wh« 

 from his birth wanted his hearing, [Note inserted from the original.] 



