186 
tinual comparifon of the founds with the 
figns. It is obvioufiy perceived that the 
different articulate founds are far trom 
being equally numerous with the different 
fyllables or words in any language; that, 
the complex articulate founds of words 
and fylJables, are fufceptible of being 
analyfed- into a few, fimple, primary, 
elementary founds, the endlefsly varied 
combinations of which, form all the in- 
finite diverfities of fpeech. Rude_lan- 
guiges confift chiefly of monofyllabic 
words, or of words which, although 
Jong, are made up of fyllables, having 
en feparately, the powers of a oa 
Ina language of this character, therefore, 
it is eafily feen, that, there muft be many 
among its monofyllabic words agreeing 
in found. Nothing ean be more natural 
after this has once been perceived, and 
atter hierogly phi cs have begun to be or- 
dinarily reterred to words in preference 
to things, than that it fhould be attempt- 
ed fa: ther toabbreviate thefe hieroglyphics, 
by ceafine to ufe more than one hiero- 
glyphical “fign to denote all thofe words 
_or fyllables whichare the fame in enun- 
ciation. By this new artifice of abbrevi- 
ation, the number of the hieroglyphics 
neceflary for ordinary ufe, is greatly 
diminifhed, This is another grand flep 
in the progrefs toward the analyfis of ar- 
ticulate founds, and their wr itten repre- 
fentatives into their ultimate and moit 
general conftituent principles. An ex- 
ecedingly near approach is now made to 
actual alphabetical writing. 
‘The very next remarkable change pro- 
duces alphabetical writing. Jt is quick- 
ly perceived that fyllables are fufceptibie 
Of analylis 
und more general ; and that by this new 
analytis of fyilabic founds, the number 
of the fions requifite to denote language 
in writing, may be infint nitely Aiprunihied. 
Ameng thole fiens which are at this time 
dn ule, is found a certain number of 
Which one has already been applied to 
€very fimple elementary found in the lan- 
Buage 5 for all the primary, fimpleft, and 
anol general founds are to be found fub- 
ffiing as diftin& fepar ate words among 
the vat multitude of its monolyllables. 
The feleCticn of thefe hieroglyphic figns 
svhich thus embrace in the words to which 
they are feparately applicable, all the fimple 
founds—each different found a different 
word—each different word having its 
se fign ; the rejeétion of all the reft 
out of the ule of writing ; the combina- 
€ion of thefe few primary figns in @ man- 
How corresponding to the combinatiog of 
Eiifiory and Defeription of Malta. 
into porcyis yet more limple _ 
nearly ¢ 
fAprif 
the fimple fourds in words and fyllables, 
at laf{ complete the invention of alphabe- 
tical writing, and hieroglyphics are no “ 
more. 
‘Thefe ideas concerning the ufe of hiere- 
glyphics and their gradual t tranfition inte 
alphabetical writing, have long been 
mine. ‘Jo have detailed chet indu@tion 
of faéts on which they are refpectively 
founded, would have been here unfeafona-, 
bly recone I was for a moment afraid 
that in the communication of them to the 
public, I had been anticipated by Sir 
George Staunton, in his account of the 
Embafly to China; but he has only 
thrown out fome valuable hints concern- 
ing the manner in which ee a 
figns come to be firft affociated in the — 
minds of thofe who ufe them rather with 
words than with things: I admire his 
work, as alike mafterly in compofition 
and rich in important and interefting 
information ; but F cannot think that he 
has exhauited the fubjeét of hieroglyphiecs. 
Perhaps my notions concerning them are 
good tor very little. 
Edinburgh, Sept. 1798. R.H. 
Ses 
DESCRIPTION OF MALTA. 
[ The following valuable article refpecting art 
Ifland which has always attraéted the 
attention of mankind, and which hag - 
lately become a very intereiane fubject of 
political fpecalation, has bea communis 
cated to us by a gentleman whofe oppor-. 
tunities colleéting original information, 
are candee nile: ae who has combined 
with his own materials thofe of all the 
writers who have had occafion to defcribe, 
it. 
J (Concluded from page 421.) 
| HE city of Valetta is built ona pe- 
ninfula, between theie two pofts. Be- 
tween it and the feais the celebrated ¢af- 
tle of St. Elmo, accounted the chief for- 
tification im the ifland; here it was where 
the Turks, (under Solyman himfelf, the- 
Sue who hau driven the knights from the 
fle of Rhodes), loft fo many men in their 
amous ak ‘they could not earry this 
fortreis t till the very laft knight who de: 
fended it was flain. It is now far more 
impreguable than ever. Beyond Valetta, 
on the land fide, lies what is called the 
Lower-Town, both it and Valetta being 
defended by fortifications which appear 
impregnable; and all of thefe are, not- 
Ww ithitanding, covered by other works of 
equal importance, alled Florian, 
from the name of the engineer who con- 
S35 
ftructed them, This latter fortification, 
éalled alto 
> 
th — Cruadel, i, as wel! as St. 
Ebno, 
q 
Ps 
a 
