1810.] 
curacy and nice precision, in all that 
relates to .what, in the nomenclature of 
essential contra-distinctions, I should call 
enunciation, cannot be too highly ap- 
plauded, and to whom I owe a personal 
obligation from his having, at the very 
outset of my institution, recommended 
pupils to me, who had applied to bim 
for instruction. But, in justice to Mr. 
Steele, I must be permitted to say, that 
without being a musician, I found the 
§* Prosodia Rationalis,” (though requiring, 
‘indeed, reiterated reading and profound 
investigation) ultimately much more in- 
telligible (because more correct in its. 
principles, and more accurate in its dis- 
criminations) than the ‘ Elements of Elo- 
cution.” 
But why did Mr. Odell, who published 
his “ Essay” in 1806, after my lectures 
had acquired some notoriety even in 
London, introduce the saving clause o 
the ** 25th November, 1802,” and nothing 
more? Would not that ingenuous libe- 
rality which should ever distinguish the 
man-of science (and such Mr. O. most un- 
questionably is) from the designing em- 
piric, have suggested the propriety of 
announcing, Wwihout reserve, the de- 
monstrated existence of a parailel disco- 
very, rather tan have satished itself with 
the silent evasion of a charge of imitation 
or plagiarism? 
But even for the latter purpose, if I had 
been disposed to captious controversy, 
the cautious date of 1802, could not have 
been sufficient; for my lectures began in 
the principal towns.of Yorkshire, in No- 
vember 1801, in which my theory of ac- 
cents and emphases, and indeed the ge- 
neral outline of my whole system, were 
promulgated. In March 1802, my sys- 
tein was not suygested but confirmed, 
by my becoming acquainted with Mr. 
Steele’s book; aud ever since that time, 
I have been labouring incessantly to 
bring it into notice. 
I should not, however, hive troubled 
you, Sir, or the world, with these circum- 
stances, if my attention had not been 
ealled to the subject by a more recent 
occurrence, in which the interests of 
science are more deeply concerned than. 
my personal feelings or reputation : for 
the Essay of Mr. Odell being, upon the 
whole, a valuable and useful work, I re- 
joiced in its publication; and I am not 
at all apprehensive that 1¢ should not be 
ultimately known what share I have had 
in restoring the neglected science of Jo- 
shua Steele, the further development 
pf the principles of English accent, rhyth- 
«- 
in the Treatment of Impediments of Speech. 
105 
mus, and prasody, and the super-addition 
of those physiological discoveries, b 
means of which, the admirable theory 
and practical illustrations of the ‘* Proso- 
dia Rationalis” may be rendered subs 
servient to the great purposes Of bene- 
volence, in removing the most afflicting 
impediments of speech. If the author, 
or rather compiler, of ‘¢A practical Gram. 
mar of English Pronunciation,” had exe- 
cuted -his task with equal ability, it is 
more than probable that I should have 
suffered the flagrant and unacknowledged 
liberties he has taken with my discove= 
ries, to pass by alike unnoticed. It ig/ 
true that, after having read through many 
successive pages of the most barefaced_ 
plagiary, from my Scattered essays, . 
sketches, and outlines, and from my. 
public lectures, it could not have been 
possible that the following sentence should 
not have excited some emotions of con- 
tempt and pity, for the head and the 
heart of the writer. ‘‘It has heen con- 
ceived,” says Mr. Smart, ££ that a know- 
ledge of these laws,” (the metrical laws 
of musical, or, as Mr. S. calls thein, of 
measured proportion in the delivery of 
speech), ** an enforcing the necessity of 
an even and well ordered movement in 
discourse, might be attended with the 
best effects’—(in the treatment of im- 
pediments.) ‘* This plan,” proceeds 
this very ingenuous author, “ having been 
found to answer, there will he given, in 
the chapter on quantity, some few in. 
structions on this head, particularly di- 
rected to persons who labour under the 
impediment.” 
I shall not stoop at present to the cri- 
tical enquiry, what specific impedimenr ~ 
is to be considered as understood and. 
referred to by the specific article the, 
in this instructive paragraph. But by 
whom does Mr. S. mean to insinuate, 
that the idea in question has been con- 
ceived and brought to the test of success- 
fulexperiment? Was it by the compiler 
of the Practical Grammar of English 
Pronunciation? If not, why was not 
the author of the discovery fairly and 
candidly quoted? If Mr.S. can pointe 
eut asingle authority or suggestion on 
the subject, prior to the delivery of my 
lectures, and meation an individual who 
is known to have tried the experiment, 
prior to myself, be will confer an oblipas 
tion upon me, which I shali thankfully 
acknowledge; because it will open to 
me fresh sources of information, upon a 
topic relative to which I find that there . 
is yet much to learn, The only writers 
Tknow 
