a wo 
and it is upon this principle that we write 
*¢ offered”* and “referred,” profited” and 
** omifted,’” with a valt number of other 
words. . It is curious that C, having the 
very form of an ancient Greek figma, ever 
came to be appropriated to the expreflion 
of the fame found as K.; but as this zs 
the cafe at prefcnt, it feems to be fre- 
quently (and perhaps, from the fuperier 
elegance and lightneis of its fhape, juétly) 
preferred for that purpofe. Now when 
the lait {y!lable is uxaccented, only one 
final confonant is required; and the cis 
taken: bothe and& being adopted in mono- 
fyllables.* In final variations er additions 
however, beginning with a vowel before 
which c would regularly have the found of 
s, £is properly interpufed; as in ** phyfick- 
¢d:** except when sis the found wanted, as 
in *¢ phyficzan 5 and any fuch refource be- 
ing of courfe unneceflary with thofe vowels 
upon which ¢ hasalone the force of &, as 
in “¢ phyfical.”” Yet though c»may be 
eligibly preferred to & when the matter is 
indifferent, the ule of it in * {ceptic” 
feems ccntrary to ali analogy of pronun- 
ciation, 
This then appears the ground of deter- 
mination ; that (generally {peaking) an 
accented fyllable requires a double, and 
an unaccented a fingle confonant : which 
will help us likewile in deciding on the 
«fecend clafs of words mentioned by Mr. 
Pytches in the fame paragraph. Etymo- 
logy here is not the parameunt guide ; 
we muft confult the genius of our own 
language, for the benefit of thofe who 
know no other. Let us give therefore, 
as in the former cafe, a double confonant 
to joort monofyilables, as ‘* edge 3+ 
and to accented fyllables, as ‘* alledge, 
pidgeon:”’ and a fingle one to unaccemted 
fyllables, as “* college, knowlege.” 
Attention to pronunciation, and to the 
divifion of fyliabl:s, would alone be fui. 
cient to make the elifion very improper 
ta ‘* chargeable, manageable,”” &c. ; and 
. perfpicuity requires it to be avoided in 
‘s fingeing,”* the participle of ‘* finge.”” 
In fubjecis of this nature, as well as in 
a thoufand others, a fimphification of prin- 
ciples will extricate us from many embar- 
rallments. Thus an application of the 
* « Difc is fometimes, perhaps rather af- 
fettedly, thus fpelt There is alfo § zinc.” 
*» Long monofyllables require to be treated 
otherwife, as ‘*age.” It is hardly necefiary 
to mention, that the exprefiions ‘* long’’ 
and *¢ fhort” are here ufed with refpe& to 
guantry. 
490 Suggeftions to Mr. Pytches on his projected Diétionary. [July 1, 
rule above-ftated, of fingle confonants for 
unaccented and double for accented fyila- 
bies, would lead us to write “ bridewe/, 
waterfa/, dunghi/, handiu/, forete//, mil- 
Care 
I am afraid that it is my own fault in 
not very clearly perceiving whether Mr. 
Pytches in:ends, ii aay cafe, to give the 
detailed pronunciation. I fhall {peak on 
this fubjeét bglow. od 
Mech certainly remains to be done 1a 
lexicography, sven after the labours of 
Jehnfon. His cefinitions, and fometimes 
his etymologies, ave riciculous ; and the 
former are often mace the vehicles of his 
ablurd or odious prejucices, attachments, 
and antipathies. I was fonvewhat furprifed 
lately to find *laudanum” fated by bisa 
to be ** a cant word, from /aude, Latin.” 
I do not knew its derivation, but I doubt 
this aflertion—His flating ‘* due” wo be 
the ‘participle of owe,” feems allo 
ftrangely uncouth. This reminds one 
‘of the ftanding joke at fchool: ‘* How © 
is fui formed from /um ?—By changing 
fum into fui’ To fay that ‘* due” has 
the exact fenfe appropriate to a regular 
particip!e of- ‘* owe,’? may be reafonabie; 
but to give it as the actual participle it- 
felf, is quite another affair.*—-In his de- 
finitions, any perfon looking fer inferma- 
tion will fometimes find only ** confufion 
worfe confounded :"”? thus his exp/anation 
of ** network’? (**any thing reticulated 
or decuffated at equal diftances, with in- 
terftices between the interlegtions’”) has 
Jong been laughed at; as his definitions 
of ¢ patriot, penfioner, whig,’” and iome 
others, have been detefled. In addition 
to thefe, his petty partialities and averiicns 
are occafionally exprefied to the exclufen 
of every thing ratienal: thus ** club” ig 
defined ‘* an affembly of good feliows 
meeting under certain conditicns,”” and 
“ foxbunter, a man whefe chief ambities 
is to /how his bravery in hunting foxes ;”° 
while, with ofentatious humility, be gives 
*«lexicographer” as ‘‘ a harmle/s drudge 
that bufies himfe}f ia tracing the original, 
and detailing the fignification of words.” 
On thefe grounds, Sir, much good may 
be confidently anticipated from the cir- 
cumilance of a gentleman of learning and 
* The ettablified irregular formations 
either Latin or Englith, as of 6 fun” or 
‘#am,”’ are of no force in this inftance: as 
they have been univerfally acknowledged ; 
which ‘ due” from §* oqwe’’ certainly never 
was, nor even perhaps thought of till brought 
forward by Johnfon. 
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