may be continued at pleasure, thus partaking of the nature of vowels.

The nature of these consonants I proceed briefly to explain.

A vowel sound may be continued at pleasure, or it may be terminated, either by discontinuing the vocal effort, in which case it is not articulated by any consonant, as in pronouncing the vowel 0; or by changing the conformation of the mouth, or relative position of the organs of speech, so that the vowel sound is lost by articulation, as in pronouncing the syllable or. It is to be observed also, that a vowel may be articulated, not only by being terminated by a consonant, as in the example now given, but likewise by introducing the sound with that position of the organs, by which it had, in the former case, been terminated, as in pronouncing the syllable ro.

In pronouncing the consonants, there are five distinguishable positions of the organs*. The first is the application of the lips to each other, so as to close the mouth. Thus are formed the consonants, p, b, and m.

In the second position, the under lip is applied to the fore teeth of the upper jaw; and in this manner we pronounce the consonants ƒ and v.

The third position is, when the tongue is

*The mouth is not the proper organ for producing sound; but merely the organ for modulating and articulating the specific sounds,

applied to the fore teeth; and thus we pronounce th.

In the fourth position we apply the fore part of the tongue to the fore part of the palate, and by this application we pronounce the letters t, d, s, z, r, l, n.

The fifth position is, when the middle part of the tongue is applied to the palate, and thus we pronounce k, the hard sound of g (as in ga) sh, j, and ng.

In the first position we have three letters, of which the most simple, and indeed the only articulator, being absolutely mute, is p. In the formation of this letter, nothing is required, but the sudden closing of the mouth, and stopping the vowel sound; or the sound may be articulated by the sudden opening of the lips, in order to emit the compressed sound of the vowel.

Now, if instead of simply expressing the vowel sound by opening the lips, in saying for example pa, we shall begin to form a guttural sound, the position being still preserved; then on opening the lips, we shall pronounce the syllable ba. The guttural sound is produced by a compression of the larynx, or wind pipe; and is that kind of murmur, as bishop Wilkins expresses it, which is heard in the throat, before the breath is emitted with the vocal sound. B, therefore, though justly considered as a mute, is not a perfect mute.

The mouth being kept in the same position, and the breath being emitted through the nostrils, the letter m is produced.

In the first position, therefore, we have a perfect mute p, having no audible sound; a labial and liquid consonant m, capable of a continued sound; and, between these two extremes, we have the letter b, somewhat audible, though different from any vocal sound.

Here then are three things to be distinguished. 1st, The perfect mute, having no sound of any kind. 2dly, The perfect consonant, having not only a proper, but continued sound and Sdly, between these extremes we find the letter b, having a proper sound, but so limited, that, in respect to the perfect consonant, it may be termed a mute, and in relation to the perfect mute, may be properly termed imperfect.

This is the

In the second position, we have the letters f and v, neither of which are perfect mutes. The letter f is formed, by having the aspiration not altogether interrupted, but emitted forcibly between the fore teeth and under lip. simple articulation in this position. If to this we join the guttural sound, we shall have the letter v, a letter standing in nearly the same relation to f, as band m, in the first position, stand to p. The only difference between f and v is, that, in the former, the compression of the teeth and under lip is not so strong, as in the latter; and that the

former is produced by the breath only, and the latter by the voice and breath combined.

The consonant f, therefore, though not a mute like p, in having the breath absolutely confined, may notwithstanding be considered as such, consistently with that principle, by which a mute is understood to be an aspiration without guttural sound.

Agreeably to the distinction already made, v may be termed a perfect consonant, and ƒ an imperfect one, having no proper sound, though audible. Thus we have four distinctions in our consonantal alphabet, namely, of perfect and imperfect consonants; perfect and imperfect mutes; thus, p is a perfect mute, having no sound.

b an imperfect mute, having proper sound, but limited.

m a perfect consonant, having sound, and continued.

f an imperfect consonant, having no sound, but audible.

In the third position we have th as heard in the words then and thin, formed by placing the tip of the tongue between the teeth, and pressing it against the upper teeth. The only difference between these articulations is, that, like ƒ and v, the one is formed by the breath only, and the other by the breath and voice together*.

* The sound of th in thin, is usually marked with a stroke through the h, to distinguish it from its other sound, thus, thick.

Here also may be distinguished the perfect and the imperfect consonant; for the th in thin has no sound, but is audible, whereas the th in this, there, has a sound, and that continued.

In the fourth position there are several consonants formed.

1st. If the breath be stopped, by applying the fore part of the tongue forcibly to that part of the palate, which is contiguous to the fore teeth, we produce the perfect mute t, having neither aspiration nor guttural sound. By accompanying this operation of the tongue and palate with the guttural sound, we shall pronounce the letter d, which like b of the first position may be considered as a mute, though not perfect. For, in pronouncing ed the tongue at first gently touches the gum, and is gradually pressed closer, till the sound is obstructed; whereas in pronouncing et, the tongue is at once pressed so close, that the sound is instantly intercepted.

2dly, If the tip of the tongue be turned up towards the upper gum, so as not to touch it, and thus the breath be cut by the sharp point of the tongue, passing through the narrow chink left between that and the gum, we pronounce the sibilating sound of s. If we accompany this operation with a guttural sound, as in b, and th in then, we shall pronounce the letter ; the same difference subsisting between s and ≈ as between fand v, p and b, th and th.