From a general history of the English language, and some remarks upon that subject, I proceed to examin its elements, or the powers of the letters which compose our alphabet. There are in English, twenty five characters or letters which are the representatives of certain sounds, either simple or combined; a, b, c, d, e, f, g, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z. The English have also the character _h_, which marks an aspiration or strong breathing, but has very little sound of its own.[G] Letters, according to the sounds they represent, or the purposes they serve, are very naturally divided into three kinds; _vowels_, _dipthongs_, and _consonants_. In order to obtain clear ideas of our alphabet, let us attend to the following definitions: 1. A vocal sound, formed by opening the mouth, and by a single position of the organs of speech, is a simple sound or vowel. Most of the vowels in English are capable of being prolonged at pleasure, without varying the position of the organs. 2. No more than one simple sound can be formed by one aperture of the mouth, and one position of the organs of speech. The only difference that can be made with the same position of the organs, is, to prolong and shorten the same sound. 3. Two simple sounds, closely united in pronunciation, or following each other so rapidly that the distinction is scarcely perceptible, form a dipthong. In pronouncing a dipthong, two positions of the parts of the mouth are required. 4. Those letters which are not marks of articulate sounds, but represent indistinct sounds, formed by some contact of the parts of the mouth, or by compressing those parts, check all sound, are denominated consonants. By the first definition we ascertain the number of vowels in English. In pronouncing each of the letters [1a], [4a], [3a], [1e], [1o], [6o], [2u], we observe but one position or aperture of the mouth; the sounds are therefore simple, and the letters are called _vowels_. The six first sounds are capable of being prolonged at pleasure. By the second definition, we determine which sounds are the same in quality, and different only in the time of being pronounced. Thus _i_ in _fit_ has the same quality of sound as _ee_ in _feet_, for both are pronounced with the same disposition of the organs; but the first is the shortest articulation of the sound, and the last, a long or grave articulation. The other vowels have also their short or abrupt sounds; _a_ in _late_ has its short sound in _let_; _a_ in _cart_ has its short sound in _carry_; _a_ in _fall_ has its short sound in _folly_; _oo_ in _fool_ its short sound in _full_. _O_ is sometimes shortened in common parlance, as in _colt_; but the distinction between _o_ in _coal_ and _colt_, seems to be accidental or caused by the final consonant, and not sufficiently settled or important to require a separate consideration.