[74] Ash observes, that "in unaccented, short and insignificant syllables, the sounds of the five vowels are nearly coincident. It must be a nice ear that can distinguish the difference of sound in the concluding syllable of the following words, altar, alter, manor, murmur, satyr."----Gram. Diff. pref. to Dic. p. 1. [75] For my part I cannot discover the euphony; and tho the contrary mode be reprobated, as vulgar, by certain mighty fine speakers, I think it more conformable to the general scheme of English pronunciation; for tho in order to make the word but two syllables, _ti_ and _te_ may be required to be converted into _ch_, or the _i_ and _e_ into _y_, when the preceding syllable is marked with the accute accent as in _question_, _minion_, _courteous_, and the like; there seems to be little reason, when the grave accent precedes the _t_, as in _nature_, _creature_, for converting the _t_ into _ch_; and not much more for joining the _t_ to the first syllable and introducing the _y_ before the second, as _nat-yure_. Why the _t_ when followed by neither _i_ nor _e_, is to take the form of _ch_, I cannot conceive: It is, in my opinion, a species of affectation that should be discountenanced.---- Kenrick Rhet. Gram. page 32. Dic. [76] Well might Mr. Sheridan assert, that "Such indeed is the state of our written language, that the darkest hieroglyphics, or most difficult cyphers which the art of man has hitherto invented, were not better calculated to conceal the sentiments of those who used them, from all who had not the key, than the state of our spelling is to conceal the true pronunciation of our words, from all, except a few well educated natives." Rhet. Gram. p. 22. Dic. But if these well educated natives would pronounce words as they ought, one half the language at least would be regular. The Latin derivatives are mostly regular to the educated and uneducated of America; and it is to be hoped that the modern hieroglyphical obscurity will forever be confined to _a few well educated natives_ in Great Britain. [77] "Quem penes arbitrium est, et jus et norma loquendi." Horace.----"Nothing," says Kenrick, "has contributed more to the adulteration of living languages, than the too extensive acceptation of Horace's rule in favor of custom. Custom is undoubtedly the rule of present practice; but there would be no end in following the variations daily introduced by caprice. Alterations may sometimes be useful--may be necessary; but they should be made in a manner conformable to the genius and construction of the language. Modus est in rebus. Extremes in this, as in all other cases, are hurtful. We ought by no means to shut the door against the improvements of our language; but it were well that some criterion were established to distinguish between improvement and innovation."----Rhet. Gram. page 6, Dict.