B. _In respect to the consonants._--The _th_ in _thin_, the _th_ in _thine_, the _sh_ in _shine_, the _z_ in _azure_, and the _ng_ in _king_, five sounds specifically distinct, and five sounds perfectly simple require corresponding signs, which they have not. II. _Its inconsistency._--The _f_ in _fan_, and the _v_ in _van_ sounds in a certain degree of relationship to _p_ and _b_, are expressed by signs as unlike as _f_ is unlike _p_, and as _v_ is unlike b. The sound of the _th_ in _thin_, the _th_ in _thine_, the _sh_ in _shine_, similarly related to _t_, _d_, and _s_, are expressed by signs as like _t_, _d_, and _s_, respectively, as _th_ and _sh_. The compound sibilant sound of _j_ in _jest_ is spelt with the single sign _j_, whilst the compound sibilant sound in _chest_ is spelt with the combination _ch_. III. _Erroneousness._--The sound of the _ee_ in _feet_ is considered the long (independent) sound of the _e_ in _bed_; whereas it is the long (independent) sound of the _i_ in _pit_. The _i_ in _bite_ is considered as the long (independent) sound of the _i_ in _pit_; whereas it is a diphthongal sound. The _u_ in _duck_ is looked upon as a modification of the _u_ in _bull_; whereas it is a specifically distinct sound. The _ou_ in _house_ and the _oi_ in _oil_ are looked upon as the compounds of _o_ and _i_ and of _o_ and _u_ respectively; whereas the latter element of them is not _i_ and _u_, but _y_ and _w_. The _th_ in _thin_ and the _th_ in _thine_ are dealt with as one {185} and the same sound; whereas they are sounds specifically distinct. The _ch_ in _chest_ is dealt with as a modification of _c_ (either with the power of _k_ or of _s_); whereas its elements are _t_ and _sh_. IV. _Redundancy._--As far as the representation of sounds is concerned the letter _c_ is superfluous. In words like _citizen_ it may be replaced by _s_; in words like _cat_ by _k_. In _ch_, as in _chest_, it has no proper place. In _ch_, as in _mechanical_, it may be replaced by _k_. _Q_ is superfluous, _cw_ or _kw_ being its equivalent. _X_ also is superfluous, _ks_, _gz_, or _z_, being equivalent to it. The diphthongal forms _ae_ and _oe_, as in _Aeneas_ and _Croesus_, except in the way of etymology, are superfluous and redundant. V. _Unsteadiness._--Here we have (amongst many other examples), 1. The consonant _c_ with the double power of _s_ and _k_; 2. _g_ with its sound in _gun_ and also with its sound in _gin_; 3. _x_ with its sounds in _Alexander_, _apoplexy_, _Xenophon_. In the foregoing examples a single sign has a double power; in the words _Philip_ and _filip_, &c., a single sound has a double sign. In respect to the degree wherein the English orthography is made subservient to etymology, it is sufficient to repeat the statement that the _c_, _ae_, and _oe_ are retained in the alphabet for etymological purposes only.