The analogy of the language appears to
great advantage in the following: "Polite
speakers interpose a sound like the letter y
between g and a in garden, which coalesces
with both, and gives a mellowness to the
sound. Thus, A Garden, pronounced in this
manner, is nearly similar to the two words,—
egg and yarden united into Egg-yarden." To
our more modern ears the effect of Tennyson's
melodious appeal, "Come into the gheyarden,
Maud," would be considerably marred by
this polite pronunciation. The same rule
applies to Guard, Guile, Guardian, Gild and
Guilt, all of which necessarily admit of the e
sound between hard g and i, or we cannot
pronounce them. Kind, Sky, and others are
changed by the same coalition into Key-inde
and Skey-eye. Nor is this a fanciful peculiarity;
but a mispronunciation arising from
euphony, and the analogy of the language.

On the word Corruptible we find some
very pungent remarks. Walker complains
that, " Some affected speakers have done all
in their power to remove the accent of this
word from the second to the first syllable.
Thanks to the difficulty of pronouncing it in
this manner, they have not yet effected their
purpose. Those who have the least regard
for the sound of their language ought to
resist this novelty with all their might; for,
if it once gain ground, it is sure to triumph.
The difficulty of pronouncing it, and the ill-
sound it produces will recommend it to the
fashionable world, who are as proud to
distinguish themselves by an oddity in language
as in dress." The grave lexicographer found
other things requiring censure besides
mispronunciation.

A Wound should be pronounced a Wowned.
"Indeed, to pronounce it otherwise, is a
capricious novelty received among the polite
world, probably from an affectation of the
French sound. I think it ought to be utterly
banished. But where is the man bold enough
to risk the imputation of vulgarity by such
an expulsion? " The author of

"Now stood Eliza on the wood-crown'd heights."

was evidently of Walker's opinion. We
can now appreciate how Eliza,

                      "sinking to the ground,
Kiss'd her dear babe regardless of the wownd."

Before, the want of rhyme sadly damaged
the effect. There must have been, besides
the before-mentioned privilege of torture,
more facilities for rhyming generally; for,
was it not most correct to pronounce Dover
Duvyer; and can we not see at a glance how
nicely that comes in with Lover?

The stage would pronounce Fierce,
Ferse; this is slightly defended as being
"philosophically right, though grammatically
improper; because a short sound denotes a
rapid and violent emotion." But when the
same authority takes Upon itself to transform
Sigh into Sithe, we are assured it is a
"perfect oddity in the language." Walker
receives our full concurrence when he
remarks, that "it is not easy to conjecture what
could be the reason of this departure
from analogy." "Some affected speakers on the
English stage pronounce the first syllable of
Confidant like Cone; "and, as our present
pronunciation of Conquer "is in full
possession of the stage, there is but little
hope of a change. It is a wanton departure
from our own analogy to that of the French."
It ought, decidedly, Mr. Walker thinks, to
be Conkwer. The word Haunt "was in quiet
possession of its true sound till a dramatic
piece made its appearance; which, to the
surprise of those who had heard the language
spoken half a century, was, by some speakers,
called 'The Hawnted Tower.' This
pronunciation is not agreeable to analogy,"—
but is, nevertheless, agreeable to most modem
colloquists, who persist in retaining it.

Garrick receives a decided compliment, or
rather, perhaps, a forced submission—owing
to his great popularity—from our author;
who, in deference to him, marks Bowl as we
pronounce it now; "though the least analogical.
Respectable speakers make it rhyme
with Howl." Garrick also pronounced bourne
to rhyme with mourn. This is agreeable to
Walker; for he "is also fortified by the
suffrages of Mr. Elphinstone, Mr. Nares, Mr.
Smith." And, we may again add, by those of
our English public in general.

Now for a specimen of the erratic genius
of the House of Commons. "Some respectable
speakers there pronounce the e in the
first syllable of legislature, as if written
leegislature, and think they are wonderfully
correct in doing so." And why was it that
Fashion would always feel itself obleeged?
Why will it go to the Darby, hunt with the
Barkley hounds, and call a Clerk a Clark?
Walker observes, that the speakers to whom
he alludes may have been natives of the
Modern Athens; or, that the sound of vowels
in the Scotch manner was perhaps a little
à la mode. He tells us in a note on
Highlander, that "we sometimes hear a most
absurd pronunciation of this word taken from
the Scotch, as if written Heelander. It is
curious to observe, that while the Scotch are
endeavouring to leave their own pronunciation,
and adopt that of the English, there are
some English so capricious as to quit their
own pronunciation, and adopt that which the
Scotch strive carefully to avoid."

We can echo the fervent desire of Walker
to give the full sound to the first syllable
of Soldier. The word was, in his time,
pronounced So-ger. "Mr. Johnson leaves out
the I; but I have frequently had occasion
to differ from this gentleman, and in this I
do devoutly."

"The general pronunciation of the polite
and learned world," in all words ending in
ass, such as pass, glass, &c., was to rhyme
with gas; "every correct ear would be