To reconcile orthography to ftrict pronunciation is fantastical, ridiculous, and illiterate. It originally relished of etymology, and in written speech fome etymological traces ever should remain. Honeft K has long ftood in our language as a memorial of its origin; and as the Greek x is represented in English by the letters ch, so the final que of the French was formerly fignified by the English k. But fashion, fearful of pedantry, gives no quarter to etymology. The Publick are invited by your advertisements to performances tragic and comic, and concerts of mufic; and to our utter aftonishment, a modern dramatick poet has announced The Choleric Man, under the auspices of Mr. Garric, whofe Gallick genealogy and Gallick patronymick are univerfally known, and who has himself so largely contributed to render immortal the name of Garricque. Tamely to follow fashions is poor and fervile: to run before them argues a great and lively genius. Content not yourself therefore, Mr. Woodfall, with the present partial detruncation of the final k, but boldly lop it off from every word wherein it now occurs, and do equal juftice to the quic and the dead. The tric is eafily played; let ambition pric the fides of your intent; the multitude will floc after you: the critics cannot find fault with you for following their own example, and the whole Republic of Letters will crac of your exploits in bringing this King Log to the bloc. I am, Sir, Your humble fervant, Berwic-ftreet: BLAC AND ALL BLAC. The above Letter was productive of the following from another hand, which appeared in the fame paper the fucceeding Saturday, Feb. 11, 1775 To the PRINTER of the PUBLIC ADVERTISER. Smyrna Coffee-boufe, Wednesday Morning. SIR, OUR ingenious Correfpondent BLAC and all You fectation of fome modern Writers, who are attempting to kic the letter k out of the alphabet. This ridiculous innovation I hope will be crushed in the bud; and your Correfpondent certainly deferves well of the REPUBLIC OF LETTERS, by endeavouring to fave an ufeful member. There There is a very whimsical friend of mine who has long conceived fo great an averfion to poor ký that at last he has totally profcribed him;-he contrives to omit him in words where one would have thought it impoffible to do without him, fuch as knife and fork, corkscrew, wig-block, &c. which he writes nife and forc, corcfcrew, wig-bloc, &c. In order to place his antipathy to k in the most striking light, permit me to lay before your Readers the following Epiftle, which I received from him a few days ago: "My dear Friend, "One misfortune they fay generally comes on "the bac of another. I have had an attac of my "old diforder, which has confined me these three 66 weecs to a fic bed. I have fwallowed amazing "quantities of phyfic, and yet could seldom get a "wine of fleep for whole nights. Indeed it was "partly my own fault, for instead of proceeding "in the regular trac, I have been playing trics with 66 my conftitution, by purchafing Quac Medicines "from a damn'd Mountebanc in our neighbour"hood: however, by good luc, and juft in the nic "when I was on the point of splitting on a roc, in " stepped Dr. A. He went upon t'other tac, 66 obliged the empiric to pac off, and instead of phy "fic, ordered me to drinc plenty of fac whey, or "Old Hoc and water. Though I feel a confiderable "weacnefs, and fome relics of the diforder, yet al"ready I begin to pic up a little. I am forbid to eat 66 porc, but can eafily manage the wing of a chic "or young coc. Tomorrow I begin with the Je"fuit's Bare; and though my conftitution has re"ceived a pretty smart fhoc, the Doctor affures me "I fhall very foon be as hearty as a buc." Tooc's-Court, Tuesday Evening, Six o'Cloc. I do not mean, Mr. Woodfall, to take up too much of your Paper, which is better employed in coaxing the Colonies, or mauling the Minifter. I hope that enough has aleady been faid to prevent the innocent k from arbitrary and unjust profcription: I am, Sir, Your humble fervant, K's FRIEND. |