Blair Collection > Celtic researches, on the origin, traditions & language, of the ancient Britons

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latlons, and has roiulcred others totally silent. Hence,
many letters, in all the hviug dialects, which formerly were
pronounced, as well as written, liave now lost their power.
Sucli letters, orthography often rejects, as expletive, und su-
perfluous, to the detriment of etymology.
The reduction of the consonants to a mere Ibreathing,
whether soft, or aspirate, may be termed an cianesctncc of
the power. It is a disease, which particularly affects the
language of a people during their descent into the vale of
savage life, in which they daily find less occasion for co-
pious expressions, for neatness, auU for precision of speech,.
c c