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

403
Thus, we find an uniform progress, from strength, and
energy, to softness, and tenuity of sound, and, from distinct
precision, to indolent obscurity. Men being determined
not to take too much pains to speak, contracted a habit of
not taking sufficient pains to speak distinctly. TI10
indulgence of ease, leads naturally to listless indolence^
till it ends in slovenly negligence.
Τον the satisfaction of those who have not considered this
topic, it may not be improper to add some proofs, that
changes like these have actually taken place, in the manner
here described.
In the Cambre-British, there are several mutations of
the letters, which are perfectly regular, tjiroughout the whole
of the language. They have been reduced into a system^
from remote antiquity; good writers, and speakers, make no
deviation from them, for the perspicuity of speech de-
pends upon a due regard to them, and they all follow the
order I have delineated.
A changes into E, Ei, and Υ ; JTinto I, Ei, Y; into
Y; W (the broad U) into U (γ) and Υ ; Ρ into F, ili, B;
Β into ill, V ; D into N, Dk ; C into G, Ch ; G into
Ng, and a soft breathing ; 'X into L; 'R into R; and T.
into Th, Nh, and D.
All these changes are constantly recognised by the usage,
and grammar of this one Celtic dialect; and, if the col^
lateral dialects be compared with each other, we shall
find the mutations extend, as far as the length of the
preceding scale.
In the Irish language, Ρ is mutable into Ph ,• Γ into
c c 2