in the room of the last Syllable, as in
drowns, walks, arrives
, and innumerable other Words, which in the Pronunciation of our Forefathers were
drowneth, walketh, arriveth
. This has wonderfully multiplied a Letter which was before too frequent in the
English
Tongue, and added to that
hissing
in our Language, which is taken so much notice of by Foreigners; but at the same time humours our Taciturnity, and eases us of many superfluous Syllables.
I might here observe, that the same single Letter on many Occasions does the Office of a whole Word, and represents the