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PRONUNCIATION OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE. ( Continued.) This corruption of the pronunciation of Latin, which took place very gradually in England, has, within a recent period, been reduced to a system ; and the abuses which at first crept in through negligence, and were continued through the indo lence or bigotry of incompetent teachers, in spite of the remonstrances of scholars and men of let ters, are in this country actually inculcated in the manuals of instruction. The learner is now in formed, upon his first introduction into Latin, that the ancient pronunciation being in a great meas ure lost, the different nations follovv, in their pro nunciation of this language, the principles which govern that of their own. This is all the infor mation that is afforded him at this period of his studies. No hint is given him that the English pronunciation of Latin differs more from the an cient than that of the other nations of Europe. No means are furnished him of learning what points are doubtful in the ancient pronunciation, and what are ascertained. There is an absolute si lence as to the proofs by which the correct sounds of the Roman letters have been established; proofs drawn from the language itself, and from the tes timony of ancint grammarians and rhetoricians. All fuller information is reserved for the more ad vanced student, who, if Ins curiosity prompt him, may inform himself on these points; but this knowledge comes, if it come at all, only after his vicious pronunciation has become so fixed that he cannot readily disuse it. In the meantime, the pupil is informed, that the absence of any other guide leaves him full liberty to conform his pronunciation to what is termed the “English analogy.” He is not, however, abandoned to his own discretion ; but, to ensure an absolute unifor mity in error, a set of rules, purporting to expound this “ English analogy,” is placed before the learn er. In these he is instructed, to introduce into the Latin, not only those irregularities and anom alies of pronunciation which have undeniably es tablished themselves in our own language, but accidenfal deviations from correct sounds, and petty vulgarities which we condemn while we allow, and which no child, well trained, even in English pronunciation, would think of carrying into another language. Thus many coarse and unpleasant sounds are conveyed into the Latin, which are wholly foreign to it, and which are plainly corruptions in our own language. Os these is the sound given to s and t before i fol lowed by a vowel.* This harsh sound—so dis pleasing to a refined ear, that, even in English, every elegant speaker is careful to avoid it, where this can be done without the appearance of affec tation —is strenuously insisted on, and its use am ply illustrated by examples. We even go beyond the English in this respect; for whereas they ex empt from change ihet preceded by 5, our gram marians instruct us to pronounce Sallustius , Sal luscheus ; mixtio , mixcheo,&cc. Even these prelim inary rules are not deemed sufficient; but, since the un warped mind of a child is continually liable to err into the right, his memory is continually refreshed by foot notes, which instruct him that ar-ti-um is arsheum , and that the comparative of mit-is is not mit-i-or , as he might reasonably sup pose, but misheor. But, although the English analogy is announced as the guide for the pronunciation of Latin, and is followed, for the most part, with such scrupulous fidelity through its least excusable irregularities, yet we find this analogy occasionally most capri ciously deserted. Thus, ch is always to have the sound of k ; cliarta , machina , for example, are to be pronounced karta, makina. This is certainly not according to the English analogy, for we have both these words in our language, (charter , ma chine,) and kis heard in neither of them. Can it be in compliment to the Greek origin of these words? We can hardly suppose it; for why should the sound of k be conferred on ch, which stands for the Greek chi, when it is denied to the c —the representative of the kappa itself —not only in words derived from the Greek, but even in Greek proper names, as in Cimon, Alcibiades? Besides this deliberate departure from the Eng lish analogy, we indulge ourselves in sundry odd little freaks of pronunciation, which conform to the analogy of no known tongue ; such, for ex ample, as our pronunciation of cui and huic ;t and these deviations are not only kindly allowed by our grammarians, but actually enjoined. The rules thus laid down for the perversion of the pure sounds of the Latin tongue are commonly given in a chapter on Orthoepy, which begins with the sarcastic announcement, that “ Orthoepy treats of the right pronunciation of words.” It would not be uninstructive to compare the rules given in these chapters on Orthoepy in our modern manuals, with the cautions against falling into vulgar errors of speech, found under the same head in the Latin grammars formerly in use in England. In these the greatest attention to the pronunciation of his pupils was urged upon the teacher. “ Ante omnia deterrendi sunt pueri ab iis vitiis quae nostro vulgo pene propria esse videntur.” Among the errors especially marked out for avoidance, we find several which are now en joined as the rule of pronunciation ; as for exam- * As in pen-si-o, na-ti-o , which our youth are directed to pronounce pensheo, nasheo. f Improperly prouounced ki and hike. ple, the sound which wd give to the s between two vowels.* “ S vero, mediam inter duas vocales corrupte sonant nonnulli, pro laesus, visits, risus, pronunti antes laezus, vizus, rizus” . i . ... The omission of the aspirate in the ch is like wise condemned. . “Male pro Christus, chrisma, Chremcs , efferimus Crist/us , crisma , Cremes .” These citations are from Lily’s Latin Grammar, first published in the reign of Henry the Eighth, a period when the study of Latin was highly cultivated in England. Great attention was, at that time, paid to the pronunciation of this lan guage. In the elementary works, not only is the pupil warned against palpable errors of the kind above referred to, but slight faults of enunciation are pointed out; and the pupil is warned against carrying into the Latin that inelegant haste which is the vice of English pronunciation. It is un doubtedly true, that, even then, grave errors had entered into the pronunciation of Latin in Eng land, as well as in France. Philology, as a sci ence, had not then even an existence, and the im portance of preserving the sound of root letters was a thing unknown. But the value of pure and harmonious sounds was fully appreciated ; and, in all that regarded the euphony of the Latin lan guage, the scholars of that day were careful guar dians of its purity. The most eminent men of that time did not disdain to interest themselves in its preservation. We have proof of this in a let ter addressed by Cardinal Wolsey to the masters of his school at Ipswich, in which he exhorts the teachers to use great diligence in forming the speech of their pupils to elegance and correctness. In order that they may be trained to accuracy in this respect, from their first steps in learning, he directs that especial care shall be bestowed on the pupils of the first or youngest class. “ Quorum os tenerum formare praecipua cura vobis sit, utpote qui et apertissima et elegantissi ma vocis pronuntiatione, tradita elementa profe rant.” But the injury which we offer to the euphony of the Latin language is not the only injustice it suf fers at our hands. Our wanton changes in the sounds of the consonants, and especially of the gutturals, introduce a vast number of irregulari ties that have no real existence in the language ; separating not merely words sprung from the same root, from each other and from their origi nal, but estranging cases of the same noun and tenses of the same verb; nay, in the same tense, varying with the person, the root letters of the verb itself; thus, in fact, changing with the time or the speaker, the nature of the action described. Thus, the perfect of vinco is visiA The effect of this change of sound is sometimes so absurd, that, but for the general habit of laying down all right of private judgment in matters connected with what are called the learned languages, the com mon sense of even the least observing would take offence at it. For example, in verbs which take the syllabic augment in the perfect, we often make the reduplication consist of a sound totally different from that of the first root letter of the verb. Thus, from cano, instead of cecini (kekini) we have sesini ; from cado , instead of cecidi, (keki di) we have sesidi. But perhaps the absurdity of this capricious change in the sound of the gut tural is nowhere better shown than in the case of verbs compounded with prepositions, where the final letter of the preposition has assimilated it self to the initial of the verb, as in accipio , from ad and capio. In such cases, when we have substi tuted the sound of s for that of c, as the initial of the verb, we neither restore to the preposition its original final letter, nor suffer it to follow the law of attraction, and adapt itself to the change, by assuming a sibilant. On the contrary, we leave the accidental prefix in possession of the root let ter of which the verb has been robbed, and, in this way, produce a compound which offends both the ear and the judgment. Thus, of ad and cado , we make ac-sido ; of sub and cedo (kedo,) suc-sedo. Again, by this system of varying the sounds of the consonants according to the vowel by which they are followed, a slight variation in the spell ing of a word, such as the transposition or elision ofa letter, ora change in the vowel, are sufficient to make a wholly new word of it. When we meet sac and die in their uncontracted form, we say fase, dise ; certus and cretus, as we pronounce them, will hardly pass for different forms of the same participle. It is manifest how greatly all these irregularities and discrepancies must increase the difficulties of the study of Latin, especially to a child, whose natural perception of fitness is not yet perverted. Nor is this inconvenience con fined to the study of Latin. The other ancient languages connected with it, whether more or less nearly, are separated from it, and we lose a great part of the benefit which a previous knowl edge of the Latin might yield us in their acquisi tion. Greek, having suffered less than the Latin from these corruptions, is, for us, rather anew language, than another dialect of the same fami ly. Not only are words of the same origin in Greek and Latin made to forget their affinity, but even proper names, as often as they are written in Roman characters, are wholly metamorphosed. Nothing can be more ludicrous than, in the con- * The Romans pronounced the 5 always hard, as the Span iards do to this day. f Caesar’s laconic despatch, delivered in our pronunciation, would have been very unsatisfactory. It would simply have stated that he came, saw, and visited. struing of Greek, to hear names of persons and places translated by words wholly dissimilar; as, Kimon , Salmon; Kilikia , Sailishya * * It can hardly be thought that we make amends for the di versity we introduce between the sounds of the two lan guages, by that forcible assimilation of the accent, by which we rob the Greek of that which, according to Quintilian, con stituted its chief superiority over the Latin, as the language of poetry. BLAKE’S PATENT, FIRE-PROOF PAINT, FROM OHIO. THIS Singular and valuable Substance is sold in fine powder, then mixed with linseed oil to the consistency of thick paint, and applied with a brush, and after an exposure of a few months to the atmosphere, this coating becomes a perfect slate or coat oi mail protecting whatever is covered front the action of the weather and fiom fire. It is a mineral substance, and has been found upon analyzation by Dr. Chilton, of the city of New York, to consist of larger pro portions of Silicia Alutnine, Prot. Oxide of Iron and Magnesia, with lesser of Lime and Carbon. It is used extensively for cover ing roofs of either shingles, matched boards, tin, zinc, sheet iron or thick paper, if vourshingles have been on for years, you have only to sweep off the moss and lint, with a stiff broom, and coyer with two or three good coats, and in a few months you hav e a perfect slate roof, impervious to the action of the weather and J?re. There i* nothing equal to it for steamboats and car decks, for all kinds ot iron, it forms a coating nearly as hard as the iron itself, and never cleaves off. It should be used for everything that you wish to piotect from fire and weather. Inso me places a spurious article has been sold as the genuine, therefore purchasers should be careful to buy ot authorized Agents. Every lib]. is marked BLAKE’S FIRE PROOF PAINI. The above Paint is for sale by C- A. L. LAMAR sept 13 ts Savannah, Ga. FALL AND WINTEHTCLOTH INGr TO the Merchants of Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ala bama and Florida.—The subscribers having established a house in this city for the sale of READY MADE CLOI HING in connection with an extensive Manufacturing establishment in New ark, N. J., where one of the firm gives his personal attention en tirely to the manufarture, while the other devotes himself to the receipt and sale ot the same in Savannah. Possessing these advan tages, we flatter ourselves that we can compete with any establish ment in the United States in Price, style and workmanship, are now receiving our Fall and Winter supply, to which w r e invite the attention of merchants, planters, and the public in general, sept 6 PIERSON & HEIDT. R. S. HARDWICK & COOKE, FACTORS & COMMISSION MERCHANTS, Savannah, Ga. THE Undersigned have associated themselves, under the above style, in the business above specified. Mr. Hardwick is a Planter of Hancock county, and, of course, identified in feeling and interest with his brother Planters. Mr. Cooke is a citizen ot Sa vannah, and is thoroughly acquainted with all the branches of the Commission Business. We are prepared to make liberal advances on produce instore, and will fill orders for Plantation and Family Supplies with scrupu lous care. We are mutually bound not to speculate in Cotton or any other article of Merchandise. We respectfully solicit patronage and pledge ourselves to deserve it by faithful attention to the business entrusted to us. R. S. HARDWICK, aug 23 J. G. COOKE. Staves. PERSONS in the country desirous of engaging in getting out Staves, are informed that the preparation required for foreign export is as follows : To be made either out of White Oak or Water Oak Trees. Length, from 42 to 44 inches. Breadth, not less than 4 or more than 7 inches. Thickness, not less than 1 or more than inches on the thinest part of the thinest edge. The back and edge of the Slave should be dressed down to the same thickness—should have a clear cleft or split, and be free from knots, crooks, and worm-holes. Staves prepared in conformity with this specification will be re ceived at the full market price during the ensuing autumn and winter. Present value, thirty-five dollars per one thousand pieces. Aug 2 ANDRKW LOW & CO. JOHN A. GEORGE. TIN PLATE, SHEET IRON, COPPER, ZINC AND LEAD WORKER, No. 80, St. Julian Street. THE Subscriber would inform the public that he engages no hands but those who are fully competent to turn out work in all branches of his business faithfully and workmanlike, at the shortest notice. Particularly Ship and House Plumbing. A Good Assort ment of Manufactured Tin Ware will hereatter be kept constantly on hand at low prices for Cash. Orders from the County punctually attended to. ly aug 23 PAINT AND OIL STORE, west side of monument square. —JOHN G. FALLIGANT invites his frienas and the public generally, both from and country, to call and ex amine his stock before they purchase. Every article is selected by himself and will be warranted of the best quality, and he will sell at low prices and on accommodating terms. Aug 2 WHITE LEAD.—IO,OOO LBs7 Atlantic White Lead, war ranted pure ; 4000 English do. do. do. For sale by J. G. FALLIGANT. WINDOW SASHES AND BLINDS—SOOO lights, Hby 10 Sash; 2000 do 10 by 12 do; 1000 do assorted sizes; 100 pair Venetian Blinds, assorted sizes. For sale by Aug 2 J G.’ FALLIGANT. Window Glass. AA BOXES American and French Window Glass, from vJ x” 7x9 to 16x18 ; do. do. do. Coach and Picture do. m 162x18 to 36x44, For sale bv Aug 2 J. G. FALLIGANT- Turpentine. “g BARRELS City Distilled, for sale by X U Aug 2 J. G. FALLfGANT* SITUATION WANTED, AS a C4&ERK or BOOKKEEPER, by a young man. Good reference can be given to any person needing his services. Apply at this Office. ts sept J3 MUSIC! MUSIC M MUSIC !!!—The subscriber begs respect fully to inform the public of the city of Savannah and vici nity that he has just received the largest assortment of sheet music for the Piano Forte ever offered in this market, consisting of songs, ballads, waltzes, gallops, dances, polkas, quicksteps, marches, &c. &c. Also, on hand, Hunter’s celebrated instructions for the piano forte, Easy preludes for beginners. Books of instruction on the guitar, fife do., clarionet do., violin do., accordian do., flute do. Millet’s juvenile piano forte school and J. F. Burrows’ piano primer ’ For sale by WILLIAM KAY, At the Southern Literary Depot, 72 St. Julian st. Sep. 13—6 t WOOD, WOOD, WOOD.—The subscribers will keep con stantly on hand a supply of the best Black Jack and Oak Wood for sale in lots to suit purchasers. R. A. ALLEN & CO. oct 4 3mo BOOKS ! BOOKS ! ! BOOKS ! ! !—Great excitement at the Southern Literary Depot, 72 St. Julian-st., WILLIAM KAY, Dollar ‘Works sold for eighty cents. Fifty cent do. do. forty cents. Twenty-five do. do. twenty cents. School Books, Stationary, and a large assortment of Standard Works in various Bindings, as cheap as any other establishment in the South. Also, 5000 pieces Sheet Music for the Piano, con sisting of Songs, Ballads, Waltzes, Gallops, Dances, Polkas, Quick steps, Marches, &c. at 5 cts a Page, sept 27 4 HOWARD HOUSE, MARIETTA, GEORGIA WE are gratified to inform the public, and especially so from the low country, that the Howard House k*' I ** l passed into our agency, we are determined to do away w S complaints that Marietta does not afford the requisite conveit by which visiters would be induced to sojourn in this delightjuj l^ The Howard House is now renovated, and accommodation pared which cannot fail to please. Ihe chambers are pleasant conveniently furnished. The table will be amply suppu €( j every luxury the country affords. Attentive servants aie In short, if agreeable quarters, a well spread table, cleanline attention, joined with moderate charges, can please, we assur patrons that they will be found at the Howard House, sep 6 DIX FLETCHEk Swift, ttcnslow & Webster. DEALERS in Groceries Provisions, Forein and Domestic Liquors, Oil, Gunpowder, Shot Prh -T and wrapping Paper. Coiner of Hay and Whitaker-str ‘ “ Savannah, Georgia. DWARD SWIFT, ALLEN A. DENSLOW, JOSEPH W. WFBST July 25 “ FALL AND WINTER CLOTHINgT^ JUST received per brig Clinton, a splendid assortment of Tw. Coats, Frocks and Sacks, fancy Cass. Pants, fancy ‘ Cass. Vests, together with a large assoitment of Twilled (V Pants and Jackets, Satinet Pants and Jackets, Corderoy |> a , Beaver Coats, Sacks, Blanket and Flushing Coats and Ovex-sJ For sale, very low, wholesale and retail, at No. 10 Whifaker-st sept 6 PIERSON & HEIDI Dentistry. DR. PANCOST has removed to Bryan street, East side M n ument square, near the State bank, where he may bes., at all hours, night or day, fully prepared to wait upon his trrendsa the public generally. N. B. Artificial teeth inserted from one to a whole set, and n u red to give satisfaction to the wearer. N. B. Charges greatly reduced. 6mo aug § A CARD. THE undersigned having re-opened, with entire New Stock of DRUGS, CHEMICALS hi FANCY ARTICLES, at No. 139 (South side) Broughton street, (formerly Walker’s Marble Yard,) is now readyt furnish any thing in his line, at the shortest notice. SOJD.I WATER, made in his own peculiar way, sent to any part i the city, and always to be had at the store, in the highest state of perfection. Prescriptions put up with care and despatch. The subscriber having served the public long and faithful!,, respectfully solicits a share of their patronage. apr 26 THOS. RYERSON. To the Planters and Farmers of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tens, essee and riorida. T AM THE AUTHORIZED AGENT for tk X sale and purchase of the CAM ELINA SATIVAor GOLD OF PLEASURE SEED, a native of Siberia. I am now ready to fill all orders for the seed, and being au thorized by the Company to purchase the same, I will pay tin highest market price for all that may be shipped to m id Savannah. WM. HUMPHREYS, Jr., may 31 Agent for the Company of New York. Situation Wanted. BY A YOUNG MAN, as Clerk or Book keeper, good references can be given to any person needing hu services. Apply at this office. may 31 CLOTHIHG, T)IERSON & HEIDT offer for sale Clothing, X Wholesale and Retail, at New York juices. No. II Whitaker-street. apr 26 To the Public. THE Subscriber, having entered extensive!? into the making of BRICK of a superior quality tor manufactured in this city, is prepared to fill orders at the shir est notice, and as low as any establishment of the kind in r : near Savannah. WM. H. LLOYD. June 21 ROBERT N. ADAMS, CABINET-MAKER AND UNDERTAKES No. 93 Broughton St., Savannah, Ga., IS prepared to execute all orders in his line a: the lowest prices, with dispatch. Orders from the country promptly attended to. Ready-made coffins always on hat and made to order at short notice. june 28 3rao HI. A. C'oheiL (Late of the firm of S. Solomons fy Cos.) COMMISSION AND FORWARDING MERfHAB. SAVANNAH, GA- Agent for steam packets H. L. Cook and Ivanhoe. may 10 marsh & webster] ATTORNEYS AT LAW, 175 Bay-Street—Up-Stairs. SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. Mulford Marsh. Andrew M. Webste* BOOK AND JOB PRINTING, Os all kinds, executed at thiM Office, with neatness n? despatch. HAVING lately put our Office in complete oru and made large additions to it, we have now the mostr'j tensive Job Printing Office in the City and are prepare I execute all kinds of PLAIN AND FANCY’ PR IN TIN with neatness and despatch, and on the most accomodau I terms. Office 102 Bryan-street, entrance on Bay Lane. Savannah, March 22d, 1849. EDWARD J. PURSE J A FRIEND OF THE FAMILyT A WEEKLY SOUTHERN NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHES EVERY THURSDAY, BY EDWARD J. PURSE. TERMS:—TWO DOLLARS A YEA K- Three Copies for one year, or one copy three years, &** Seven Copies, - - _ - _ 10 ‘• Twelve Copies, - - - - - lo *** Advertisements to a limited extent, will be intf r!f ’ at the rate of 50 cents for a square of nine lines or tee the first insertion, and 30 cents for each subsequent in*? 11 *’ I Business cards inserted for a year at Five Dollars. A liberal discount will be made to Post Masters “ will do us the favor to act as Agents. Postmasters are authorized to remit money to PoW j and all money mailed in presence of the Postma ster * j duly forwarded by him, is at our risk. I3P All communications to be addressed (post-paid) E. J. PURSE, Savanna]*, tl4