But when _i_ is preceded by _d_, change it into _y_, and we cannot pronounce it with our usual rapidity, without blending the two letters into the sound of _j_, which is a compound of _dzh_; at least it cannot be effected without a violent exertion of the speaker. _Immedyate_ is so difficult, that every person who attempts to pronounce it in that manner, will fall into _immejate_. Thus _commodious_, _comedian_, _tragedian_, are very politely pronounced _commojus_, _comejan_, _trajejan_. Such a pronunciation, changing the true powers of the letters, and introducing a harsh union of consonants, _dxh_, in the place of the smooth sound of _dia_, must be considered as a palpable corruption.
With respect to the terminations _ial_, _ian_, &c. after _r_, I must believe it impossible to blend these letters in one syllable. In the word _ministerial_, for example, I cannot conceive how _ial_ can be pronounced _yal_, without a pause after the syllables, _minister-_. Sheridan's manner of pronouncing the letters _ryan_, _ryal_, in a syllable, appears to be a gross absurdity: Even allowing _y_ to have the sound of _e_, we must of necessity articulate two syllables.
But supposing the modern pronunciation of _immediate_ to be liable to none of these exceptions, there is another objection to it, arising from the construction of our poetry. To the short syllables of such words as _every_, _glorious_, _different_, _bowery_, _commodious_, _harmonious_, _happier_, _ethereal_, _immediate_, _experience_, our poetry is in a great measure indebted for the _Dactyl_, the _Amphibrach_, and the _Anapæst_, feet which are necessary to give variety to versification, and the last of which is the most flowing, melodious and forceable foot in the language. By blending the two short syllables into one, we make the foot an Iambic; and as our poetry consists principally of iambics, we thus reduce our heroic verse to a dull uniformity. Take for example the following line of Pope.
"THAT sees immediate good by present sense"--
THAT sees | imme|jate good | by pres|ent sense;
the line will be composed entirely of Iambics. But read it thus:
THAT sees | imme|di-ate good | by pres|ent sense;
and the third foot, becoming an anapæst, gives variety to the verse.