That there is no accent, such as the Greek and Latin accents, in any modern language. ... We have accents in English, and syllabic accents too; but there is ''no change of the tone in them''; the voice is only raised more, so as to be ''louder'' upon one syllable than another. ... Now I appeal to them, whether they can perceive any difference of tone betwixt the ''accented'' and ''unaccented'' syllable of any word? And if there be none, then is the ''music of our language'', in this respect, ''nothing better'' than the ''music of a drum'', in which we perceive no difference except that of ''louder'' or ''softer''. 〔Monboddo 1774 pp 276, 298-99; quoted in Steele 1779, pp 2-3.〕

But as each section of Steele's argument was completed, he sent it off for Lord Monboddo's comments, which were then incorporated along with Steele's replies in subsequent sections of the book: "consequently, ''Prosodia Rationalis'' is, in effect, an extended dialogue between the two men, to which is appended, in the second edition, an additional series of questions from other hands, together with the author's replies." 〔Brogan 1981, E394; in turn incorporating a quotation from Omond.〕