Now if the Lowland Scotch and the English languages were, in the time of William the Conqueror, as similar, as they are at present, what necessity was there for Malcolm to learn the English language, and whence could the assimilation of the languages of the two countries afterwards arise but from frequent intercourse? In 1385, Trevisa translated Higden's Polychronicon, from which I make the following extract:

"As it is know how many maner peple beth in this Ilonde, ther beth also of so meny peple, langages and tonges. Notheless Walschemen and Scottes, that beth nougt ymedled with othir natiouns, holdeth wel neig her first langage and speche."

This very fact is the most convincing evidence to me, that the language of the Scottish Court and of the Northern part of Scotland, was Irish or Gaelic. Though fierce and bloody wars would frequently occur between the two nations, yet, in times of peace, and particularly in the reign of Richard I. when both nations fought under the same banner, and embarked in one common cause, the Holy Crusades, it is natural to conjecture, that party spirit would give way to friendly intercourse, and that the language of the Prince, under whom they fought in a foreign land, would gradually mix with and finally annihilate their own. The event, however, thus anticipated, was not realized till a very distant period.

Notwithstanding these observations, the learned philological work of Dr. Jamieson, which does so

much honour to his country and credit to himself, will be found a most useful and valuable performance, not only in explaining the Lowland Scotch, but also in throwing light on ancient English authors. But I cannot forbear remarking, that if the Doctor had not been so abstemious in making quotations from English writers of antiquity, his great work, highly respectable as it is, would have been much enriched by such authorities. Our great Lexicographer, Dr. Johnson, was not exempt from this national prejudice, nor from the neglect of referring to Scottish writers, who might have furnished him with words now obsolete or forgotten. Had the Dictionary of Dr. Jamieson contained those words of the early English writers of celebrity which have been omitted by Dr. Johnson, or his respectable Editor, Mr. Todd, this, and every other provincial and dialectic Glossary, would have been unnecessary.

In the progress of this work, I have perused and referred to many English and Scottish writers, ancient and modern; and I am now fully convinced, that if the Scottish Dialect were accurately analyzed, and if all the English words, found in our ancient authors, and words, now in use in the Northern counties, were extracted from that Dialect, the residuum would be a moderate portion of archaisms, and a large quantity of modern slang.

THE

INTRODUCTION.

"Collections of provincial dialects would often have been extremely useful; many words esteemed peculiar to certain counties, being remnants of the language formerly in general use. But these collections are, unfortunately, few and scanty. County histories, which have long received the most extensive encouragement, should always contain a careful compilation of this kind from certain and correct authorities. From these, digested together, the history of our language might ultimately receive important illustration."

NARES' PREFACE TO HIS GLOSSARY.

It was the remark of the most learned philologist of modern times, that the language of the Northern Counties was not barbarous, though obsolete. Under the sanction of this great authority, the author has been induced to publish the Dialect of the Deanery of Craven, in the West Riding of the County of York.

Pent up by their native mountains, and principally engaged in agricultural pursuits, the inhabitants of this district had no opportunity of corrupting the purity of their language by the adoption of foreign idioms. But it has become a subject of much regret that, since the introduction of commerce, and, in consequenee of that, a greater intercourse, the simplicity of the language has, of late years, been much corrupted. Anxious, therefore, to hand it down to posterity unadulterated, the author has attempted to express, in a familiar dialogue, the chaste and nervous language of its unlettered natives.

TO'TH CONNER O'MY BOOK.

AN this lile book'll gie the onny plezer efter a hard day's wark, I sall be feaful fain on't. Bud sud onny outcumlins ivver awn this outside, staany plat, it may happen gie 'em some inseet into our plain mack o' talk; at they may larn, at our discowerse hes a meeanin in't as weel as theirs; at they mayn't snert an titter at huz, gin we wor hauf rocktons, but may undercumstand, an be insensed by this book, lile as it is, at ya talk's aqual to another, seeabetide it macks knaan yan's thoutes. Sud t'lads o' Craven yunce git a gliff o' what a seet o' words I've coud togither, it'll happen mack 'em nut seea keen, at iv'ry like, o' luggin into'th' country a parcel of outlandish words, er seea shamm'd o' talking their awn. For, o' lat years, young foak are grown seea maacky an seea feeafully gien to knackin, at their parents er ill set to ken what ther barns er javverin about.

I's at thy sarvice,

T'SETTER-OUT O'T BOOK.