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great quantities； and even made her a present of a purse of silk
grass； woven by the hands of the amiable Squinkinacoosta； who had
used it as a shot…pouch in her hunting expeditions。
From Doncaster northwards； all the windows of all the inns are
scrawled with doggeral rhimes； in abuse of the Scotch nation； and
what surprised me very much； I did not perceive one line written
in the way of recrimination Curious to hear what Lismahago would
say on this subject； I pointed out to him a very scurrilous
epigram against his countrymen； which was engraved on one of the
windows of the parlour where we sat。 He read it with the most
starched composure； and when I asked his opinion of the poetry；
'It is vara terse and vara poignant （said he）； but with the help
of a wat dish…clout； it might be rendered more clear and
parspicuous。 I marvel much that some modern wit has not
published a collection of these essays under the title of the
Glaziers Triumph over Sawney the Scot I'm persuaded it would be
a vara agreeable offering to the patriots of London and
Westminster。' When I expressed some surprize that the natives of
Scotland； who travel this way； had not broke all the windows upon
the road； 'With submission （replied the lieutenant）； that were
but shallow policy it would only serve to make the satire more
cutting and severe； and I think it is much better to let it stand
in the window； than have it presented in the reckoning。'
My uncle's jaws began to quiver with indignation。 He said； the
scribblers of such infamous stuff deserved to be scourged at the
cart's tail for disgracing their country with such monuments of
malice and stupidity。 'These vermin （said he） do not consider；
that they are affording their fellow subjects； whom they abuse；
continual matter of self…gratulation； as well as the means of
executing the most manly vengeance that can be taken for such
low； illiberal attacks。 For my part； I admire the philosophic
forbearance of the Scots； as much as I despise the insolence of
those wretched libellers； which is akin to the arrogance of the
village cock； who never crows but upon his own dunghill。' The
captain； with an affectation of candour； observed； that men of
illiberal minds were produced in every soil； that in supposing
those were the sentiments of the English in general； he should
pay too great a compliment to is own country； which was not of
consequence enough to attract the envy of such a flourishing and
powerful people。
Mrs Tabby broke forth again in praise of his moderation； and
declared that Scotland was the soil which produced every virtue
under heaven。 When Lismahago took his leave for the night； she
asked her brother if the captain was not the prettiest gentleman
he had ever seen； and whether there was not something wonderfully
engaging in his aspect？ Mr Bramble having eyed her sometime in
silence； 'Sister （said he）； the lieutenant is； for aught I know；
an honest man and a good officer he has a considerable share of
understanding； and a title to more encouragement than he seems to
have met with in life； but I cannot； with a safe conscience；
affirm； that he is the prettiest gentleman I ever saw； neither
can I descern any engaging charm in his countenance； which； I vow
to God； is； on the contrary； very hard…favoured and forbidding。'
I have endeavoured to ingratiate myself with this North…Briton；
who is really a curiosity； but he has been very shy of my
conversation ever since I laughed at his asserting that the
English tongue was spoke with more propriety at Edinburgh than at
London。 Looking at me with a double squeeze of souring in his
aspect； 'If the old definition be true （said he）； that risibility
is the distinguishing characteristic of a rational creature； the
English are the most distinguished for rationality of any people
I ever knew。' I owned； that the English were easily struck with
any thing that appeared ludicrous； and apt to laugh accordingly；
but it did not follow； that； because they were more given to
laughter； they had more rationality than their neighbours： I
said； such an inference would be an injury to the Scots； who were
by no means defective in rationality； though generally supposed
little subject to the impressions of humour。
The captain answered； that this supposition must have been
deduced either from their conversation or their compositions； of
which the English could not possibly judge with precision； as
they did not understand the dialect used by the Scots in common
discourse； as well as in their works of humour。 When I desired to
know what those works of humour were； he mentioned a considerable
number of pieces； which he insisted were equal in point of humour
to any thing extant in any language dead or living He； in
particular； recommended a collection of detached poems； in two
small volumes； intituled； The Ever…Green； and the works of Allan
Ramsay； which I intend to provide myself with at Edinburgh。 He
observed； that a North…Briton is seen to a disadvantage in an
English company； because he speaks in a dialect that they can't
relish； and in a phraseology which they don't understand。 He
therefore finds himself under a restraint； which is a great enemy
to wit and humour。 These are faculties which never appear in
full lustre； but when the mind is perfectly at ease； and； as an
excellent writer says； enjoys her elbow…room。
He proceeded to explain his assertion that the English language
was spoken with greater propriety at Edinburgh than in London。 He
said； what we generally called the Scottish dialect was； in fact；
true； genuine old English； with a mixture of some French terms
and idioms； adopted in a long intercourse betwixt the French and
Scotch nations； that the modern English； from affectation and
false refinement； had weakened； and even corrupted their
language； by throwing out the guttural sounds； altering the
pronunciation and the quantity； and disusing many words and terms
of great significance。 In consequence of these innovations； the
works of our best poets； such as Chaucer； Spenser； and even
Shakespeare； were become； in many parts； unintelligible to the
natives of South Britain； whereas the Scots； who retain the
antient language； understand them without the help of a glossary。
'For instance （said he）； how have your commentators been puzzled
by the following expression in the Tempest He's gentle and not
fearful： as if it was a paralogism to say； that being gentle； he
must of course be courageous： but the truth is； one of the
original meanings； if not the sole meaning； of that word was；
noble； high…minded； and to this day； a Scotch woman； in the
situation of the young lady in the Tempest； would express herself
nearly in the same terms Don't provoke him； for being gentle；
that is； high…spirited； he won't tamely bear an insult。 Spenser；
in the very first stanza of his Fairy Queen； says；
A gentle knight was pricking on the plain；
which knight； far from being tame and fearful； was so stout that
Nothing did he dread； but ever was ydrad。
To prove that we had impaired the energy of our language by false
refinement； he mentioned the following words； which； though
widely different in signification； are pronounced exactly in the
same manner wright； write； right； rite； but among the Scots；
these words are as different in pronunciation； as they are in
meaning and orthography； and this is the case with many others
which he mentioned by way of illustration。 He； moreover； took
notice； that we had （for what reason he could never learn）
altered the sound of our vowels from that which is retained by
all the nations in Europe； an alteration which rendered the
language extremely difficult to foreigners； and made it almost
impracticable to lay down general rules for orthography and
pronunciation。 Besides； the vowels were no longer simple sounds
in the mouth of an Englishman； who pronounced both i and u as
dipthongs。 Finally； he affirmed； that we mumbled our speech with
our lips and teeth； and ran the words together without pause or
distinction； in such a manner； that a foreigner； though he
understood English tolerably well； was often obliged to have
recourse to a Scotchman to explain what a native of England had
said in his own language。
The truth of this remark was confirmed by Mr Bramble from his own
experience； but he accounted for it on another principle。 He
said； the same observation would hold in all languages； that a
Swiss talking French was more easily understood than a Parisian；
by a foreigner who had not made himself master of the language；
because every language had its peculiar recitative； and it would
always require more pains； attention； and practice； to acquire
both the words and the music； than to learn the words only； and
yet no body would deny； that the one was imperfect without the
other： he therefore apprehended； that the Scotchman and the Swiss
were better understood by learners； because they spoke the words
only； without the music； which they could not rehearse。 One would
imagine this check might have damped the North Briton； but it
served only to agitate his humour for disputation。 He said； if
every nation had its own rec