306 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



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it feems to appear, beyond denial, that 

 this ancient language has remained till 

 the prefent time, it is not to be doubted, 

 , but that in the long fpace of fome 

 thoufand years, it mud have been much 

 altered in it's mode, and propriety of 

 fpeaking, according to the change of 

 times, and the humours of the people ; 

 and fo like a long continued river, take 

 in many branches, and probably lofe a 

 few, in it's conftant flux and current. 



Thus the Romans added fome words, 

 *~*and the Danes, and Saxons, alfo a few 



.'t~ f e~~5 



J- '</- 2 to th e Britifh Dictionary; while obli- 

 v i on f^ i e away many of the ancient 

 founds of it, when new ones were in- 

 troduced. And in later times fmce the 

 Englifh hath fo much incroached upon 

 it, as to become the genteel and falhion- 

 able tongue, many more words have 

 been thrown afide as obfolete and ufe- 

 lefs, which were before perhaps the 



flowers 



