374- PROVINCIALISMS. 



guage in its provincial purity : taking for 

 granted, that he is as ignorant of the fubject 

 in general, as he happens to be of his merely 

 provincial terms. One word awry is capable 

 of putting an end to the moft interefting con- 

 verfation ; and of giving the practitioner fuch 

 an opinion of the obferver, as. toconfider him 

 in future, either beneath his notice, or above 

 his comprehenfion. 



The firft ftep, therefore, to be taken by a 

 man who is defirous of ftudying the practice 

 of a District is to gain a knowledge of its pro- 

 vincial language : for until this be obtained, 

 in fome certain degree, he cannot join profit- 

 ably in converfation with thofe who are befl 

 able to clear up his doubts, and lead him on 

 to freih difcoveries. 



To acquire with greater readinefs, and re- 

 fain with greater eafe and certainty, this necef- 

 fary knowledge ; and to indulge, at the fame 

 time, an inclination to an enquiry into the ori- 

 gin and progrefs of the Englilh language ; I 

 regiftered the provincialifms of the Diftrict with 

 the fame afiiduity I did its practice ; and find 

 m'yfelf poffeffed of near a thoufand deviations 

 from the eftablifhed language. 



But 



