YORKSHIRE. 305 



PROVINCIAL WORDS are either corruptions 

 of the eftablifhed language, or native words 

 defcended from the ANCIENT LANGUAGE of 

 the province they are fpoken in. Hence in 

 RECLUSE DISTRICTS we muft expeft to find 

 the greatcfl number of genuine provincialifms* 



Of ANCIENT VOCAL SOUNDS. 



The VALE OF PICKERING is fingularly cir- 

 cumftanced in this refpec}. The peculiar 

 reclufenefs of its fituation has been defcribed; 

 and being in a manner wholly agricultural, 

 its connexions are inconfiderable. Had it not 

 been for the influx of words and fafhion 

 which Scarborough has annually drawn into 

 it, this fecluded Vale muft inevitably have 

 been, in language and manners, a century at 

 lead behind every other Diftri<5t of this king- 

 dom fituated equally near its center. 



The MOR ELAND DALES, which are in rea- 

 lity appendages of the Vale, have been ftill 

 more effectually cut off from all converfe with 

 grangers. Their fituation is fo reclufe, their 

 foil in general fo infertile, and their afpect fo 

 uninviting, that it is probable neitherRoman, 

 Dane, nor Saxon ever fet foot in them. No 



VOL. II. X wonder 



