argument.

"In the province of Kent, the first person on record, who is celebrated for his learning, is Tobias, the ninth Bishop of Rochester, who succeeded to that see in 693. He is noticed by Bede as not only furnished with an ample store of Greek and Latin literature, but skilled also in the Saxon language and erudition. It is probable, therefore, that he left some proofs of this attention to his native language; and, as he died within a few years of Bede, the latter would naturally avail himself of his labours. It is worthy also of remark, that Bertwald, who succeeded to the illustrious Theodore of Tarsus in 690, was the first English or Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury. From this period, consequently, we may date that cultivation of the vernacular tongue which would lead to the composition of

brief chronicles and other vehicles of instruction necessary for the improvement of a rude and illiterate people. The first chronicles were, perhaps, those of Kent or Wessex; which seem to have been regularly continued, at intervals by the Archbishops of Canterbury, or by their direction, at least as far as the year 1001 or even 1070; for the Benet MS. which some call the Plegmund MS. ends in the latter year; the rest being in Latin. From internal evidence indeed, of an indirect nature, there is great reason to presume that Archbishop Plegmund transcribed or superintended this very copy of the Saxon Annals to the year 891; the year in which he came to the See; inserting both before and after this date, to the time of his death in 923, such additional materials as he was well qualified to furnish from his high station and learning, and the confidential intercourse which he enjoyed in the court of King Alfred. The total omission of his own name, except by another hand, affords indirect evidence of some

importance in support of this conjecture. Whether King Alfred himself was the author of a distinct and separate chronicle of Wessex, can

not now be determined. That he furnished additional supplies of historical matter to the older chronicles is, I conceive, sufficiently obvious to every reader who will take the trouble of examining the subject. The argument of Dr. Beeke, the present dean of Bristol, in an obliging letter to the editor on the subject, is not without its force; that it is extremely improbable, when we consider the number and variety of King Alfred's work, that he should have neglected the history of his own country. Besides a genealo

gy of the kings of Wessex from Cerdic to his own time whch seems never to have been incor

though prefixed or annexed to several, he undoubtedly preserved many traditionary facts, with a full and circumstantial detail of his own operations, as well as those of his father, brother and other members of his family; which scarcely any other person than himself could have supplied. To doubt this would be as increduhis Anabasis or Cæsar his Commentaries. From lous a thing as to deny that Xenophon wrote the time of Alfred and Plegmund to a few years after the Norman Conquest, these chronicles seem to have been continued by different hands, under the auspices of such men as Archbishops Dunstan, Elfric and others, whose characters have been much misrepresented by ignorance and scepticism on the one hand, as well as by mistaken zeal and devotion on the other. The indirect evidence respecting Dunstan and Æl

fric is as curious as that concerning Plegmund;

but the discussion of it would lead us into a wide and barren field of investigation; nor is this the place to refute the errors of Hickes, Cave, and Wharton, already noticed by Wanley in his preface. The chronicles of Abingdon, of Worcester, of Peterborough and others, are continued in the same manner by different hands; partly, though not exclusively, by monks of those monasteries, who very naturally inserted many particulars relating to their

own local interests and concerns; which so far from invalidating the general history, render it more interesting and valuable."

Preface x. to xiii..

By this publication Mr. Ingram has conferred an inestimable benefit on the Amateur of Anglo Saxon or old English lore: his work is also of itself, a sufficient guide for the student: the grammar, at the commencement, is short but comprehensive: the critical and explanatory notes fulfil the important purposes for which they were intended whilst the chronological, topographical and glossarial indices, plates of coins &c., are rich in information to the antiquarian or miscellaneous inquirer.

Of the work of M. Thierry we can hardly speak in terms of adequate praise. It is a history, written as a history ought to be-exhibiting the most scrutinizing examination of authorities-a facility in seizing on the authentic-a freedom from all prejudice, and withal a perspicuity and animation of style capable of rendering the dullest subject pleasing.

No. 27.-VOL. 1.

AMERICANISMS.*

"Words are the people's; yet there is a choice of them to be made."

BEN JONSON's Discoveries.

The observations we have made on

the extant English Provincialisms in various numbers of the Museum will have already shewn, that many of our reputed Americanisms are common in the Provinces of England. Had Mr. Pickering, indeed, been better acquainted with those dialects he would not have admitted into his diffusive vocabulary many words which find a place there. The number of real Americanisms is small: by which we mean the number of old words used in a new sense; and of new words of indigenous origin. Those which were formerly common in Great Britain and are to be met with in the best writers, which are, in other words, good English, although antient, we would not designate by the term; for, if fashion induces the people of Great Britain to neglect them, we have the right to oppose the fashion and to retain then. They are English

words.

The population of our country is of a motley character. In some parts migration has been constantly going on, in others but little change has occurred. The language of the former we should expect to be modified by admixture: the latter should preserve, pretty nearly, its pristine character.

The settlers have been English, Irish,

DEC. 16, 1829.

Scotch, French, German, Dutch &c. and wherever the emigrants from any one of these nations have prevailed to a great extent, some of the character impressed by the prevalent population is perceptible. But the English settlers themselves have not all been of the same description: some have proceeded from London and the neighbourhood: others from the west of England and others again from the North: accordingly we find Cockneyisms, west and north of Englandisms in abundance. Many words and expressions, again, are unquestionably of native origin. Some of these are allowable; others ought to be rejected. Those which have been employed to express a state of things not previously existing, which have arisen from the peculiarities of the government or people, belong to the former class; those, which have occurred wantonly and unnecessarily, belong to the latter.

can growth: under which we have inIn referring to the words of Americluded old words with a new signification and new words, we shall adopt the order of Mr. Pickering: omitting, however, those words which he has needlessly canvassed as being incontestibly English, except when a passing remark may be necessary and adding others, some of them doubtless local, which have escaped him. We regret, in some respects, that we are compelled to undertake this enumeration, without having the Herculean production of Mr. Noah Webster before us, although from what we have seen of it, we should, probably, have been

compelled to dissent largely from him, especially in the Etymological depart

ment.

The words, not in Pickering, are distinguished by an asterisk.

To admire" to like much, to be very fond of”—In this sense the word is often used in England: as "I admire it much"; but it is not employed as in New England,-in the sentence "I should admire to go to Boston."

To advocate. "to support." This word, by critics, who were themselves unacquainted with their own language, has been declared an Americanism. It is no such thing. Milton used it in the same sense. Yet the Encyclopædia Americana seems desirous to claim it, and remarks, that it is doubtful, whether Milton so used it. The author of the article on Americanisms, in that work, cannot have referred to the passage in Milton, or he would have entertained no doubt of the matter:

"Whether this reflect not with a contumely upon the parliament itself, which thought this petition worthy not only of receiving, but of voting to a commitment after it had been advocated and moved for by some honorable and learned gentlemen &c" -Animadversions 1.

Burke also employed it: not at first hand. It came ready made and sanctioned to him.

In Scotland it has a restricted meaning, as in the following sentence.

"For men seldom advocate against Satan's works."-Ruth. Letters. Here it signifies, "to plead :"—although the Scotch use it in the sense, "to support"

-likewise.

*Ambition. "spite." a Virginianism. "He brought the action against me, for ambition."

Applicant-" a diligent student"-not

uncommon.

substantives and verbs from substantives is universal.

Letters, in England, are sent by the post; and hence "to post a letter" has been introduced; or, as we say, by like derivation, "to mail it." To turnpike a road is now very common. Originally when tolls were taken, a turnpike was placed upon the footpath; the road subsequently became designated a turnpike and afterwards the word was made into a verb. A short time ago, we saw a tavern, recommended in a printed handbill as the most accommodational on the road; and in Virginia, we hear of a man intending to "bacon his pork."

Backwoodsman. A new term arising out of the circumstances of the country.

Balance. "The remainder of any thing"-common over the country. "Won't you spend the balance of the evening with me?" In some places, shank is quaintly used with the same signification.

*Belting in Virginia-the same as girdling. See "To girdle."

Belittle. Not an Americanism, but an individualism.

Bestowment. "The act of conferring"-a barbarism. ?

*Blizzard. "A violent blow-" perhaps from Blitz, [Germ.] lightning. Kentucky.

*Block. "A row of buildings." "He lives in the same block with me." Common.

"Navigable with boats.'

Boatable. -a useful word.

Bread stuff.

bread."

New England. "Bread-corn, meal,

To bridge. "To make a bridge"-an