 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
