The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 199
Looking at me with a double squeeze of souring in his aspect, ‘If
the old definition be true, (said he) that risibility is the distinguish-
ing 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 dis-
course, as well as in their works of humour. When I desired to
know what those works of humour were, he mentioned a consider-
able 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 excel-
lent 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, whereas