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III. Mr. Barrington on some additional Information relative to the Continuance of the Cornish Language. In a Letter to John Lloyd, Esq. F.A.S.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

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Extract

I some time since addressed to you several particulars relative to the remains of the Cornish language, which the Society of Antiquaries did me the honour to insert in the Third Volume of the Archaeologia (p. 278). It may not be improper therefore to lay before the Society some further information on this head, which the Rev. Mr. Penneck, F. R. S. hath been so obliging as to procure for me.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1779

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References

page 82 note [a] Natural History, p. 315.

page 83 note [b] This letter is deposited with the Society. The lines are alternately Cornish and English, and contain, amongst other particulars, the following in both languages:

Mousebole, July 3, 1776.

Bluth vee Eue try Egence a pemp

my age is three score and five

theatra vee dean Boadjaek an poscas

I am a poor fisher man

me rig deskey Cornoack termen me vee mawe

I learnt Cornish when I was a boy

me vee demore gen cara vee a pemp dean moy en cock

I have been to sea with my father and five other men in the boat

me rig scantlower clowes Edenger sowsnack Cowes en cock

and have not heard one word of English spoke in the boat

rag sythen ware bar

for a week together

no rig a vee biscath gwellas lever Cornoack

I never saw a Cornish book

me deskey Cornoack mous da more gen tees coath

I learned Cornish going to sea with old men

na ges moye vel pager pe pemp endreau nye

there is not more then four or five in our town

Ell classia Cornish leben

can talk Cornish now

poble coath pager eyance blouth

old people four score years old

Cornoack ewe all ne cea ves yen poble younk

Cornish is all forgot with young people

page 84 note [c] Of Truro in Cornwall.