defensible than ope for open; for ope has no separate existence either as adjective or noun. And when again naw (i.e. know) is used for knowledge, the verb for the abstract noun, as when we read of Tom Chidley in Mucksy Lane—

"Tam's naw et wadd'n quite za smal

Ez nat ta tul a bite vrim scal,"

may we not adduce most respectable authority in favour of such a form? In French, le manger et le boire; in German, das Lesen und das Schreiben, who does not know the idiom? and what Greek scholar is not familiar with the use of an infinitive as a noun? The ladies present know how unnecessary it is to quote examples. They are to be found in Thucydides and Demosthenes passim: ergo let Nathan Hogg be bracketed with Thucydides and Demosthenes henceforth and for evermore!

A few words about tother. The pronoun that is originally the neuter of the definite article. It ceased to be confined to the neuter long before its use simply as the article was discontinued. For instance, in the Authorized Version of the New Testament we find "that Christ" and "that prophet" (John i. 21, 25) for "the Christ" and "the prophet." It is obvious therefore that "that other" is merely an old form for "the other;" and the "that" in this phrase, when its meaning as a mere article became obsolete, simply transferred its final t to the next word, and so we have "the tother." But occasionally we have "tother" with no "the" preceding it, as "wan go'th yer, and tother go'th there," and "they zeed wan tother." In this case we have the "other" retaining as an initial the solitary letter which was the neuter termination of "that." Just so in the Old Flemish of Reinaert de Vosthat is, Reynard the Fox-we find such forms as by twater for by the water, and int water for in the water, the t written sometimes with the former word, sometimes with the latter, but being in any case just the final letter still surviving out of the neuter article dat.

Before concluding this Address, it seems desirable to say a few words on an objection that may have arisen in some minds to the proposition, so ably defended by my learned friend Mr. Elworthy, that numerous peculiarities of our dialect are of high antiquity, relics of the ancient mode of speech, rather than mere corruptions of standard English. The notion that they are all corruptions certainly has the charm of simplicity; it cuts through every difficulty, like

the sword of Alexander through the famed Gordian knot. And then do not eminent philologers affirm the great rapidity with which language changes, unless stability is imparted to it by a literature and a somewhat advanced civilization?

In Max Müller's Lectures on Language we read: "The historical changes of language. . . have transformed the language of Virgil into that of Dante, the language of Ulfilas into that of Charlemagne, the language of Charlemagne into that of Goethe. We have reason to believe that the same changes take place with even greater violence and rapidity in the dialects of savage tribes. . . . In the few instances where careful observations have been made, it has been found that among the wild and illiterate tribes of Siberia, Africa, and Siam two or three generations are sufficient to change the whole aspect of their dialects."

But is not this statement somewhat highly coloured? "The whole aspect of their dialects" is obviously a vague expression, and it is a perfectly ascertained fact that there are great families of languages in Africa, the members of each of which, though it may be many centuries since their forefathers formed little communities living side by side and speaking the same language, yet retain the same general characteristics, with strong resemblances of grammar and vocabulary. Nay, as to one such characteristic, namely, syllabation, the Professor himself says, "In South Africa all the members of the great family of speech, called by Dr. Bleek the Bâ-ntu family, agree in general with regard to the simplicity of their syllables. Their syllables can only begin with one consonant," &c. I learn also from one of the missionaries of the Baptist Congo Mission, that in all these languages, extending as far north as Cameroons, and eastward as far as the Indian Ocean, "there are certain family marks" in inflection and construction. One of these languages, the Kishikongo, is spoken over an area of some 50,000 square miles, and yet continues one and the same language for generations, and that too without the aid of any literature. It by no means illustrates the "violence and rapidity" of change of which Max Müller speaks.

And then the southern dialect of English was spoken over a much smaller area than 50,000 miles-less than half that extent of country—and had in its favour the antiseptic force of both civilization and literature from the time of King Alfred downwards. There was also the powerful influence of the witenagemót (or parliament in later times), the scírgemót, and the weekly market; for whenever people peri

odically assemble, they must of necessity maintain the use of the same language in order to be mutually intelligible. In one word-for time forbids me to enlarge-I believe the changes which our language has undergone have been very slow, and nothing is more certain than that the local speech of our country preserves a large number of genuine archaisms. And these are well worth recording. The English Dialect Society is doing good work in trying to embalm these linguistic curiosities before the spread of national education has utterly blotted them out; and I congratulate this Society on the ability as well as zeal with which several of its members are labouring in the same direction. They will assuredly get their meed of praise from future generations.

Obituary Notices.

COMPILED BY THE REV. W. HARPLEY, HON. SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION.

(Read at Seaton, July, 1885.)

I.

WILLIAM HORNSEY GAMLEN was born at Tiverton on February 7th, 1814, and was educated at Blundell's School in that town. He lived at the family estate of Hayne upwards of fifty years. He early identified himself with all works of usefulness in the town and neighbourhood. In 1843 he was elected Mayor, and a few years later he was created a permanent magistrate of the Borough. During Mr. Gamlen's Mayoralty a proposal was brought forward to introduce the "New Police" into the town in place of the old "watchmen." Mr. Gamlen was strongly in favour of making the change, and endeavoured to bring the Town Councillors to his way of thinking, by reminding them of a crime which had shortly before been committed in the town. A man had been set upon one night by some ruffians in one of the principal streets, and had been murdered, and his body had then been dragged away and hidden. The neighbours said at the inquest that they had heard cries of "murder" from the street, but were so used to them that they took no notice. Mr. Gamlen urged that this case, and the state of things which it revealed, seemed to afford sufficient proof that the new police system ought to be introduced. The Councillors were equally divided on the question, and Mr. Gamlen decided it by giving his casting vote in favour of the change.

In 1864 Mr. Gamlen left Tiverton and took up his abode at Brampford Speke, where he soon gained the affectionate respect of a large circle of friends.

He was one of the earliest members of the Association, having joined it at the first meeting in Exeter in 1862.

He

was soon elected a member of the Council, and in 1875 filled the office of Vice-President. He was rarely absent from the annual meetings, which he greatly enjoyed, and was regular in his attendance at the meetings of the Council.

At the meeting at Totnes in 1880 he contributed a paper entitled "Agriculture in North-east Devon Fifty to Sixty Years Ago," which was printed in the volume of Transactions for that year.

He died April 6th, 1885, at his residence at Brampford Speke, and on April 9th his remains were carried to Tiverton and interred there.

II.

ROBERT KITSON was the youngest son of the late Mr. W. Kitson, of Hengrave, Torquay, and was a member of the firm of Vivian and Kitsons, bankers, Torquay. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1866. He proceeded to the degree of M.A. in 1874.

Mr. Kitson filled many honorary offices in the town. He was the Treasurer of the Torquay Local Board of Health, Chairman of the Torquay Market Company, and Treasurer of the Torquay Errand Boys' Association. He held similar offices in, or was connected in other ways with, the St. Raphael's Convalescent Home, the Torquay Cricket Club, the House of Rest at Babbacombe, the Seaman's Shelter, and the Torbay and South Devon Club. Despite his failing health, he discharged the duties of his various offices in such a manner as to command general confidence and the highest respect.

He joined the Association in 1878, and was selected by the Council as a Vice-President Designate in February, 1885.

For many years he suffered from a delicate constitution and latterly he had spent a portion of his time abroad. Early in the present year he again sought the shores of the Mediterranean, and went to sojourn at Cannes; but the steady advances of his disorder could not be arrested, and he died at the Hotel de Provence, Cannes, on March 3rd, in the 41st year of his age.

III.

SURGEON-GENERAL JOHN WILSON was born in London, although his early life was chiefly passed at Berwick-onTweed. He went to India in 1850, served in his medical capacity with several regiments, and was Civil Surgeon at