"I should like both very well," said I, "were it not for the language.

I wish sincerely our Parliament, which is passing so many foolish acts every year, would pass one to force these Scotch to speak English." "I wish so, too," said he.

"The language is a disgrace to the British Government; but, if you had heard it twenty years ago, captain!--if you had heard it as it was spoken when I first came to Edinburgh!"' 'Only custom,' said my mother.

'I daresay the language is now what it was then.' 'I don't know,' said my father; 'though I daresay you are right; it could never have been worse than it is at present.

But now to the point.