(2) SERIES A. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL. Ca A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL LIST OF THE WORKS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED, OR ARE THE VARIOUS DIALECTS OF ENGLISH. COMPILED BY MEMBERS OF THE ENGLISH DIALECT SOCIETY, AND EDITED BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A. PART I. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE ENGLISH DIALECT SOCIETY, MDCCCLXXIII, INTRODUCTION. THE following Bibliographical List was one of the very first works undertaken for the use of the English Dialect Society, as it was evident from the beginning that the first step to be taken was to ascertain how much had been already accomplished towards the work which we hope one day to complete. It was at first intended to issue a rough list which might serve as a guide to workers, but so many additions were made from time to time by various contributors that it seemed possible to make such a list as, without pretension to be considered as exhaustive, should at any rate contain the names of all the more important publications. Even then it appeared as if it would still be possible to issue the first 48 pages of the list by the beginning of 1874; and, with this view, the few words of preface printed at pp. 1 and 2 were written. But various causes seriously delayed the work (as explained in the Report for 1874), and have afforded me an opportunity of prefixing a few further words by way of Introduction. The lamented death of Dr Bannister, author of the Glossary of Cornish Names, deprived us of such assistance as he would no doubt cheerfully have rendered in arranging the names of the numerous books relating to the English dialect spoken in Cornwall; and this was one of the first causes of delay. Deprived of his assistance, I attempted writing out the list myself, but did not feel very well satisfied with the result when it appeared in type. At this time the idea fortunately occurred to me of applying to Messrs Boase and Courtney, the authors of the Bibliotheca Cornubiensis, who, with great kindness, entirely re-wrote the list; and added, from their stores of knowledge, several interesting biographical notes concerning the authors of the various tales, pamphlets, &c.; and it is accordingly fitting that I should take this opportunity of expressing to them my acknowledgments. The history of the Cumberland Book-list is very similar. In this I |