Some very interesting results will be found to flow from a Comparison of the “_Pronunciation_” of different English Counties, and of the Lowland Scotch, with that of the educated classes of modern England. One of the most marked differences between the modern English and the German consists in the superior _breadth_ or _distinctness_ which is given in the German to words which are uttered with a comparatively _narrow_ and _indistinct_ sound in Modern English. There is every reason to believe that the Anglo-Saxon Pronunciation was similar to the German, and that the present English mode has been the result of progressive innovation. Of the various dialects of the Anglo-Saxon, the Lowland Scotch, in its pronunciation, as well as in individual words, approaches nearest to the Continental German.(37) But, as intimated above, many of the characteristics of German articulation have been preserved also in the Provincial dialects of England. Moreover, it is interesting to observe, that _different_ primitive peculiarities have been preserved in _different_ counties. For example, the English of the educated classes differs from the Continental German, and, as it is believed, from the Anglo-Saxon also,(38) in giving a _narrow_ sound to the vowels A and U. Now the Shropshire dialect has preserved the broad A; (“Hair,” for instance, is pronounced “_H-ā-r,_” as it is by the Germans!) On the other hand, in Lancashire and Cheshire the broad U forms the prominent feature in the dialect of the peasantry; (for example, “Butter” and “Gutter” are pronounced “_Bootter_” and “_Gootter_!”) As already noticed, the Anglo-Saxon Auxiliary Verb forms in numerous instances an important connecting link. Thus the modern English and the modern German Auxiliary Verbs differ totally in the present tense. English. German. I am, Ich bin, Thou art, Du bist, He is. Er ist. We are, Wir sind, You are, Ihr seyd, They are. Sie sind. But both these Verbs co-exist in the present tense in the old Anglo-Saxon. _Anglo-Saxon_(39) Verb the source of the English “I am,” and Anglo-Saxon Verb corresponding with the German “Ich bin.” Indicative Present. _Singular._ 1, Eom; 1, Beo, 2, Eort; 2, Byst, 3, Is.; 3, By & Byd. _Plural._ 1, 2, 3, Synd.; 1, 2, 3, Beod & Beo. Subjunctive Present. _Singular._ 1, 2, 3, Sy (Seo); 1, 2, 3, Beo. _Plural._ 1, 2, 3, Sy’n; 1, 2, 3, Beon. Indicative Imperfect. _Singular._ 1, Wæs; 1, 2, 3, Beo. 2, Wære, 3, Wæs. _Plural._ 1, 2, 3, Weron; 1, 2, 3, Beod. Infinitive Present. Wesanne; Beonne. Participle Active. Wesende; Beonde. Participle Past. Gewesen. But though the present tense of the Verb “Beo” or “Beonne” does not exist in modern English, it has been preserved in a remarkable manner in the Shropshire and other dialects, in which it runs thus: