There were peculiarly strong influences in America to cause variations in the English language from the standard of the mother country, such as the thinness of population; the novelty of numerous objects, of the mode of life, and of the system of government; the vast influx of persons speaking the languages of continental Europe and Africa; intercourse with the red men; the want of a metropolis, a court, and permanently wealthy families, which might serve as authorities; and the adoption by newspaper editors of the slang words of the multitude. But there have also been very strong influences at work to protect the English language in America from variations. These influences have been, a more extensive and thorough popular education than that of any other country, the almost universal habit of reading, an intercourse between distant districts by travelling unequalled in any other part of the world, and the extensive use of dictionaries. The consequence is, that there is more uniformity in the English language as spoken in the United States than in the tongue of any other people equally numerous; every American can with ease understand every other one; and it may safely be said that as a people the Americans speak English better than the English themselves.

But the standard of the correct language still remains in the use of the learned and educated people of England. - Americanisms are of various kinds, viz.: First, new words, such as sparse, backwoods, caucus. Secondly, old English words in new meanings, as block, meaning the land or houses enclosed between four streets in a town or city; realize, meaning to conceive as actual; and section, meaning a square mile of land. Thirdly, words which were provincial in England adopted in general American use, as wilt for wither. Fourthly, words which have retained in America the meaning they had in England several hundred years ago, while in the Litter country the meaning has been changed. The word sick is an example of this. Fifthly, words preserved in American use, which have become obsolete in England; such as tarry, freshet. Subjoined we give a list of some of the most noteworthy Americanisms, many of which are occasionally used in American newspapers, while almost all are frequently employed in conversation by the less educated people. A large proportion are of course mere vulgarisms, never used by Americans of any culture.

It deserves to be remarked that many Americanisms current in the southern, western, and middle states, are not used in New England, where the language, at least as written, approximates more closely to that of the mother country.

Approbate, used instead of approve.

Bad. used in the sense of ill.

Baggage, used to signify the trunks, boxes, valises, clothing. etc, of a traveller. The English say luggage, and consider baggage pretentious.

Balance, meaning remainder: as, "Two of the professors were dismissed, but the balance were retained."

Board, always used to signify all kinds of boards. In England pine and fir boards are ordinarily called " deals."

Bogus, meaning counterfeit, false, fraudulent.

Border, in the sense of a greensward or line of flowers bordering on a wall, in a garden or yard; called an edging in England.

Boss, meaning an employer or superintendent of laborers.

Brash, for brittle.

Breadstuffs, much objected to by English writers 20 years ago. but now admitted to be a good word.

Buggy, denotes a light four-wheeled wagon; in England [ it means a two-wheeled carriage.

Buncombe, used in the phrase to " speak to Buncombe," meaning to speak only to catch the applause or favor of the vulgar. This phrase, often abbreviated " to talk Buncombe," was derived from the name of Buncombe county, N. C. A representative in congress from this county was wont to make speeches to which no one listened; observing the members leaving the house while he was speaking he one day declared that he cared little how many left - he was not speaking to i the house, but to Buncombe. The phrase soon came to mean any speech made solely to please a constituency or the public.

Bureau, universally used to the exclusion of the English . " chest of drawers."

Calculate. used in the sense of think, suppose; as "I calculate I can do it."

Calico, in the United States, means printed cotton goods;; in England it means only white cotton cloth.

Caption, used in the United States to mean the heading of a chapter, section, or page, is not used in England.

Clarer usually means good-natured, obliging, in America, I and quick-witted or intelligent in England.

Conclude is used by Americans in the sense of determine, as. "I have concluded" to go." In Great Britain it is used to signify the formation of an opinion, not of an intention.

In this connection is a phrase much used in the United States, and appears to have been first brought into currency about 60 years ago. chiefly in New England periodical literature. English writers would prefer to say, " in connection with this subject."

Corn means only maize in the United States; in England it means grain generally.

County, in America, is ordinarily used after the proper ! noun used to designate particular counties, as " Pike coun-ty," etc. The English always say "county of." as "county of Lancaster;" and the Irish say "county Wexford," etc, omitting "of."

Creek. in most of the American states, means a small river; in England it means a small arm of the sea.

Creole properly means a person descended from European parents, born in some portion of America which belongs or did once belong to Spain; but the Americans often use the word to designate a native of the South tinctured with negro blood.

Deadhead, a person who has the use of public conveyances, | the telegraph, or the mail, admission to public entertainments, ! etc, without payment. The transitive verb to deadhead is sometimes used.