Lhuyd's comments about Cornish

The Cornish Language and Its Literature, Peter Berresford Ellis, 1974. p102

• The way I took to get some knowledge of the Cornish language was, partly by writing some down from the mouths of people in the West of Cornwall, in particular the parish of St. Just; and partly by the like help of four gentlemen, who wrote out for me many Cornish words; in particular, Mr. John Keigwin of the Lower House in Mousehole, Mr. Eustick in the aforesaid parish of St. Just, Mr. James Jenkins of Alverton by Penzance and Mr. Nicholas Boson of Newlyn in the parish of Paul.

10 March 1701, he wrote to Henry Rowlands:

• The places in Cornwall that this day retain the Ancient Language are the Parishes of St. Just, St. Paul, Burrian, Sunnin, St. Laven, St. Krad, Marva, Maddern, Sunner, Tewednock, St. Ives, Lelant, Leigian, Gyval; and all along the sea shore from the Land's End to St. Keverne near the Lizard Point. But a great many of the inhabitants of these parishes, especially the gentry, do not understand it, there being no necessity thereof in regard there's no Cornishman but speaks good English.

16 March 1702, wrote to Jenkins at St Piran in the Sands (Perranzabuloe), of a poem he had written in Cornish:

• the Cornish verses (since you must have them) are here sent to you: though they are not worth the trouble of reading, much less sending so far. I aimed at imitating the Book Cornish rather than the Cornish now spoken, for, as you'll find when you receive your mss. it has been much corrupted this last age or two.