, is more or less prominent,
according to their locality. The less exposed to the influence of
other races, the purer of course has the proper Slovakian idiom
been preserved, But even in its purest state, it has, as we mentioned
above, a strong and decided resemblance to the Bohemian tongue; from
which it is however distinguished by a more harmonious and pleasing
sound; its vowels being fuller and occurring more frequently. But a
peculiarity which distinguishes it more materially, is a treasure of
words and phrases obsolete or entirely unknown in the present Bohemian
language; although they were to be found in the old Bohemian, and are
so still, in part, in the Old Slavic, Russian, and Vindish dialects.
Schaffarik mentions that G. Rybay, a minister in the county of Bacz,
who possessed many valuable manuscripts, had collected 15,000 words
for a Slovakish _Idioticon_, and that it would be easy to enlarge this
number.[56]

The Slovakish language has never been a literary language; the first
attempt to render it so, with a few trifling exceptions, was made
about forty years ago; but the opposition which it met with from the
literati who had already adopted the kindred Bohemian tongue for their
literary language, together with the political obstacles which it had
to encounter from the jealousy of the Magyars, seems to have been too
strong to be conquered. Indeed, in consequence of this jealousy of the
Magyars, the Slovakish language is so far oppressed, that even in the
higher schools of the Slovaks themselves this language is not
permitted to constitute a branch of instruction, like the Hungarian
and Latin. Schaffarik thinks it probable, that in ancient times the
vernacular tongue of the counties inhabited by Slovaks was used in
public documents and similar writings; and that such historical
monuments must be buried in the libraries and archives of the catholic
archbishops, noblemen, and cities.[57] But this subject has never been
sufficiently examined. The historical popular songs, which nearly a
hundred years ago were familiar to the Slovakian peasants, and some of
which appear to have been derived even from the pagan period, have
perished, with the exception of a few initial verses.[58]

There is no trace known to be left of the mental existence of this
nation of nearly two millions of souls, until the middle of the
fifteenth century. At that time a great body of Hussites, who were
exiled from Bohemia, broke into Upper