lish Dictionary; and among them he will find some, upon which we are totally at variance.

The first peculiarity that I shall proceed to specify, consists in the classification of the words, with their immediate derivatives;* followed by one comprehensive interpretation, adapted to the whole. There are instances, where this latter portion of the rule was not fairly practicable; but these are exceptions.

This method of arrangement is attended with these advantages, at least. The tediousness of incessant repetitions, by no means necessary for the rational use of a Dictionary, is entirely avoided, a more comprehensive as well as intelligible deduction of usages from the intrinsic meaning may be consistently pursued, and instruction unsought will be forced upon the mind. The whole family, or rather, more generally, the whole branch of a family, is presented to the eye and understanding at once: a collateral branch, or even all collateral branches, may be conveniently placed in juxtaposition, and a single glance will acquaint us with the relative barrenness or fertility of each. A little additional attention, a more prolonged inspection, will, with the less difficulty, afford the opportunity of distinguishing such abuses as may have silently gained admission in the process of composing words; and of forming some laws to direct us in our efforts towards a general improvement of our vocabulary.

The very fact, that this arrangement presents a stumbling block (and such is said to be the case), to hasty and impatient reference, confirms the propriety of adopting it. A certain degree of knowledge and of thought, a certain portion of grammatical learning, is undoubtedly required, as a condition precedent to the use of the New Dictionary; but the painfulness of thinking will speedily diminish; facility will be the result of very short practice, and the habit of contemplating each individual word in close connection with all the immediate descend

ants of the same branch, will produce an enlightened acquaintance with our language; before which every shadow of obscurity will quickly fade away, and leave a clearer and a broader prospect, to invite and gratify the gaze of inquiry.

These remarks may and probably will seem trivial to persons even of small pretensions to literature; perhaps more so to them than to the sounder and more reflecting scholar: but 1 have been admonished that the illiterate form a very large and respectable portion of the community. I think they do; though not because they are illiterate. But, since they are so numerous and so respectable, I should not feel excused to myself, if I passed them unregarded, without a word of encouragement to increase their respectabilityby making, with no very toilsome exertions.an useful addition to their learning. I must, however, exact from them this degree of erudition: that they should know an abstinent man to be one who abstains; the contents of a book, to be the matters contained in it: and then that they keep in mind, when consulting the Dictionary, the necessity of referring directly to the word from which each subderivative is formed, viz. to abstain and to contain. If, then, in a reference for the purpose of finding other such subderivatives, they should, as most assuredly they will, be disappointed, if they expect to discover it at all times in its precise alphabetical position, let them mitigate their disappointment by the reflection, that, from the very circumstance of their being obliged to make that slight employment of their intellect, which will bring the rule to recollection, they are instructed and improved; that at every instance, the labour of recollection will decrease; and that the quantity of knowledge gained at the moment above the quantity required by the exigencies of the moment, may be held in store for future service. They will soon become sensible that, though the Dictionary presents obstacles to be surmounted, it will shortly repay the trouble.

The words, with their immediate derivatives, thus classed together, are succeeded by the cognate terms in other languages if the origin be Latin, for instance, by the Italian, French, and

Spanish; and by the Latin also: if the words be of Northern origin, by the German, Dutch, and Swedish; with the Anglo-Saxon and Gothic also.

One comprehensive interpretation, upon the principles already explained, subserves for the whole family: this, I repeat, was the rule-instances have occurred, demanding a deviation from it, when this general interpretation did not comprise some especial usage of a sub-derivative; then that usage has been remarked and accounted for. No one surely needs to be told that an agent is, one who acts; that a student is, one who studies; a seller, one who sells. It will, however, tend most effectually to a better understanding of his native tongue, if the reader will previously subject the different terminations to a careful examination. They will be found in their proper places. Tooke* has observed of some of these terminations, that " they will afford

sufficient matter for entertainment to future etymologists;" they have afforded something better than entertainment to myself; and I hope I shall not be singular in the gratification I have derived from the pains with which I have endeavoured to trace them to their source. It may, perhaps, be worth while, at another time, and in another place, to present a more connected view of these essential particles of our speech.

The mode of classification pursued in the New Dictionary, does not, however, reach the refined and scientific speculations of your "occasional correspondent;" he is a sturdy contender for a radical reformation upon the plan of the Greek Thesaurus. My objection is simply this, that an English Dictionary so constructed would be useless in the hands of any, but the already learned scholar, or of the student whom no difficulties could dishearten. The middle path, in which I have persevered, though it is obstructed by no formidable impediments to an easy progress, still leads by ascending steps to more commanding views than by the ordinary road can possibly be attained. I received with much satisfaction from the lips of Sir J. Mackintosh his congratulations upon the happiness of the thought.

* Div. of Purley, v. 2, 459.

The ease with which it enables us to place in close comparison different branches of the same family, and the advantage, as far as the increase of our vocabulary is in question, have been already noticed. Let any one, for instance, take the trouble to compare the two compound terms, conduce, and deduce; he will perceive that the subderivatives, which have crept into current use from the former. nearly double in number those that have been received, perhaps required, from the latter. Let him pursue this investigation, through other words of a similar description, (such as tract, with its compounds, contract, detract: form, with its compounds, conform, deform, inform); and he will see with what a running pen our Dictionaries may be swelled by the addition of thousands and tens of thousands of words-all formed simply by affixing our common terminations, upon regular principles of analogy, -and which seem merely in waiting for the decision of rashness or discretion upon their claim to admittance among those to which they are manifestly allied. Even under the one of the two first named, so much more copiously supplied as it is than its fellow, he will find room for an increase. In short, no task of dull diligence presents a more prompt reward than that of augmenting our catalogue of words. Latinisms, Græcisms, Gallicisms, Americanisms, all formed upon the same principles of construction which guided our early scholars in the choice of words, now in ordinary use, might be struck off as if by the magic power of machinery: our language might be crowded with swarms, to satisfy the cravings of pedantic affectation; and a new and erudite Euphuism be created, which "the flower of our youth," to use the expression of the Oxonian biographer, would no doubt eagerly learn to “parly."

I am not speaking of terms in science; they are formed by scientific

By the addition of two regular terminations in ly.

scholars (to Euphues), and that beauty in "All the ladies (says Wood), were court who could not parly Euphuism, as those now there, that cannot speak French." The readers of Sir Walter Scott are well acquainted with the parly of an adept in this school.

men, who feel the want before they attempt to supply it.

In my endeavours to collect and settle the vocabulary, I have enjoyed and availed myself of the large store of materials accumulated by Johnson and his editor, Mr. Todd, the various supplements and provincial vocabularies, and the notes of commentators upon our older poets. In addition to these, a very abundant coacervation was methodically amassed for my own peculiar use. But I have directed my exertions rather to those sources which would enable me to ascertain the meaning, and deduce the application of the established body of our language, than to add to the number of those upon which, for the sake of distinction, I have so often bestowed the title of sub-derivative.* Our rules and principles of analogy are so well understood, that, by adhering to them, good sense ought never to be at a loss to make any serviceable addition to the abundant copiousness of our speech. Some, perhaps many, words of this description, may be found in this Dictionary, that have not hitherto been inserted in any other; and I believe that the same increase may be affirmed with respect to words compounded with prepositions both of our own and of foreign growth. These latter, too, would readily admit of a multitude of their own kind.†

I have, in a former letter, explained, that for the sake of preserving some regularity in the quotations, the authors themselves were divided into periods. I ought then, perhaps, to have added, that, upon this division, after the quotations from Chaucer and Gower and their few predecessors had been disposed of, the order of proceeding

was this to produce the subsequent quotations according to the arranged series of the words; as many from the first period, as my collected stores would supply; these ended, then to commence the second period, and pursue the same order; and so with the two remaining periods. It may be proper further to observe, that when usages of the sub-derivatives had been furnished in the earliest periods, it was deemed expedient not to load the pages of the book with a succession of examples of all these, through all the modern periods of our literature, but rather to reserve these posts of honour for the primary members of the stock.

I hope, Mr. Urban, 1 have made myself intelligible upon this point without the aid of examples; for, in mercy to your columns, and to the patience of your readers, I must forbear to trespass upon either.

I have still to give some reasons for the state of the vocabulary, as it will be found in the Dictionary. In the first place, then, words called Archaic, and which are now obsolete, have been diligently sought for; and all such as could contribute any aid to the investigations of etymology, have been as carefully preserved. Provincial terms have occasionally been summoned to bring the weight of their testimony in support of the same cause; and the very useful little Glossaries, from the learned Ray to Mr. Brockett and Mr. Moore, have been duly consulted, and the assistance derived from them as duly acknowledged.

Various pedantic and scholastic ‡ terms have also been received, which have now grown into disuse: some, because they cast a light upon others

GENT. MAG. VOL. VI.

E

still in continued currency; some, because they inform us of the topics which formerly employed the pens of philosophers and divines, whether they were engaged in amicable discussion, enforcing accredited doctrines, or, more commonly, in polemical strife combating the friends or the antagonists of disputed theories. Some again,

"For all an example, a pattern to none," Swift:

because presenting instances of failure, and even thus teaching a lesson of caution to ourselves; and all because they may extend our knowledge of the many changes, which the language has sustained in its descent to these times; when change is at work upon it, with all the wild energies of a restless and indiscreet spirit of improvement.

There is another class of terms, which must not be passed without a specific notice. "They are," as Ben Jonson calls them, "a kind of composition (he should rather have said of apposition), wherein our English tongue is above all others very hardy and happy, joining together, after a most eloquent manner, sundry words of every kind of speech." Our poets and divines abound in words of this description, and the utmost care has been taken to remark upon those few that gain an import by their combination, which they do not possess when employed disconnectedly; and a full interpretation of their manner of signification has been reserved for the word hyphen in the body of the Dictionary.*

There are other sorts of words of which it remains yet to speak, with relation to the propriety of admitting them into an English Dictionary, professing to be a Dictionary of words merely, and not of Arts and Sciences.

The first, and indeed the only question, really is-not whether there should be any Dictionary comprising these words; but whether there should be one Dictionary or two; whether technical and scientific words should

not of themselves constitute an entire work.†

That a separation into two would have a very strong claim to preference, may be maintained for these reasons :

1. Upon the unquestionable fact, that, by a division of labour, the several works would be better performed.

2. That those who are scientific and not literary, or who are literary and not scientific, might want the one and not the other: that if there be but one book, to obtain what they do want, they must encumber themselves with what they do not: if there be two, one or both may be procured.

These appear to be sound and sufficient reasons against the union. In the mean time, I can only add that all the powers in my possession, all the means which I could control and manage in the exertion of them, have been held in requisition, and devoted to the performance of my own work. Another Dictionary of other words, must be the labour of another and a younger hand.

With these impressions, I feel little disposed to offer upon this head any excuse for inconsistency and incompleteness. My sins of omission must be ascribed to necessity on my part, and to a conviction that they ought to be supplied from another quarter. My sins of commission may be excused, because I have been the only sufferer; the public are gainers by the surplusage or over-measure: and my acts and deeds exhibited in proper place, may be regarded as patterns to follow, not examples to shun.

I have already encroached so largely, Mr. Urban, upon your pages, that I

must hasten to conclude.

I have left the orthography and accentuation as I found them; though a few errors in the former have been noted as they passed. From the various modes of writing or spelling formerly practised, and sometimes also of placing the accent by our poets, each aspirant for distinction as an or

thographer or orthoepist may select his own instances for experiment.

The grammarian and the lexicographer have some duties in common, and there are some peculiar to each. The Dictionary has been confined within its own province. A complete History of the Language must be the work of their combined labours; that portion, which it is incumbent upon the lexicographer to perform, has already been insisted upon as a characteristic feature of this book; that which falls within the duties of the gramma

* Adelung would impose the duties of both upon the lexicographer.

rian, the grammarian has yet to accomplish.

Thus have I endeavoured to lay down with conciseness, and yet without obscurity, the general principles upon which this Dictionary has been constructed, and to illustrate them by example; and I have entered also into

some detail of more minute concernment, that I might leave nothing unexplained of which a reader could with propriety expect to be informed. With many thanks for your friendly courtesy, I remain, Sir, Yours, &c. C. RICHARDSON.

LETTERS OF SIR JOHN VANBURGH, TO TONSON, The Bookseller."

London, June ye 15, 1703. Your letter I had from Amsterdam. My brother bids me tell you he is extremely oblig'd to you, and desires you will let him be a little more so, by improving (as it may ly in your way) the friendship he has begun with the gentleman at Rotterdam; tho' my hopes are, you'll be sp-ing at sea before this gets half way to the Brill. In short, the Kitt-Catt wants you, much more than you ever can do them. Those who remain in towne, are in great desire of waiting on you at Barne-elmes; not that they have finish'd their pictures neither; tho', to excuse them (as well as myself), Sr Godfrey has been most in fault. The fool has got a country house near Hampton Court, and is so busy about fitting it up (to receive nobody), that there's no getting him to work. Carpenter Johns, too, is almost as bad. I went up yesterday under a tylt (as every body has done that has gone by water these three weeks, for the devill's in the sky); theire's all in disorder still; every room is chips-up to your chin! they han't been at work, you must know, this fortnight: there's a great deal done however-one week's stick

From the same book of transcripts by Mr. Malone, as the other letters to Tonson which we have before published.

ing to't will fit it for the reception of a King my room is finish'd, and a bed in it. The compas window, below and above, is made, but the shashes are not yet up; both the rooms are ten times the better for't. Neighbour Burgess has been too honest; the pease and beans ly all languishing upon the earth; not a cod has been gathered. There will be a hundred thousand apricocks ripe in ten days; they are now fairer and forwarder than what I saw at the Queen's table at Windsor on Sunday-and such strawall as red as blood too; and goosberberrys as never were tasted: currants rys, peaches, pairs, apples, and plumbs to gripe the

of a nation.

The Duke of Somerset has had severall letters from you: but do you know that the Torys (even the wisest of 'em) have been very grave upon your going to Holland-they often say (wth a nod) that Cazar's Comts might have been carry'd through without a voyage to Holland: there were meanings in that subscription, and that list of names may serve for farther engagements than paying three guineas a peice for a book: in short I could win a hundred pounds, if I were sure you had not made a trip to Hanover, which you may possibly hear sworn when you come home again; so I'd advise you to bring a very exact journall, well attested.

Lord Carlisle went homeward yesterday, with wife and children, and has