estimate of the value of authorities, and his innumerable omissions, combine to shew the imperfection of all human labour.

"The Diccionario de la Lengua Castellana, published in 1783 by the Academy of Madrid, has the merit of being drawn up with conciseness and selected with judgment; and, as its definitions are often inserted in Latin, it is very convenient for strangers to the Spanish language. Its neglect of etymology, however, destroys its claim to rank among enterprizes of the higher class. Besides its words of Latin origin, the Spanish contains a multitude of terms of Biscayan and of Arabic derivation; and it is important to the ascertainment of many speculative questions, to be able to discriminate between them:-but these academicians do not teach us to discern which ideas their nation has derived from its primæval inhabitants, which from its Roman, and which from its Moorish conquerors. To Larramenda and Haouy, to Erpenius and Golius, we must still recur for a laborious separation of this mingled oratory into its elemental dialects.

"The Versuch eines grammatisch-kritischen Wörterbucks of Adelung comes nearer to the idea of a perfect dictionary, than any other effort of individual diligence and modern culture. An acute theory of the origin of speech, which guides

the erudition of his etymological researches to the sensible idea latent in the parent-word of the most abstract and metaphorical ramifications of thought an historical familiarity with the migrations and shifting civilization of the tribes, whose confluent jargons have supplied the reservoirs of the German tongue-and a comprehensive knowledge of the nature of polished style and of the fine literature of his country-only leave room for the wish, that he had elevated himself yet higher above the prejudices of ceremonious grammarians, and had discussed the whole doctrine of phraseology with the liberal insight of Gregory Sharpe, of Schultens, and of Tooke. His excellent grammar resembles that of our Wallis : but it sternly resists innovation with a frown which the practice of his countrymen has not heeded." *

About four years after the publication of Sir Herbert Croft's Letter from Germany, another attempt was made to supply the deficiencies of Johnson's Dictionary. This, the production of Mr. George Mason, is entituled A Supplement to Johnson's Dictionary; of which the palpable Errors are attempted to be rectified, and its material omissions supplied. (With a separate Appendix.) 4to. 1801.

Monthly Review, vol. xxiv. N. S. p. 559–560.

The list of words which this supplementalist has added to the Lexicon of his predecessor is highly useful and valuable; and it is to be hoped that, in future, his labours will be incorporated with those of his prototype. Even when this is done, however, much will still be wanting to complete the fabric of a perfect Dictionary.

In the mean time, namely, in June 1800, the Rev. Walter Whiter presented the public with a most elaborate and learned volume on etymology, under the title of Etymologicon Magnum, or Universal Etymological Dictionary, on a new Plan. With Illustrations drawn from various Languages: English, Gothic, Saxon, German, Danish, &c. Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish,-Galic, Irish, Welsh, Bretagne, &c. the Dialects of the Sclavonic; and the Eastern Languages, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Sanscrit, Gypsey, Coptic, &c. &c. Part I, 4to, pp. 570.

In this very original and ingenious work, which, whatever may become of its theory, will be always highly estimated by the profound etymologist, the author, after stating as his preliminary positions, 1st, that in all questions of etymology the vowels are to be entirely omitted or disregarded; and 2d, that certain consonants, which are recognized as cognate, are always to be considered as equivalent or identical; proceeds to include his

entire system in the following concise theorem: "That the same combination of the same or of equivalent consonants have the same virtual and elementary meaning, in all the languages with which we are acquainted."

An introductory discourse of forty pages is devoted to the illustration of the positions, and the body of the work is appropriated to the discussion and proof of the theorem.

Of the abilities of Mr. Whiter, as exhibited in this stupendous undertaking, no scholar can withhold his admiration; but to the truth of his system, notwithstanding the acuteness and erudition brought forth in its support, there are, probably, who will subscribe.

not many

A very operose specimen of what may be termed an annotated edition of Johnson's Dictionary, made its appearance in the year 1806. It is the production of Benjamin Dawson, LL.D. who terms it Philologia Anglica; or, a Philological and Synonymical Dictionary of the English Language; in which the Words are deduced from their Originals, their Sense defined, and the same illustrated and supported by proper Examples and Notes critical and explanatory. 4to.

The design of this laborious undertaking is, to strike out the superfluities of Johnson, to correct his errors, to amend his definitions, to vary his

examples, and to supply his omissions. The plan of our great lexicographer is minutely followed; but in the number before us such is the multiplicity of notes, that, if in the remainder of the work the author should distribute them with equal profusion, the bulk will be immense, and too unweildy for utility. It should also be remarked, that Dr. Dawson appears more intimate with classical than Teutonic literature; great industry, however, and much research are evinced.

The year 1807 was productive of several attempts to improve and extend the lexicography of our country. Of these I shall mention two; 1st, A Supplement to Dr. Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language; or a Glossary of obsolete and provincial Words. By the late Rev. JONATHAN BOUCHER, A.M. Part the First. 4to.-2d, An Introduction to an Analytical Dictionary of the English Language, by D. BOOTH. 8vo.

The glossary of Mr. Boucher is peculiarly va-, luable, and it is greatly to be regretted that the worthy author did not live to complete his labours. He had proceeded no farther than to the letter G.

Such are the productions to which the Dictionary of Johnson has given rise; and it is not one of the smallest benefits resulting from the execution of that great work, that it speedily turned the attention of the literary world to the ardent