be folicitous what is thought of my work by fuch as know not the difficulty or importance of philological studies; nor fhall think those that have done nothing, qualified to condemn me for doing little. It may not, however, be improper to remind them, that no terrestrial greatnefs is more than an aggregate of little things; and to inculcate, after the Arabian proverb, that drops, added to drops, conftitute the

ocean.

There remains yet to be confidered the diftribution of words into their proper claffes, or that part of. lexicography which is ftrictly critical.

The popular part of the language, which includes all words not appropriated to particular sciences, admits of many diftinctions and fubdivifions; as, into words of general ufe, words employed chiefly in poetry, words obfolete, words which are admitted only by particular writers, yet not in themselves improper; words ufed only in burlefque writing; and words impure and barbarous.

Words of general ufe will be known by having no fign of particularity, and their various fenfes will be supported by authorities of all ages.

The words appropriated to poetry will be diftinguished by fome mark prefixed, or will be known by having no authorities but thofe of poets.

Of antiquated or obfolete words, none will be inferted but fuch as are to be found in authors who wrote fince the acceffion of Elizabeth, from which we date the golden age of our language; and of these many might be omitted, but that the reader may require, with an appearance of reafon, that no difficulty should be left unrefolved in books which

he

he finds himself invited to read, as confefsed and eftablished models of ftile. Thefe will be likewife pointed out by fome note of exclufion, but not of difgrace.

The words which are found only in particular books, will be known by the fingle name of him that has used them; but fuch will be omitted, unless either their propriety, elegance, or force, or the reputation of their authors, affords fome extraordinary reafon for their reception.

Words used in burlefque and familiar compofitions, will be likewife mentioned with their proper authorities; fuch as dudgeon, from Butler, and leafing, from Prior; and will be diligently characterised by marks of diftinction.

Barbarous, or impure words and expreffions, may be branded with fome note of infamy, as they are carefully to be eradicated wherever they are found; and they occur too frequently even in the beft writers; as in Pope,

in endlefs error hurll. 'Tis theje that cally taint the female foul.

In Addijon:

Attend to what a leffer mufe indites.

And in Dryden,

A dreadful quiet felt, and worfer far

Than arms

If this part of the work can be well performed, it will be equivalent to the propofal made by Boileau to the academicians, that they fhould review all their polite writers, and correct fuch impurities as might be found in them, that their authority might not contribute, at any diftant time, to the depravation of the language.

With regard to questions of purity, or propriety, I was once in doubt whether I fhould not attribute too much to myself, in attempting to decide them, and whether my province was to extend beyond the propofition of the queftion, and the difplay of the fuffrages on each fide; but I have been fince determined, by your Lordship's opinion, to interpofe my own judgment, and fhall therefore endeavour to fupport what appears to me moft confonant to grammar and reason. Aufonius thought that modefty forbad him to plead inability for a task to which Cafar had judged him equal.

Cur me poffe negem poffe quod ille putat ?

And I may hope, my Lord, that fince you, whofe authority in our language is fo generally acknowledged, have commiffioned me to declare my own opinion, I shall be confidered as exercifing a kind of vicarious jurifdiction, and that the power which might have been denied to my own claim, will be readily allowed me as the delegate of your Lordship.

In citing authorities, on which the credit of every part of this Work must depend, it will be proper to obferve fome obvious rules; fuch as of preferring writers of the first reputation to thofe of an inferior rank; of noting the quotations with accuracy; and of selecting, when it can be conveniently done, fuch fentences, as, befides their immediate ufe, may give pleasure or instruction, by conveying fome elegance of language, or fome precept of prudence, or piety.

It has been asked, on fome occafions, who fhall judge the judges? And fince, with regard to this defign, a question may arife by what authority the authorities

authorities are felected, it is neceffary to obviate it, by declaring that many of the writers whofe teftimonies will be alleged, were felected by Mr. Pope; of whom, I may be justified in affirming, that were he ftill alive, folicitous as he was for the fuccefs of this work, he would not be displeased that I have undertaken it.

It will be proper that the quotations be ranged according to the ages of their authors; and it will af ford an agreeable amufement, if, to the words and phrafes which are not of our own growth, the name of the writer who firft introdueed them can be affixed; and if, to words which are now antiquated, the authority be fubjoined of him who laft admitted them. Thus, for feathe and buxom, now obfolete, Milton may

be cited.

-The mountain oak

Stands fcath'd to heaven

He with broad fails

Winnow'd the buxom air.

By this method every word will have its history, and the reader will be informed of the gradual changes of the language, and have before his eyes the rife of fome words, and the fall of others. But obfervations fo minute and accurate are to be defired rather than expected; and if ufe be carefully fupplied, curiofity muft fometimes bear its difappointments.

This, my Lord, is my idea of an English Dictionary; a dictionary by which the pronunciation of our language may be fixed, and its attainment facilitated; by which its purity may be preferved, its ufe afcertained, and its duration lengthened. And though, perhaps, to correct the language of nations.

by books of grammar, and amend their manners by discourses of morality, may be tasks equally difficult; yet, as it is unavoidable to wish, it is natural likewife to hope, that your Lordship's patronage may not be wholly loft; that it may contribute to the preservation of ancient, and the improvement of modern writers; that it may promote the reformation of those translators, who, for want of understanding the characteristical difference of tongues, have formed a chaotic dialect of heterogeneous phrases; and awaken to the care of purer diction fome men of genius, whose attention to argument makes them negligent of stile, or whofe rapid imagination, like the Peruvian torrents, when it brings down gold, mingles it with fand.

When I furvey the Plan which I have laid before you, I cannot, my Lord, but confefs, that I am frighted at its extent, and, like the foldiers of Cæfar, look on Britain as a new world, which it is almoft madness to invade. But I hope, that though I fhould not complete the conqueft, I fhall at least discover the coaft, civilize part of the inhabitants, and make it eafy for fome other adventurer to proceed farther, to reduce them wholly to fubjection, and fettle them under laws.

We are taught by the great Roman orator, that every man should propofe to himself the highest degree of excellence, but that he may ftop with honour at the second or third: though therefore my performance should fall below the excellence of other dictionaries, I may obtain, at least, the praise of having endeavoured well; nor fhall I think it any reproach to my diligence, that I have retired without a triumph,