DICTIOKAB7 ? 



TH2 PSOPLE. 



WEBSTER'S 

 QUARTO -DICTIONARr, 



trjree times tfje matter founts in ang otfjer 6nglisf) Bicttoimrg tamptlrtr < 

 tfjis countrg, or sng 'Snrt'Dgmcnt of tfjis SJHorfc. S (Seosraprjtcal ffiaile 

 of 12,000 Watneg, Ellustrattrje Quotations, anfc otfjer peculiarities anU 



founti in no otfjer 312Eorfe, get is sols at a trifling afcbance about tl)e 

 price of otfjer anti limiteS Bictionaries. 



THE Legislature of New York have just passed an Act to furnish this work in the common 

 schools of the State. 



osr The following is an extract from the Report on the subject, ny the " Committee on Literature." 



" Your committee regard it a3 superfluous labor to enlarge upon the superiority of this Diction- 

 ary ; this is attested by the general circulation which this work has gained in this country, which is 

 believed to be unprecedented for a -work so expensive, 



" That this work is peculiarly valuable for common schools, is, in the opinion of your committee, 

 very evident. There is no branch of knowledge, in which it is so important, that the 750,000 children 

 of this State who are taught in them should be perfected, as in the knowledge of their own lan- 

 guage. There is no end so important to the education of the common inind as to use this our com- 

 mon language with correctness, ease and elegance, and to attain which we should make every 

 rjossihle facility readily accessible to all. And, in the opinion of your committee, there is no one 

 book which furnishes so many facilities for this purpose as "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. 

 The habit of referring to it will lead every scholar to a knowledge of this rich mine of wealth in- 

 tellectual ; and as he uncovers its treasures, his mind will be enlarged by the variety of knowledge 

 which is condensed in the definitions of the familiar words he uses. The habit of reflection too, 

 will be matured, by being employed on objects so entirely within his reach as the words which he 

 spells, and reads and uses in speech. If he be once taught the habit of reflecting on words, he will 

 soon learn to reflect on the thoughts which these words represent" 



[.From Eon. J. C. Spencer,"] 



ALBAJTT, June 18th, 1851. 



More than twenty years ago I procured the Quarto edition, and have used it constantly ever 

 since. My pursuits jn life have rendered it necessary to consult it frequently, as well as other 

 works of a kindred or similar character, particularly Dr. Johnson's Quarto, of the latest and best 

 edition, Richardson's Dictionary, Crabbe's Synonym?, and Home Took's Dix-ersions of Purley, 

 In professional, political, and literary discussions, the turning point of the argument has often beeu 

 the exact meaning of words, as ascertained not only from their use, but from their derivation : 

 while in many cases, perhaps in the majority of them, the works referred too have failed to give 

 the desired information, that of Dr. Webster has always furnished precisely what has been desired, 

 nnd I have long felt individually indebted to the illustrious author, for the labor and time he has 

 saved me by his unwer.red patience, profound learning, and unsurpassed industry. 



It is unquestionably the very best Dictionary of our language extant. It is a model of copious- 

 ness and precision, and its great accuracy in the definition and derivation of words, gives it an 

 authority that no other work on the suject possesses. It is constantly cited and relied on in our 

 Courts of Justice, in our Legislative bodies, and in public discussions, as entirely conclusive. 



I 



"In revising and publishing an enlarged edition of this invaluable work at so cheap a rate as to 

 Oriug it within the reach of aknost every family, you have rendered AN ESSENTIAL. SEEVICE 

 TO MANKIND." 



M A Dictionary is the last book i7hich a scholar ever wants to have abridged, the process being 

 ore to cut off THE VERY MATTER WHICH HE MOST VALUES," Chronotype. 

 Published by G. & C. MERRIAM, Springfield, Mass., und for sale by Bookseller:) generally. 



