xlviii 



with additions, at Edinburgh, and recommended to public notice 

 as a " very useful and popular work." In the advertisement to 

 the third edition, this is particularly alluded to, " in order to prevent 

 any misconception or suspicion of plagiarism on the part of the 

 American editor." The preparation of the work for this " new 

 and extensively revised edition, adapted to the more advanced 

 state of Greek studies," was among Mr. Pickering's last labors, 

 and will serve to brighten his highest classical honors. Of his 

 brilliant success in this laborious undertaking my own judgment is 

 of little worth. I give you that of others. An eminent and expe- 

 rienced teacher of classical learning has publicly declared, that 

 " this legacy to American scholars is worthy of the distinguished 

 author," — and that, "after groping amid the vagueness and con- 

 fusion of Donnegan, it is truly a relief to turn to the order, clear- 

 ness, and precision of Pickering." A learned professor of the 

 highest authority, himself the author of a Greek and English lex- 

 icon of the New Testament, has pronounced " the lexicon of Mr. 

 Pickering, in its present shape, to be the best extant for the use of 

 colleges and schools in the United States, — for which, indeed, it 

 has been specially prepared." A third eminent Greek scholar has 

 told the world, that what Mr. Pickering undertook to do in this 

 great work " has been admirably done." * 



With this brief and very imperfect notice of Mr. Pickering's 

 classical achievements, we proceed to the jifth class, comprising 

 his publications and labors relating to the English language and 

 literature. We shall attempt little more than to invite attention 

 to their great variety and value. He spread the fruits of his vari- 

 ous erudition over the country with unstinted liberality, thinking 



* Note G. 



