284 Inaccuracies in Todd's Edition 



ART. VII. A Letter to the Editor of the Quarterly Jour- 

 nal, respecting certain Inaccuracies and Omissions in the 

 Rev. Mr. TODD'S Edition o/* Johnson's Dictionary. 



Sir, London, Nov. 9, 1820. 



BEING attached to science, though not a scientific man, I am 

 frequently obliged during the perusal of your Journal to revert 

 to my dictionary for the explanation of certain terms with which 

 I am not sufficiently familiar, though perhaps acquainted with 

 their general import. Finding the definitions in the old editions 

 of Johnson often meagre, and oftener incorrect, I purchased the 

 new edition lately published by the Rev. H. Todd, in which, 

 however, I was much dismayed by discovering very little im- 

 provement in the definition of scientific words, and more espe- 

 cially in those relating to chemistry ; in too many instances 

 erroneous definitions and meanings have been retained, merely, 

 as it would seem, for want of a little trouble in referring to 

 modern authorities ; and on other occasions, the absurdities 

 and jargon of old philosophers, are suffered to pollute and 

 darken those pages which should have been adorned and en- 

 lightened by reference to modern discoveries. In the following 

 pages 1 have in one column put down the word which I looked 

 out, with its definition, as given in Todd's Johnson ; and in 

 another column the true meaning is given, with which I have 

 been furnished by a scientific friend. From a numerous list I 

 have selected a few specimens only, which, if you approve, and 

 consider them correct and of any use to the possessor of the 

 above Dictionary, I shall be happy to add to on another oc- 

 casion. I am, Sir, 



Your constant Reader. 



C. 



ARSENIC, a ponderous mineral ARSENIC, a volatile and highly in- 



substance, volatile and uninflam- flammable metal ; called white arsenic 



mable, 8fc. when in the state of oxide, and highly 



poisonous in all its combinations. 



CHEMISTRY. An art whereby sen- CHEMISTRY is the study of the ef- 



sible bodies contained in vessels, or fects of heat and mixture, with a 



capable of being contained therein, view of discovering their general and 



