XIV PREFACE. 



rewritten, according to the suggestions and under the direction of Mr. Wm. W, 

 Turner, of the Union Theological Seminary of New York. Of this gentleman's 

 labors in connexion with this work I cannot speak too highly. Not only has he, by 

 his eminent literary qualifications, been able to render valuable assistance in the 

 way of suggestion and criticism, but he has also read with great care the proof- 

 sheets, especially of the Grammar, that nothing might be wanting to make the work, 

 under the circumstances, as perfect as possible. It is proper also to mention the 

 name of Mr. Wm. H. Smith, of New York, who assisted in the revision of the 

 latter .half of the Dictionary, in the absence of Mr. Turner. 



About the 1st of January, 1851, a prospectus was issued at St. Paul, under the 

 sanction of the Historical Society of Minnesota, to publish the work by subscription, 

 and in this many of the most prominent citizens of the Territory manifested much 

 interest. Among the larger subscriptions may be mentioned those of Governor 

 Alexander Ramsey, Hon. H. H. Sibley, Hon. Martin McLeod, Rev. E. D. 

 Neill, and H. M. Rice, Esq. The Prudential Committee of the American 

 Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions also made an appropriation for the 

 same object, besides another for defraying the necessary expenses of superintending 

 the press. 



These provisions, though liberal, considering the circumstances under which 

 they were made, were not sufficient to warrant the commencement of the publica- 

 tion ; and being informed, in answer to a letter addressed to Professor Joseph 

 Henry, LL.D., that the work, on certain conditions, mights probably be accepted 

 as one of the Contributions to Knowledge of the Smithsonian Institution, it was 

 concluded to present it for that purpose. After passing the prescribed examination, 

 it was accepted by the Institution and directed to be printed. 



With the manner in which the work has been brought out, its friends will I trust 

 be fully satisfied. Neither pains nor expense has been spared in the publication. 

 The plan had already been followed, in the books printed in the language, of using 

 the vowels with the sounds which they have in Italian and German, and of repre- 

 senting each articulation by a single character. In the present work a few changes 

 have been introduced into the orthography, for the sake of expressing some of the 

 sounds in a manner more perspicuous and consistent with analogy, and more in 

 accordance with the system of notation which is now becoming general among 

 scientific philologists in Europe. It was necessary in consequence to rearrange a 

 great many of the articles in the manuscript Dictionary, and to have a number of 

 new punches made. 



With the hope that it may be the means of interesting some in behalf of the 

 Dakotas, of perpetuating memorials of their language, and affording, to some extent, 

 the means of arriving at correct conclusions in regard to their origin, this work, 

 the result of years of toil, is submitted to the kind regards of its generous 

 patrons. 



Stephen R. Riggs. 



New York City, 1852. 



