SicT. I.j English Language. 507 



before it, by Mr. Bailey. This work, though pos- 

 sessing jconsiderable merit, especially in the ttynio* 

 logical department, was still defective in so many 

 respects that it was by no means a safe or adequate 

 guide. Bailey was succeeded by several others 

 of inferior note, who laboured as English lexi- 

 cographers, but they did little worthy of being 

 recorded. In this state of things Dr. Samuel 

 Johnson, a distinguished philologist, undertook 

 to compile a grand national dictionary, a task 

 to which learned academies had generally been 

 considered alone equal. His plan of the work 

 was laid before the public in 1747, and in 1755 

 this wonderful production of the labour of an 

 individual issued from the press. It must be ac- 

 knowledged, that the Dictionary of the English 

 Language, notwithstanding all its splendid me- 

 rits, is an imperfect work. Its illustrious com- 

 piler was, in a great measure, ignorant of the 

 philosophy of language^ which at that period was 

 little understood by the most profound grammari- 

 ans. His etymologicat \\\\Qst\gdi\\on?> are too often 

 superficial and unsatisfactory; and his numerous 

 omissions of words unquestionably belonging to 



Having removed to Great Britain for tlie benefit of his health, her 

 has employed his leisure, for a number of years, in improving 

 the grammar of his native tdngue, and in composing such other 

 publications as have a tendency to form the minds of youth to a love 

 of literature and of virtue. The excellence of all his literary labours, 

 and the charitable appropriation of the product of his works, 

 to which he has long rigidly adhered, have secured for him a 

 station in the public esteem too high to render eulogium necessary 

 in this place. 



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