JOHNSON. 63 



that to the Dictionary, which is powerfully written: 

 but promises more than it performs, when it pro- 

 fesses to give a history of the English language; for it 

 does very little more than give a series of passages from 

 the writings in the Anglo-Saxon and English tongues of 

 different ages. The Dictionary itself, with all its faults, 

 still keeps its ground, and has had no successor that could 

 supplant it. This is owing to the admirable plan of giving 

 passages from the writers cited as authorities for each 

 word, and this part of the design is very well executed. 

 Hence the book becomes almost as entertaining to read, as 

 useful to consult. The more difficult task of definition has 

 been less happily performed ; but far better than the ety- 

 mological part, which neither shows profound knowledge, 

 nor makes a successful application of it. The compiler 

 appears to have satisfied himself with one or two autho- 

 rities, and neither to have chosen them well, nor con- 

 sulted them with discrimination. Of any attempts at a 

 deeper and more philosophical study, either as regards 

 the structure or the grammar of our language, he cannot 

 be said ever to have had the merit ; but if he at any time 

 was so far fortunate, Home Tooke has very mercilessly 

 stript him of it. 



The Preface to his Shakespeare certainly is far superior to 

 his other introductory discourses, both fuller of matter and 

 more elaborate. His remarks on the great dramatist are 

 generally speaking sound and judicious ; many of them 

 may even, on a subject sufficiently hackneyed, be deemed 

 original. The boldness with which his many critical 

 objections were offered, deserves not the less praise that 

 Shakespeare's numberless and gross faults are easy to dis- 

 cern; because, in presence of the multitude, one might 



