“Sh. 
452 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
ACCOUN TABILITY, “ a being subject to answer, or account for.” Mr. Web- 
ster’s Compendious Dictionary. This word has been adopted from the 
French, by some of our writers, but it is not to be found in the English dic- 
tionaries, nor do I recollect seeing it in any “aes publications, except 
translations from the French. 
To ADMIRE. To like very much ; used, in Vew England, in expressions like 
these—I should admire to go to such a place, I should admire to have such 
a thing, &c. It is never thus used by the English, and — it is only used 
_ in conversation. 
fo ADVOCATE, to be an advocate for, to defaed, to support. This word is 
used by all our writers. Some are taking unwearied pains to disparage 
the motives of those federalists who advocate the equal support of,” &c._ 
Hamilton’s Letter, N. York, 1800. “TI shall endeavour to ascertain pre- 
cisely the true value of this opinion, which is so warmly advocated by all 
the great orators of antiquity.”’ dams’ Lectures on Rhetoric, &c. vol. i. p. 
38. “ This seems to be seis and local dialect; and cannot be advo- — 
cated oy ee person who tands correct E = he” : Welytee's Disser- 
en Sees a a 
‘a : PS 
wo Vetoes eu Cale 
writers ; but it has not yet been adopted oF them, T do not :saeniiogs idee 
ing ever seen it in any British publication of high rank, except the Edin- 
burgh Review ; and in that, Ihave observed it once. only, which was in the 
following passage: “ But though the argument is given up, and the j jus- 
tice of the Catholic cause admitted, it seems to be generally conceived that 
‘their case is at Present utterly hopeless ; and that to advocate it any longer 
will only irritate the oppressed.” Edinb. Rev. vol. xiii. p. 77. Notwith- 
standing the high reputation of this work, yet the occasional use of a word, 
in a periodical work published in Scotland, camotbe considered as conclu- 
sive evidence of its being in general use in England. The authority of 
this work, too, in the present ¢ase, is the less decisive, because, in addition 
to the above circumstances, it is understood, that sonie of the articles in it, 
have been written by Irish, and some by American peice residing in 
Scotland. 
Since I met with the above Scotch authority, I haye found an Iris# 
