480 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
Johnson observes, that “ it is now used only in familiar or burlesque 
language ;” and in New England it is less used now than for- 
merly. 
FORTED IN. “A few inhabitants forted in on the Potomac.” Used in 
Marshail’s Life of Washington, vol. ii. p- 28. and animadverted upon in” 
the Monthly Anthology, vol. v. p- 438. 
To FOURFOLD ; v. “ To assess in a fourfold ratio.” Webst. Peculiar to the 
state of Connecticut. 
FREDONIA, x. FREDONIAN, FREDE, FREDISH, &c. &c. 
These extraordinary words, which have been deservedly ridiculed here 
as well as in England, were proposed sometime ago, and countenanced by — 
two or three individuals, as names to designate the territory and people of 
the United States. The general term American is now well understood 
(at least in all places where the English language is spoken,) to mean an 
inhabitant of the United States, and is always so employed, except where 
unusual precision of language is required. English writers, in speaking of 
us, always say, the Americans, the American government, the American 
- ambassador, &c. The words Fredonia, kc. are never now used ex- 
oa @epe Gp-wepiel widiewie.£<> -:-sodtirioe 28 ot tae ee Se os 
FRESHET. This word is peculiar to New England at this day, and means, (a5 
Dr. Belknap observes, in his History of New Hampshire, vol. iii. pref.) 
“a river swollen by rain or melted snow in the interior country, rising 
above its usual level, spreading over the adjacent low lands, and rushing 
with an accelerated current to the sea. In this sense,? Dr. B. adds, “it 
is understood in New England, and, as it is a part of the language of the 
country in which I write, it is frequently used in this volume.” The word, 
seems, had been noticed (in another work of Dr. Belknap’s) by the 
Monthly Reviewers, who made this remark upon it—« We are not acquaint- 
ed with this word.”* Inthe next number of the Review, Dr. Belknap 
informs us, “a correspondent kindly attempted to correct what he imagined 
to be ‘atl errour of the press,” by substituting the word fresh in its place ; 
* «Month. Rev. for Feb. 1787, p. 139” 
