498 Mr. Pickering on the present state of the English language 
N. 
To NARRATE ; “To relate, to tell.” Johnson. This verb is noticed, by being 
printed in #¢alics, in’ some English works, where extracts have been made 
from American publications. Dr. Johnson says, it is “a word only used in 
Scotland.” Walker, without controverting Johnson’s assertion, thus defends 
the word: “As it is regularly derived from the Latin narro, and has a specific 
meaning to distinguish it from every other word, it ou ght to be considered as 
anecessary part of the language. To ¢e// seems to imply communication in 
the most general sense : as to tell a story, to tell a secret, kc. Torelate, 
is to tell at some length, and in some order, as to relate the particulars of 
a transaction. But to narrate seems to relate a transaction in order from 
beginning to.end ; which often becomes insipid and tiresome. Hence the 
beauty of Pope’s—narrative old age: 
“The poor, the rich, the valiant, and the sees 
And boasting youth, and narrative old age.” 
Writers do not, I think, aes this distinction, The load is used in the 
Edinhorgh, dtevicn.- See vol. ii. p. 507, where it occurs twice. 
NATIONALITY. Used by some writers in America. 1 ve als¢ 
‘jtonce write  Sieiny Reve buries prarer in ae 
word, and is not to be found in the dictionaries. 
NAVIGATION ; shipping. “The word navigation is used in New England — 
for shipping, and for sea-faring.” Kend. Trav. vol. i. p- 321, note. It isin 
“ constant use in the first of these significations, but I never heard it used in 
the other ; nor do I perceive how it could well be employed as a “substitute 
for this adjective. Johnson has “ vessels of navigation,” as one of the mean- 
ings of the word, but it is on the authority of Shaksfeare : 
* “Tho? you untie ‘the winds, and let them fight 
Against the churches, tho’ the testy waves 
Confound and swallow navigation up.” 
NETOP. An Indian word which, a friend informs me, is still sometimes used 
