4 PROSPECTUS OF AN ENGLISH DICTIONARY. 



That such a Dictionary should be published in one 

 quarto volume of about one hundred sheets; and also 

 afterwards in octavo. That such a work is a Desideratum 

 in our Literature, and would, if published, obtain extensive 

 circulation, and greatly contribute to a correct knowledge 

 of our copious and excellent language. 



That the work of your Petitioner on Birds, a work of 

 considerable labour, and, he hopes, of some merit, has been 

 for many months ready for the Press, and although, in other 

 times, it would most probably have met with a ready ac- 

 ceptance among the Booksellers, not one to whom it has 

 been offered will, in the present depressed state of trade, 

 undertake its publication. 



That this circumstance is in itself greatly distressing to 

 your Petitioner with his scanty means of subsistence ; and 

 he cannot, therefore, however willing, afford to devote so 

 much time (at least three years of incessant assiduity) as 

 will be requisite to prepare such a Dictionary for the Press, 

 unless he can be assured of pecuniary remuneration ; and 

 he has no reason for believing that any bookseller would, 

 at the present time, be disposed to give an order for such 

 a work. 



Your Petitioner, therefore, most humbly prays that your 

 Honourable House will be pleased to take the Premises into 

 your consideration ; and he solicits and hopes that, from the 

 desire which your Honourable House has evinced for the 

 encouragement of Literature, you will afford him such 

 assistance and in such a way as to your Honourable House 

 shall seem meet. 



And your Petitioner shall ever pray. 



JAMES JENNINGS. 

 London ; 

 No. 9, Dalby Terrace, City Road. 

 May 15, 1827. 



