492 
fionally contribute to precifion. I merely 
ftate the hint ; in what extent it fhould be 
applied, is matter for future confideraticn : 
perhaps only the principal explanatory 
word of each definition would be the ob- 
ject of it. Iwill jult give one or two in- 
ttances at random.—*‘* Affectionate’’ is, in 
its third fenfe, defined by ** tender :"? now 
on turning to. ** tender’’ it will be feen, 
that its jijth fenfe alone (namely, * com- 
paffionate, anxious for another’s good’) 
is referable to the purpofe of fuch an ex- 
planation ; after *¢ tender” therefore, in 
the third definition of ‘* affe€tionate,”” I 
would infert in a parenthefis the figure 
*6(5).°” In the fame manner ‘ tender,” 
in its third fenfe, is defined by ‘* emafcu- 
Jate”’. as the participle of ** toemafculace ;”” 
which, as will be feen on referring to this 
latter word, is applicable in only its /econd 
fenfe (** ta effeminate, to weaken, to vi- 
tiate by unmanly foftnefs”’) to fuch a de- 
finition: after * emafculate’’ therefere, 
jn the third definition of “ tender.” I 
would add “* (2).”” Soalfo “ comfort,” 
in its firft explanation, is defined (among 
other words) by ‘ countenance ;°’ under 
which word it may be feen that its fAxth 
fenfe alone (‘* patronage, appearance of 
favour, appearance on any fide, fupport”*) 
is applicable for that purpofe: aiter the 
word ** countenance’’ therefore, in the 
firft definition of ** comfort,’ I would in- 
fert “© (6).”” ‘I repeat that I give this as 
ouly a hint, but am firmly convinced of 
the utility of its judicious execution. * 
One word more, Sir, and I will clofe 
this letter. If Mr. Pytches has accels to 
the volumes of your Magazine, T would 
beg leave to refer him to vol. 16, page 
stg (in the Number publifhed January 
aft, 1804), for a fhort article under my 
ufual fignature of £, in which F took 
fome pains on a mathematical expofition 
of a phrafe which Tohnfon has lefz ia his 
ufual flovenly neglect. ; 
32, Heury-ftreet, 
Pentonville. 
3a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIRs 
\ X J ILL you permit an old correfpond- 
ent to make a few remarks ona 
new one? I allude to Mr. Pytches. 
That fo many perfons eminent in gloffo- 
logy are occupied in compiling new dic- 
tionaries of the Englifh tongue, cannot 
M. SMart. 
* The fupplemental figures thus intro- 
educed fhould of courfe refer to the definitions 
as numbered in the fame work, and not in 
Jjonnfoa. 
Remarks on Myr. Pytches’ projected Diétionary, 
[July 1, 
but be welcome intelligence to the publie: 
our language will be enriched, diffufed, 
perpetuated by the very effort. 
In his printed letter to the Princefs 
Royal (Hamburg 1797), Sir Nee 
Croft-announced, that in 1793 he had al- 
ready colleéted more :han twenty thonfand 
found words, not noticed by Dr, Johnion, 
{r. Booth’s Intredudtion to an Analytica! 
Dictionary is about to encounter Reiioral 
criticifm. Your Magazine (vel. xxi. p. 
325) proclaims the fimilar enterprize of 
Mr. Pyiches. 
Whether all thefe gentlemen will do 
well to re-publith the entire Di&tionary of 
Johnion, with ditingt variations and in- 
terpolations; or whcther the mojelt ex- 
ample of Mr. Mafon, in provid ng only a 
fupplement to Johnion, cought no: rather 
to be followed, may conientedly he left to 
the decifion of the book{cllers. Johnfon’s 
Digtionary is fo univerfally fationed in 
“our libraries, that a comprehenfive fupple- 
ment will probably be found more mer. 
ketable than a revifed edition. | Jobnton’s 
is a diftionary ‘of fine verbiage merely; 
the technical Janguege of common life is 
too fparingly recorded, and the novel no- 
menciature of fcience 1s wholly ‘to incor- 
porate. 
Your corzefpondent Mr. Pytches, who 
during fifieen years has been einployed in 
amafling addiiicnal materials, mult no 
doubt rival, or furpafs, Sir Herbert Croft 
in his ficck of unrecorded words. But he - 
announces peculiarities in the literal nota- 
tion of them ; and projects feveral changes 
of fpelling, for which he has aot afigned 
fatisfaétory reafons. Thefe fchemes of 
novation deferve a deliberate diicufficn. 
Let us enquire concerning each of the 
general rules which be has promulgated. 
" “Mr. Pytches propofes to retan’ the # 
indifcriminately in labor, favor, honor, 
&c. There are fo many phraies in ovr 
language where the noun and verb are 
liable to be confounded, that, by  tntro- 
ducing diftin& fpeilings, a greater per!pi- 
cuity of ftyle could bé attsined. Omit 
therefore the a in honor, favor, laber, 
when they are fubitantives; and retain the 
u when they are verbs, to favour, to la- 
beur, to honour. Werds deriving from 
the verb fhould retain the #, as honour- 
able, favourable; words deriving from 
the fubitantive fhould omit the w, as /a- 
borious, favorle/s. 
II. Mr. Pytches projects to fpetl go- 
wernor, tranflator, afar; yet he would 
fpell defender, commander, performer. 
The termination er, net or, is the Eng- 
lith formative -fyllable: from -ta bake, 
baker 3 
