The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

A NEW DICTIONARY.

WE have been favored with specimen extracts from a new dictionary
of the English language (founded on the well-known work of Walker),
the manuscript of which has been for some time extensively employed
by the contributors to a leading morning paper in the composition of
their controversial articles. The proprietors of that journal having
found the MS. of the highest utility to themselves in the attainment
of what ought to be the object of all " honest and highminded " jour-
nalism, viz., an extensive circulation, have determined to present the
means of their own success to their fellow-workers of the press and to
the general public, well assured that by this course they are fulfilling
a duty incumbent on all who have the interests of the people sin-
cerely and honestly at heart. The work will appear in monthly parts,
price one shilling. We subjoin a few words and phrases selected at
random:—

Blockhead : An opponent sufficiently honest and courageous to
give expression to tho truth, even though it be directly opposed to a
highly popular fallacy. Miserable :—one on whom bad logic and violent
language are wasted.
Billingsgate : The language of angry costermongers ; to be em-
ployed against an opponent who has made your own case look " fishy."
Clique. A growing minority, likely to endanger the popularity of
your own opinion.
Consistency : Literally, a keeping together with; derived from
consisto, which was not restricted to the common meaning; e.g. "ex utri-
que parte consistere," to adhere to both sides, (Ulp.): of a journalist
who constantly prefers " pence or praise " to truth, it may still be said
that he is consistent, though he should hold entirely opposite views on
the same subject at different times. The most popular writers,
however, are very sparing in their employment of the word. A high
authority remarks :—" The days are rapidly passing away when any
newspaper of character can afford to avow itself as the unflinching ad-
vocate of any party or of any person."
Disgust: The feeling which it is decent to assume in repelling a
disgraceful accusation known to be true.
Fool: A logical opponent. See Blockhead.
Ignorance : As it is impossible, according to philosophers, to be
ignorant of that which cannot possibly be known, no writer (on your
own side) can be fairly convicted of ignorance, unless it can be shown
that, at the time of committing to writing any statement however un-
founded (e.g. that Sanscrit is at present a living language), he could
possibly have been aware that he was stating an untruth : as applied to
an opponent, ignorance means an ignoring , in reply, of an assertion
obviously irrelevant or unfounded.
Nonsense: Unanswerable good sense from an opponent.
Old Woman : A gentleman, unconnected with the press, in pos-
session of well-founded information subversive of your own assertions.
Profligacy and Meanness ; Habitual Baseness ; Pique, Animosity, (fe. :
There is but little real signification attached to these phrases, but they
arc convenient, and may be used instead of facts or arguments against
a rising opponent.
Trash: Inconvenient facts on the opposite side. See also Rubbish.
Truth: Facts as it is convenient they should appear; the whole
truth—may he employed in making a " suppressio yeti ;" nothiny but
the truth—anything but facts as they really are.

OUR PREMIER'S DISTRESS;
OR, WHERE SHALL I FIND A COLONIAL MINISTER?

Ara—" Where is my lover?"

Where are the statesmen, oh where are they gone?
Where are they gone, where are they gone?
I fear they all sit on the opposite side,
And I am left all alone.
'Tis true that there's Lewis and Wood and George Grey,
Who'd gladly the Colonies hold in their sway,
But one cannot make statesmen of folks such as they.
Where are they gone, where are they gone,
The men whom the people respect and obey ?
They've left me here all alone.

I know I forsook them for place and for pelf,
Years long agone, years long agone ;
Deserting my party to follow myself,
And get a clique of my own.
And see how I'm punish'd for running such rigs,
I'm tied to a set of incapable Whigs,
Of whom one half are fools and the other halt' prigs.
What shall I do? What shall I do?
Silk purses aren't made of the ears of she pigs,
Nor statesmen of such a crew.

Lord Elgin's too honest, Lord Grey is too high,
Where shall Igo ? What shall Ido ?
Panmure is too stupid, Argyll is too shy—
Who is the man, then, who ?
I think my friend Smith after all is the man,
'Twill please dear old Lansdowne and all the Whig clan.
Besides, he's a commoner. Excellent plan,—
Smith is the man for me!
He'll be finer than ever ; so spick and so span,
Deputations will ruu to see.