The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-04
Webster's Dictionary.

Some days since we noticed new edition of Web
sters Dictionary for sale at Fanck Taylors for So 50
per copy This is the price of the octave form The
quaro form of the work is SIS, and for the follow
ing review Of it, we indebted to very competent
critic:
Some of the older resdentsi of this city will remember
that the venerable author of this Dictionary spent winter
among us some twenty since for the purpose of sub
hitting the criticism and inspection of the distinguished
strangers who gather here, the various works for the du
sion OF correct knowledge of mother tongue the
preparation OF which he had devoted his life At hs head
of this series of works his American Dictionary the
first edition of which had then been issued in ponder
Gus quarto volumes, and sold twenty dollars copy
The author left with numerous testimonials of the most
gratifying character from the gentlemen who then filed
the highest offices of the government and dsng ush
ed in political life This Dictionary then sold the
price already stated snow ressued and sold dollars
We ought say that is the work, however, for
while 1t contains all that that contained, it contains far
more; and in FORM convenience beauty oftype, paper,
and execution is also superior to Its stately predecessor
On opening this work, and comparing it carefully with
the previous editions well with the other dictionaries
which claim any equality with this, impressed
with Two conclusions, viz: that immense amount of
labor may be bestowed on dictionary and its results
De hidden away to be obvious the or
superficial observers and again. that there is greater diff
ference in dict which to be nearly equal
is commonly dreamed of.
An extended examination has convinced US, that, in
spec to all the great departments of perfection in such
work. the labor expended in the revision has been severe
thorough and and that the work in this
vsed form is in all the essentials OF dictionary beyond
comparison the best English dictionary extant. 1t
clear to that the best dictionary should be the die
tionary universally circulated For dictionary is the
constant eference-book the perpetual Standard by which
our mistakes corrected, doubts solved,
our questions answered, and disputes termna
ted We reject every work which years. of years.
have not been SPENT and for which the labors of the
best minds have been laid under contribution When
we know that the venerable author labored fve-and.
thirty years before he published the first edon-tha in
order TO qualify himself more perfectly he crossed the At
antic, and spent time in England, and devoted the
prime of his life the study of English in the original
languages from which is derived, and studied it, also,
as written by the best authors and spoken by the best
speakers and also know his rigid accuracy and keen dis
elimination, feel strong confidence in the reliability
OF his conclusions.
This first editon-whch at assumed the place 50
long deservedy held by Johnson, and which through
two three editions in Engand-was still the object of
the authors and received from him the continued
vision of twelve additional years before its second appear
anoe After the authors death, placed in the hands
of Prot Goodrich, of Yale College, for another revision
This revision has been faithfully executed and those
who know how we'll its editor had been fitted for the task
by his previous acquaintance with the work and its
thor, and how his professional life had made him cog
nsant of the nicetes Of ponunca would expect i'm
portant additions from such This all
that he did He was not content with his additions,
out uHucr Contribution most distinguished gen
in the sciences for abored and precise definitions of
the and things in their own departments The
dsntors of the original Webster were admirable for ac
curacy precision, and comprehensiveness those of the
revised Webster far before them particularly in
to technical in the and sciences and enable
dispense with and bulky books refer
ence Nothing but thorough study of the definitions in
this edition, compared with of the former editions
and with those of other dictionaries, give any idea
OF the mines of wealth hidden within its leaves.
In orhogrdphy, Dr. Webster studied simplicity and the
anaosies of the language He had the bodnes favor
that spirit of progress which, in the French and German
languages has been working such revolutions in the spell
ing, but which, in the English, has stupidity resisted
by the John Buism which ceaves to tradition alone We
do approve of all the changes proposed by Webster
aud we glad to that those which were most un
graceful, and justly offensive, have been rejected while
those approved by the majority of countrymen have
been retained In all OF doubt the old is given with
the improved spelling.
The pro~uneation of this edition has been subject OF
special study and improvement by Dr. Goodrich figured
Key has been placed the bottom Of every page which