Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-08-24
Dictionaries.


We make the following extracts from an
able article in the Christian Review Tor in.
". II is entitled sour English Dic,ona-
ries' and Is understood to DO from the Pen
OF George p. Marsh IL. ID.
webs,er's original suggestions
and deductions in historical and illustrative
eiymology are generally un.cholar-like and
un.ound; the views no has borrowed from
Others. uncritieal and misapplicd.
DR.. Webster had but soanty
attachments m ancient classical or modern
European or Oriental literature; nor,
though familiar with the English writers
Of the last century and halt. was he at AL
yerecd in the earlier forms Of our own Ian.
rua.e. or imbucd with the spirit ofour old
. authors.
In his wide range OF collateral
comparison, has sometimes struck upon an
interesting analogy, and thence deduccd
true Derivation. We should be the last 90
deny bu, very little examination OF his
dictionary will satisfy any scholar who Is
acquainted with frs languages, and their
actual movement in literature and In speech
that n. mn genealogical guide, Webster.
System. As understood and applied by him.
self. il of no theoretical or practical value
whatever.
Dr. Webster was unques,ionably o man
Of keen perceptions in language, but his
views we're acute rather than clear his lens
was more remarkable for magniiying than
Tor defining power. II he had devoted 10
literature. 20 domestic philology, the year.
be consumed IN iruitle.s comparisons OF
word. in language. with which he was not
acquainted. his natural subtlcty OF dscrim.
inaton would have admirably qualified him
for the labor Of logical and precise dehnl'
ton but with his mistaken theories OF lam
euags and hi. erroneous view. OF the proper
oiIice Of lcIicography, he has oitener con.
fused than distinguished the real meanings
OF words.
In photographed revolutions. the die.
uonary should follow. not lead. We have
no doubt that the literary public wherever
the English language i spoken. will APP
rroye the sound conservation Of Worcester.
and we hops that ih, publishers Of future
editions of Webster will continue what
Webster himself had hcsun 10 do, namely,
60 on with the process ct restoring the old
or,hortaphy, until the spelling Of their
dictionary ,hall bc brought into complete
accordance with that OF tie writers who
are Acknowledged. IN both England and
America, As standards and authorities upon
the forms Of the English tongue. Worecs.
iers analyst. Of the sounds oi our language
j. the bc.t we have seen. and We have no
doub, that hi. figured pronunciation - the
most faithful representation yet given OF
the principles and the facts Of the actual AZ
,icuia,ion of English in the mos, euliiya'
,ci circles Of American rs we'll as iransai'
laniic society.
Our general conclusion then Is, that IN
all the cardinal roin,,-'Ocabulary, ortho-
graphy. pronunciation, e,ymology and de-
Gni,on- Noros'iors Dictionary superior
o. web.ter,. as Webster. was in most 70.
.pccts 10 those which preceded his own Ia.
Dor. and we hay, no doub, ,h,tun,il Anoth.
or beginning where Worcester has LETT %,
shall take stride beyond him, /, will be 30
FAR as any dictionary can b the generally
recognized authority for the orihOsnphy,
the pronunciation. and the meaning. Of the
words which COMPOSE the English tongue.