in the United States, the editor, we believe, has done all that was requisite to indicate what are legitimate words, and what ones should be discarded from the language. The circumstances in which we are placed as a nation, may authorize the use of a few terms that are not common to the tongue, and are employed to represent objects that are not known elsewhere; and the editor thinks they are comparatively few.

The subject of Orthography is almost the only one, in respect to which objections to Dr. Webster's dictionary, have been generally prevalent. On this point, the editor, it is believed, has made all reasonable concessions to the public feeling and opinion. Important alterations in this respect appear in these volumes, since he has restored numerous words to the old established spelling, while he has endeavored at the same time, to maintain throughout the work, a correct and consistent system. Dr. Webster's changes of orthography were founded on two different grounds, one of which was that of etymology. It seemed to him proper that a principle generally so clear, should be adopted as a guide in spelling, especially as the learned would be able to estimate its importance. He accordingly made changes, in certain classes of words, in agreement with this principle. But although many of the intelligent of this country, and numbers of European critics highly approved the measure, he found that the mass of the community were still strongly attached to the old mode of spelling. The convictions produced by a twelve years' trial, resulted in his restoring to a considerable number of such words the accustomed orthography. In the present edition, that orthography is restored in nearly all of this class that remained, including such words as chimistry, fether, hainous, maiz, melasses, ribin, zink, &c. The ed itor assigns as the reason, that "as

they (i. e. this class of Dr. W.'s changes) do not relate to the general analogies of the language, and can not be duly appreciated by the body of the people, they will never be generally received." In the light of criticism and strict propriety, however, we may be permitted to say, that the necessity of abandon. ing them is to be regretted, inasmuch as when we go back to the etymology of a word, we take it in its simple and pure form, in which it can best be recognized; and it is not without some mortification, that we contrast the ready acquiescence of the German nation in such changes of orthography, with the stout resistance of the English people. We doubt not that the editor has done wisely in this matter, and that thus the work will be rendered more acceptable to the community; for changes, though improvements they may be, and desirable in themselves, if in advance of the public feeling, or in opposition to it, are after all, of questionable utility.

The other ground of changes in orthography was that of analogy. The principle which Dr. Webster maintained here, and justly maintained, was, that "the tendencies of our language to greater simplicity and broader analogies, ought to be watched and cherished with the utmost care.

He felt, therefore, that whenever a movement towards wider analogies and more general rules, had advanced so far as to leave but few exceptions to impede its progress, these exceptions ought to be set aside at once, and the analogy rendered complete." He therefore struck out the letter u from all such words as favour, honour, &c., the number being now very small in which the u is retained by any one. In this, his example has been very generally followed in our country, and the omission of the letter has proved a great convenience. On similar grounds, he proposed to change re into er in such words as

centre, metre, &c., there being but fifteen or twenty left, out of some hundreds belonging to this class; all of which may be easily conformed to analogy, except some two or three, whose proper pronunciation might be endangered by the change. The doubling of the 7 in such words as libelling, levelling, travelling, &c. he omitted in accordance with one of the best established principles of the language, namely, that it is only when the accent falls on the last syllable, that the consonant ending the word to which a formative is added, should be doubled—not when the accent falls on any preceding syllable. This change was first recommended by Bishop Lowth, and was strongly approved by Walker. Why an exception should ever have been made in respect to 7, it is difficult to say. Again; the letter s instead of c, is now generally introduced into the spelling of the words formerly written expence, licence, recompence, because the former consonant is the only one used in the derivatives, as expensive, &c. On the same ground the words offense, pretense, defense, require the same alteration, and have received it from the hand of Dr. Webster. These changes would be regarded by every one as improve ments, if they could only be rendered familiar to the public eye. The whole difficulty lies in the force of habit and association. This is daily becoming less, for Dr. Webster's orthography in these respects, has been extensively adopted in various parts of our country; and the public will be much more likely to approve them, since the reasons derived from analogy are more easily perceived and appreciated than those dependent on etymology. In the present revision, Prof. Goodrich has very properly given the orthography of the contested words, for the most part in both ways.

The subject of Pronunciation has been somewhat canvassed in connection with Dr. Webster's system.

Efforts have at times been made to underrate him as being deficient or erroneous, upon some points, in this department. But time, we believe, has worked some changes, and will work more, in favor of his pronunciation, as a whole. It has been sanctioned, to a great extent, by the best speakers both in England and America. In respect to particulars in which he differs from other orthoëpists, his reasons seem to have been thoroughly weighed. Each orthoëpist has his peculiarity, all differ from one another in some respects, and no one has hit that exact point which can command the suffrages of all, and produce a universality of practice. There are cases of disputed pronunciation which probably never will be settled. The most approved speakers differ, and that only can be the best pronunciation, which obtains the consent of the largest number of the well-educated and well-bred of a nation-the more prevailing prac tice in the circles of taste, refinement, and intelligence. Dr. Webster's method of pronunciation comes more nearly to such practice, there is reason to think, than that of most of our orthoëpists. of our orthoëpists. He regarded, for instance, the long or open sound of u as, in most cases, a peculiar vowel sound, nearly resembling e and oo, but so much closer as to be hardly a diphthong; and considered it as taking the full diphthongal sound, eoo or yoo, only when it begins a syllable, or when it is heard in certain terminations, as ure, &c. We believe he has good reason for his position here, and that the general practice is in his favor. The words lute and June, for example, are not, on the one hand, pronounced loot, Joon, uor on the other, leoot, Jeoon, giving u the full diphthongal utterance of e or y and oo. The true sound is a closer one between them. This was seen by Smart, the latest and one of the ablest, of English orthoëpists; and he has accordingly

invented a peculiar character to indicate this closer sound, and to guard against the full diphthongal utter ance, which he stigmatizes as affect ed. Dr. Webster, in settling the sound of the other vowels, and also the accentuation of words, was guided, in general, we believe, by good taste and sound judgment. In the revision before us, the editor appears to have bestowed much labor on this part of the work, and has studiously adapted it to the wants of the community. He says in the Preface, "a careful comparison has been made with the latest authorities, and whenever changes have seemed advisable and could be made in consistency with the author's principles, they have been introduced. Many thousand words have been re-spelled, and no efforts have been spared to render the work, in all respects, a complete pronouncing dictionary." The system of notation has been somewhat extended, but is less minute and complicated than that of several other orthoëpists, and is for that reason more clear and satisfactory. Dr. Webster, as the editor thinks, wisely avoided attempting too much, as to marking the pronunciation. For information, aside from what is embraced in the body of the work, respecting a large number of words differently pronounced by different orthoëpists, the reader is referred to the SYNOPSIS contained in the 8vo abridgment which was prepared by Mr. Worcester for the edition of 1829, and which, as here inserted, has undergone an entire remodeling.

An Appendix has been added to to the large work containing "a list of Greek and Latin Proper names, with their pronunciation, prepared by Prof. Thacher of Yale College; and a list of Scripture Proper Names, prepared by Prof. Porter of Yale College." In the Appendix to the abridgment, Walker's Key to the Pronunciation of Classical and Scripture Names has been enlarged, and

improved. From the most approved English authorities more than three thousand words have been added to it, and numerous mistakes in it rectified, under the revision of Prof. Thacher. These lists are a most valuable guide to the pronunciation of names of frequent occurrence, both in classical and general reading.

The value of the two volumes is further greatly enhanced by the addition to each of them, of a VOCABULARY GIVING THE PRONUNCIATION OF MODERN GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES. It is hardly necessary to say how much a guide of this kind is needed, on the part of a large class in the community. The want has been pressingly felt, especially since the more general attention paid to geographical studies in our schools and academies; and as it could not be readily supplied unless brought within the compressed limits of a general dictionary, ignorance and embarrassment have been the consequence among both teachers and pupils, in this department. Great pains appear to have been taken to give to those vocabularies the desired fullness and accuracy, an interesting account of which and of the principles on which they have been constructed, is presented in the Prefatory Remarks.

In its appropriate place, we have spoken of the intellectual and liter ary qualifications of Dr. Webster for compiling a dictionary of our language; but it may gratify our readers, and is moreover especially consonant with one main design of this journal, to exhibit a brief view of his religious feelings, and the closing scene of his earthly labors. This we shall do by giving a single extract from a Memoir of the author prepared by Prof. Goodrich, and prefixed to the quarto volume. Our readers will feel the touching interest of the detail; as a perusal also of the entire Memoir, from the clear, condensed account which it gives of

the principal productions of Dr. Webster's pen, its lively sketch of the most striking traits of his character, the chastened spirit which pervades it, and the graceful style in which it is written, must be highly gratifying to every admirer of our distinguished lexicographer. The extract immediately follows a description of the interesting events, connected with Dr. Webster's public profession of religion, at the age of fifty years.

"In his religions feelings, Dr. Webster was remarkably equable and cheerful. He had a very strong sense of the providence of God, as exter.ding to the minutest concerns of life. In this he found a source of continual support and consolation, under the severe labors and

Redeemer. It was an interesting coincidence, that his former pastor, the Rev. Mr. Stuart, who received him to the church thirty five years before, had just arrived at New Haven on a visit to his friends. He called immediately; and the interview brought into affect ing comparison the beginning and the end of that long period of consecration to the service of Christ. The same hopes which had cheered the vigor of manhood, were now shedding a softened light over the decay and sufferings of age. I know in whom I have believed,' -such was the solemn and affecting testimony which he gave to his friend, while the hand of death was upon him,'I know in whom I have believed, and that He is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.' Thus, without one doubt, one fear, he resigned his soul into the hands of his Maker, and died on the 28th day of May, 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of his age." -Memoir, p. 22.

We have the most sanguine ex

the same divine hand he habitually referred all his enjoyments; and it was known to his family, that he rarely, if ever, took the slight est refreshment, of any kind, even between meals, without a momentary pause, and a silent tribute of thanks to God as the giver. He made the Scriptures his daily study. After the completion of his Dictionary, especially, they were always lying on his table, and he probably read them more than all other books. He felt, from that time, that the labors of his life were ended, and that little else remained but to prepare for death. With a grateful sense of past mercies, a cheering consciousness of present support, and an animating hope of future blessedness, he waited with patience until his appointed change

should come.

"During the spring of 1843, Dr. Webster revised the Appendix of his Dictionary, and added some hundreds of words. He completed the printing of it about the middle of May. It was the closing act of his life. His hand rested, in its last labors, on the volume

which he had commenced thirty-six years before. Within a few days, in calling on a number of friends in different parts of the town, he walked, during one afternoon, between two and three miles. The day was chilly, and immediately after his return, he was seized with faintness and a severe oppression on his lungs. An attack of peripneumony followed, which, though not alarming at first, took a sudden turn after four or five days, with fearful indications of a fatal result. It soon became necessary to inform him that he was in imminent danger. He received the communication with surprise, but with entire composure. His health had been so good, and every bodily function so perfect in its exercise, that he undoubtedly expected to

live some years longer. But though suddenly

called, he was completely ready. He gave some characteristic directions as to the disposal of his body after death. He spoke of his long life as one of uniform enjoyment, be cause filled up at every stage with active la. bors for some valuable end. He expressed his entire resignation to the will of God, and his unshaken trust in the atoning blood of the

this arduous undertaking, will not be without correspondent results, in reference to the objects he has in view. That the work will be decidedly propitious to the interests of literature and sound learning, and especially to a better understanding of the English tongue, in its present improved state-its power, compass, variety, and beauty-seems to us a matter of demonstration. A revision of Webster's dictionary, so thorough, minute, and extended, and prosecuted on a plan calculated to secure the highest accuracy, through the labors of gentlemen, each distinguished in his own sphere of inquiry, is a sufficient guarantee of its excellence. We can not but view it as a sort of representative of the English mind in its present advanced state-as a transcript in miniature of the intellectual progress of the age-as a synopsis of arts, science, philosophy, truth in nature and truth in morals; in fine of all knowledge within the range of human investigation, so far as these may be exhibited through the great medium of thought. The satisfaction derived from a clear, full, and consistent definition is worth any effort which it may cost, and to all who search for truth such definition is indispensable. We believe that there is not, within the compass of English