the best Writers. To which are prefixed, A History of the Language, and An
English Grammar. By Samuel Johnson . . . The
Fourth Edition, revised by the Author.
Dublin: Printed for
Thomas Ewing, in Capel-Street,
m.dcclxxv
. [1775.]
2 vol. 4to. The first volume contains the Advertisement, the list of Subscribers’ names, the Preface, the History of the
English Language, the Grammar of the
English Tongue, and the Dictionary, A-K. Vol. II contains the rest of the Dictionary. A copy of this edition was not seen for collation.
Lowndes III, 1217.
Courtney and Smith, page 56.
Jefferson wrote his opinion of Johnson’s Dictionary in his letter to Sir Herbert Croft, dated from Monticello October 30,
1798: “
Johnson, besides the want of precision in his definitions, and of accurate distinction in passing from one shade of meaning
to another of the same word, is most objectionable in his derivations. from a want probably of intimacy with our own language
while in the Anglo-Saxon form and type, and of it’s kindred languages of the North, he has a constant leaning towards Greek
and Latin for English etymon. even Skinner has a little of this, when he has given the true Northern parentage of a word,
often tells you from what Greek or Latin source it might be derived by those who have that kind of partiality. he is however,
on the whole, our best etymologist, unless we ascend a step higher to the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary; and he has set the good
example of collating the English word with it’s kindred word in the several Northern dialects, which often assist in ascertaining
it’s true meaning . . .
”
For the rest of this letter, see no. 4840. This paragraph concerning Johnson is the omitted passage from that letter.
Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, English lexicographer, published the first edition of his dictionary in London, in 1755.
[4874]
142
Lexiphanes.
12
mo.
1815 Catalogue, page 166, no. 40, as above.
[CAMPBELL,
Archibald.]
Lexiphanes, a Dialogue. Imitated from Lucian, and suited to the Present Times. Being an attempt to restore the
English Tongue to its Antient Purity. And to correct as well as expose the affected style, hard words, and absurd phraseology of
many late writers, and particularly of Our
English Lexiphanes, the Rambler . . . The
Third Edition Corrected.
London: Printed for
R. Faulder, New-Bond-Street; and
J. Fielding, Paternoster-Row.
mdcclxxxiii
. [1783.]
PR3538 .C3 1783
12mo. 114 leaves, the last a blank.
Halkett and Laing III, 344.
This edition not in Lowndes.
Cambridge Bibl. of Eng. Lit. II, 626.
Entered by Jefferson in his undated manuscript catalogue, with the price,
4.4.
Archibald Campbell, 1726?-1780, Scottish scholar, author and sailor, became purser in a man-of-war, and wrote this book, directed against Samuel
Johnson, at Pensacola, after reading the
Rambler
. It remained in manuscript until his return to England, and was first issued anonymously in 1767.
[4875]
143
Walker’s dict.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 168, no. 95, Walker’s Critical Pronouncing Dictionary of the English 8vo.
[
sic
--
Ed.
]
WALKER,
John.
A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary, and Expositor of the
English Language: in which, Not only the Meaning of every Word is clearly explained, and the Sound
