It is time, however, to put an end to this Preface, which apparent neceffity, and not the defire of faying fomething at all events, has drawn out to its prefent length.

The vanity of an author would naturally wish to add a few words in vindication of the dignity of the undertaking; but as its utility has been already difcuffed, any other apology becomes unneceffary, fince it is always fufficient commendation to endeavour to be useful. Nor could it at any rate be disgraceful to have toiled in the fame mine with Ben Jonfon, Wallis *, and many others,

whose

* The former wrote a grammar of the English language, printed among his other works; the latter is well known as the father of English philology. In his preface to his grammar he thus vindicates his own undertaking: "Si quis autem, ex noftratibus præfertim, hoc totum quicquid eft operis penitùs' omitti poffe credat, neque rem magnam effe dicat vernaculam linguam callere, ejufque minutias obfervare: hoc folum regero, MULTA ESSE, QUE QUAMVIS COGNITA NON MAGNAM MEREANTUR LAUDEM, EADEM TAMEN IGNORATA, NON LEVE POSSUNT DEDE

CUS

whofe names might eafily be enumerated with fpecious oftentation. But the truth is, that the Author of these sheets, when he began his Work, had not any intention of bestowing upon it the labour in which it has fince involved him; fo that the merit, whatever it be, of embarking in an arduous defign, does not of right belong to him. The first outlines of it were sketched with very different views, and intended to be merely subservient to the purposes of private tuition; but one step brought on another, and the original draught is now fo filled up, fo overwhelmed by the acceffion of new matter, and so defaced by new arrangement, that the traces of it are no longer difcernible. Had it been proposed at first to perform what at length has gradually been done, the attempt would probably have been declined, as likely to occupy too much of that time which was due to very diffe

CUS IMPRIMERE.” Præf. p. xxx. Ed. Bowyer. 1765. -More to the fame effect may be found, by those who wish to seek it, in Quintil. Inft. Orat. I. 3.

1

rent purfuits. The difficulties which
arofe in the progrefs of the Work, might
alfo have repreffed the ardour of the
Author, had not other motives than
those of ambition urged him to com-
plete it. Yet, even in an ambitious view,
it may be fufficient for one without a
name to be faid to have exerted himself
on a subject to which men of the most
acknowledged merit and genius occafion-
ally have condefcended.

The Author does not, in truth, affect
to be diffatisfied at what he has done;
yet the contemplation of his Work would
give him much greater fatisfaction, could
he imagine it to be as much a worthy as
it is a willing tribute to the genius of
Britain; could he hope that it would
appear as much an honourable as it is an
honeft token of his zealous regard and
love for that language, which he is proud
to call his native tongue.

5

1

N. B. The Edition of Shakspeare here

quoted throughout, is that of Johnson and Steevens, published in 1778.

The Edition of Wallis's Grammar here referred to, is that of Bowyer, published in 1765.

A TREA.