agitated the minds of the men whose lives are described. With this theological element of the author's character is associated a decided taste and talent for history. He evidently came to his work with that inquisitiveness and enthusiasm which are indispensable to laborious historical investigations. The book itself bears internal marks of being not the fruit of literary leisure and quiet, but of sweat and toil.

A circumstance that adds much to the value of Herzog's labors is, that the historical society of Basle, have instituted innumerable special inquiries in regard to the early history both of the city and of the diocese of Basle, the results of which are to be found only among its transactions. These are, for the first time, collected, arranged, and, in a condensed form, published in the work before us. The first hundred pages, devoted to an account of the political, ecclesiastical, literary and social relations of Basle from the early part of the middle ages to the time of Luther, contain one of the most valuable and interesting historical essays which it has been our happiness to meet with for a long time. We are gratified to learn that it is in a course of translation in Scotland.

4. The American Dictionary of the English Language. First Edition in Octavo, containing the whole Vocabulary of the Quarto, with Corrections, Improvements, and several Thousand Additional Words. To which is prefixed an Introductory Dissertation on the Origin, History and Connection of the Languages of Western Asia and Europe. With an Explanation of the Principles on which Languages are formed. By NOAH WEBSTER, LL. D. 2 vols., Royal 8vo. pp. 938, 1020. Springfield G. H. Merriam. 1845.

Few employments are at the same time more laborious, thankless and useful, than the employment of the lexicographer. And very few men are adapted to excel in this department. It requires peculiar tastes, great discrimination, indefatigable perseverance, and an extensive and thorough acquaintance with languages. The fruits of tedious investigations are often sent forth in a single line; and the author performs a vast amount of perplexing and wearisome labor, for which he receives but little credit. The dictionary of any language should contain all the words belonging to the lawful usage of that language, whether spoken or written ;-the dialect of common conversation, the terms of science, the elevated language of books, the words passing or passed into desuetude, but still occasionally to be met with, and the new forms invented, compounded or naturalized, being drawn by the best writers from foreign tongues, and suited to fill a chasm in the vocabulary. With the progress of civilization and refinement, science and art, a language is always gradually enriched. Foreign terms, clothed in their foreign garb, are not sufficient for the necessities of a people; if the foreign words are adopted, they must generally be adopted with a native dress. So chemistry, botany and geology have all, not only increased the circle of human knowledge, but have brought their tribute to the dictionary; they have each made up a parcel for the use of the language, and brought it with them, as a help to the necessities and a contribution to the stores of the tongue. But all this enlargement has necessarily increased the labor of the lexicographer. VOL. XI.-NO. XLII.

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In the infancy of a language, a man may make a dictionary with far less labor. He has few books, if any, to be consulted; no treasuries of learning to be searched; no fields of literature to be travelled through; no sciences to be questioned; and few nice distinctions to be unravelled in the usage of terms. But in the progress of a language, the work of a lexicographer becomes more and more laborious. And after words have been accumulating for hundreds of years, he can never, with the labor of a life time, be sure that he has attained to a reasonable degree of perfection. He may, by accident, after all his toil, leave some mine of unexplored riches; or he may omit some common form of speech, which, from its very commonness, he is led to neglect. Were it not that every author is permitted to avail himself of the labors of his predecessors, so far as the catalogue of words is concerned, a complete dictionary, doubtless, would never be attained. Another difficulty exists, especially in the advanced stage of a language, which makes the labor of a competent and thorough lexicographer no easy task. A complete dictionary, especially for the use of the learned scholar, ought to contain a history of the formation and changes of all the principal terms, if we may not say of every word. Children may be satisfied with obtaining the bare meaning of the word; but the man of discerning mind, the exact and polished writer, and the curious student of literature, are anxious, if a word is used in a peculiar sense, to know the character of the authority for such a usage; whether they are to be led by the caprice of an incompetent guide, or by a name of acknowledged weight in the world of letters. Hence the immense value of the work of Richardson. But the origin and formation of words is also a matter of great importance; and to many scholars, few studies have more attractions than the study of etymologies. A great number of words of the English language can be traced to the stock from which they came. Some have preserved their original form, nearly unchanged; some have been greatly altered, but the root, in a state of more or less perfect preservation, is still discoverable. A knowledge of the etymology of words is often a guide to the understanding of their precise signification; and without it, a thorough acquaintance with the powers of a language cannot be obtained. Hence a dictionary which omits the etymologies of terms, is, in one most important particular, defective. And the more extensive its tracing of them, the more fully does it answer, at least in one respect, the ends for which it was designed. But the further words are removed from their original sources, either as to time or force, the more difficult it is to discover their origin and affinities. We can more easily permit a man, however, to be fanciful in some of his derivations, than to pass them over altogether. And, in the transformations of language arising from refinement or philosophy, we can pardon a writer who makes occasional mistakes.

In most of the respects indicated in the preceding remarks, we are prepared to award a meed of unqualified praise to our great American lexicographer, whose work is before us. His introduction, extending to upwards of sixty pages, is very full, and, to the lovers of the study of language, highly interesting. It shows by numerous examples, the affinities of languages, the changes which words pass through in being transferred from one language to another, and the modifications of the

English language in successive periods. It cannot be read by any one without producing an impression of the extensive acquirements of the author, and the skill with which he directed his studies into departments best adapted to qualify him for his task. The dictionary itself is constructed in a manner answering most fully the ends for which such a work is designed. It is a work of immense labor, and generally very satisfactory in its results. The etymology and history which is given with most of the root words, renders the volumes a suitable and welcome companion to the student and the scholar. The extensive research, wide induction and patient industry manifested in every part of the work, and the philosophical discrimination exhibited in the significations of words, are suited to inspire confidence and to win for the great lexicographer sincere admiration and respect. The work leaves little to be desired in this department. The volumes are well printed on substantial paper and strongly and handsomely bound in sheep, with double lettering. They are an honor to our country, and we hope they will meet a wide circulation.

In the article Dictionaries, in the American Encyclopædia, we find it stated that the quarto edition of Webster's Dictionary published in New York (1828) and republished in London (1829), contains between 60,000 and 70,000 words. From an average calculation, we suppose the present edtion to contain at least between 80,000 and 90,000. Indeed, the title page announces the addition of several thousand words which were not in the original edition, and several thousands more have been added as a supplement by Dr. Webster's executors.

ARTICLE IX.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

The Baptist General Convention for Foreign Missions. The Thirtysecond Annual Meeting of the Board, together with an adjourned meeting of the Triennial Convention, was held at Brooklyn, N. Y., on Tuesday, May 19, 1846. The receipts of the treasury for the financial year ending April 1, 1846, have been as follows: from donations and legacies $100,219 94; American and Foreign Bible Society, $7,000; American Tract Society, $1,000; United States Government, $4,400: the receipts include $29,203 40 towards the payment of the debt of $40,000, reported last year; and the sum necessary for its entire liquidation has been subscribed. The expenditures have been $94,866 54. Of the Missionary Magazine there are circulated 5400 copies; of the Boston edition of the Macedonian, 14,000.

The number of missions under the direction of the Board is sixteen; of these, five have been to the Indian tribes in North America; three in Europe; one in Africa, and seven in Asia. The tribes embraced in the missions among the Indians in North America are the Ojibwas, Ottawas, Tonawandas, Shawanoes and Cherokees. These missions comprise 20 stations and out-stations; missionaries and assistants, 29; native preachers and assistants, 11; the number of churches is 12, with about 1300 members. 52 baptisms were reported the past year; the number of schools is 9, with 180 pupils.

Among the Cherokees, six monthly numbers of the "Cherokee Messenger" have been published, 6000 copies 8vo., embodying a translation of the book of Genesis. Four hundred copies of each monthly issue are circulated. A greater proportion of the Cherokees can read than of whites. Such is the simplicity of the alphabet, that a Cherokee can learn to read the Messenger in three or four days. Every syllable in Cherokee ends with a vowel. A tract of 12 pages has also been published during the year. The Gospel of Luke is ready for the press.

In Shawanoe, the gospel of John has been printed. A portion of the Ottawas are connected with this mission. Schools are maintained at

several different points.

The number of missions in Europe is 3; of stations and out-stations, 58; of missionaries and assistants, 8; of native preachers and assistants, 28; of churches, 24; of baptisms the last year, 264; of church members, about 1700. These missions are in France, Germany, Denmark, and the neighboring countries, and Greece.

In France, a spirit of religious inquiry is awakened; the prospects of usefulness are more encouraging than formerly. In connection with the German mission, 6 new churches have been constituted, and others are about to be organized; the reformation is extending in all directions; the churches in Denmark increase in numbers and efficiency; the cause advances in Holland. Bible and tract distribution is prosecuted with unremitted diligence. More than 7000 Bibles and Testaments have been circulated, and about 250,000 tracts, with other religious publications. The "Young Men's Union," of Hamburg, sends its laborers into all quarters. Persecution, though continued at some places, has generally abated.

At Corfu, in Greece, the mission school contains 70 pupils; the attendance on Greek services is small, but on English is increasing. At Piræus, the prospect of usefulness is improving. A Bible class and Sabbath school are well attended, and by individuals distinguished for intelligence and respectability.

In West Africa, there are two stations and two out-stations, and two native assistants. The seat of the mission has been removed to Bexley. Schools have been taught there, and at Edina, and the out-stations; the gospel has been extensively preached at the stations and in the neighboring villages. Preparations have been made for printing Romans and Corinthians in Bassa, also a Bassa dictionary, &c.

The whole number of missions in Asia is 7; Maulmain, Tavoy, Arracan, Siam, China, Assam, and the Teloogoos; including stations and out-stations, 61; missionaries and assistants, 58; native assistants, 114; churches, 35; baptized 288; present number, about 2400; schools 40 or 50; pupils, 1600. (?)

With the Maulmain mission are connected eleven male missionaries from this country, besides females; also, 36 native preachers and assistants. The number of stations is 6, and of out-stations 11. There are 11 places of stated religious worship, and seven churches. The whole number of members, 711. There are 14 schools, including two for native preachers, and 467 pupils. 2800 volumes, or 311,100 pages have been printed, besides 40,000 pages in English. Pages printed from the beginning, 61,224,300. 17,296 books and tracts have been distributed. Portions of the New Testament and several tracts have been translated into Pgho Karen. A part have been printed. The Peguan Scriptures are about to be put to press. The way into Burmah Proper is re-opened.

At Tavoy, the number of churches connected with the mission, (as reported in 1844-5) is 14, and of members about 800. The schools have been reduced in numbers by sickness. The seminary for native preachers had 11 pupils. The printing in Tavoy amounted in 1845 to 287,024 pp., and the issues to 312,822 pp.

In Siam, 6740 copies of Siamese books, including part of the second edition of the New Testament, have been printed, or 442,200 pp. 8vo.; and 2512 copies in Chinese-110,284 pp. 8vo. A font of Siamese type has been cut and forwarded to Maulmain, and another for Prince Chau-fayai.

In China, the members of the Canton department of the mission removed to Canton April 1, 1845. A church was immediately organized, containing 24 members. The Hongkong church was left in charge of native assistants. Six were added to it by baptism in April, making their number 17. Dr. Macgowan proceeded to Ningpo about the first of April. The dispensary connected with the station has been numerously frequented, and the opportunities which it has afforded for giving religious instruction, have been diligently improved.

VOL. XI.-NO. XLII.

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