so often disappointing; unsafe, because so frequently uncertain. Words common to the parent tongue and the derivative, are seldom coextensive or identical in their application, e. g. t, among the numerous meanings it bears in Sanskrit, has those of " a learned or clever person; the manager of a theatre, &c." but no such uses of that term have obtained in Bengáli. How then is the tyro to distinguish, in this and similar instances? Should he, on the strength of his dictionary, employ the word sta in either of these its stated applications, in Bengáli composition or conversation, must he not necessarily become unintelligible? Sir G. C. Haughton, thinks that "every dictionary of a Hindu dialect should contain not only what is purely colloquial, but likewise such erudite (?) and scientific terms as learned or pedantic writers may think fit to adopt." This is to us one of the most extraordinary canons in lexicography we remember to have known promulgated. The English Dictionary contains a vast number of terms borrowed from Latin, French, and other contributory sources; many that have been long used by approved writers, some even that are rarely met with, and not a few employed by pedants chiefly; all, however, terms actually occurring in composition. But it would be a strange Dictionary indeed of the English language, that should take in from the Latin, &c. &c. all the conceivable varieties and misapplications of words which the lexicographer's prophetic imagination should suppose it possible any future scholar, nay every pedant in all time to come, might employ!!

Again this work includes a large mass of Hindustání, greatly out of place, surely, in a Sanskrit and Bengálí Dictionary! Fortunately, as the derivation is also given, the student is at least enabled to distinguish these from genuine Bengálí. We have repeatedly expressed our regret that these most discordant and cacophonous exotics should be so extensively preserved from the just oblivion into which otherwise they would naturally fall, in exact proportion with the cultivation of a pure Bengálí dialect, and the advancement of a correct native literature.

We find the explanatory portion of this Dictionary far more meagre than was reasonably to be anticipated, considering that the compiler, being nearly the latest in the field, has had the advantage of being enabled to combine the contributions to the common stock of all his predecessors, each having successively thrown in the results of his individual research or personal reading.

The derivations are given in this work throughout, though in a form not always either sufficiently distinctive or sufficiently concise. The absurd and tedious repetitions of Dr. Carey are indeed avoided; but, going into the opposite extreme, Sir G. C. Haughton does not communicate any information at all as to the radical meaning of his etymons. The INDEX includes, in 80 pages (or 160 columns), a considerable portion of the English Dictionary in alphabetical order, with merely nume ral references to the pages of the preceding Beng: and Sans: Dictionary in which one or more native renderings may be found, but without any specification whatever of shades of meaning or application. We scarcely see the utility of so very imperfect a substitute for an English and Sanskrit-Bengáli Dictionary; since few, certainly, would endure the labour of

first following a reference to a page or column, and then searching painfully up and down it for a single term which, after all this loss of time and exercise of patience, might, in many or in most cases, not prove in the end to be the word sought for in any of its specific applications.

Nevertheless, this bulky and expensive volume will at least add to the materials for what is yet, and will probably long continue to be, a desideratum, namely, a full and complete Bengálí Dictionary, in which pure Bengálí words alone shall find place, their etymologies be correctly traced, their applications be distinguished in a native as well as an English explanation, and superadded illustrative and corroborative sentences be given, extracted from approved Native writers, and from such only.

No. 13. A DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND BENGALEE, translated from Todd's Edition of Johnson's English Dictionary, in 2 vols. 4to. By Ram Comul Sen, Native Secretary A. S. and A. & H. Society, &c. Serampore, 1834.

This is a work of immense labour, the production of a Native gentleman of considerable talent and possessed of a very extensive knowledge, it should seem, of the English language. The two volumes number 1,060 pages, in double columns; which, averaging 27 words to a column, gives a total of about 58,000 words, for the contents of the Dictionary. Each English word is rendered by a sufficiently numerous string of Native terms, merely to collect which must have been a task of no ordinary difficulty, demanding the most plodding perseverance and the most untiring patience. Nevertheless, the impartiality our undertaking enjoins upon us, obliges us to say that the real value and utility of this dictionary are not by any means in proportion to the undoubted expenditure of time, labour and cost, in its preparation : for

1st. The imposing amount of nearly 58,000 words must, in estimating the actual worth of the compilation to those for whose use it is intended, be reduced considerably, by deducting a vast mass of such as are either obsolete, vulgar, strictly technical, or merely terms of art and science, not properly belonging to a literary work; and for most of which last especially, no just Bengáli rendering has been as yet fixed upon, or at least been generally admitted. The introduction of these therefore but swells the work to little or small advantage, while rendering its size inconvenient and its cost so great as to put it out of the reach of almost every Native and of many European students.

2nd. There is also the same deficiency in this work that has so lessened the value of all its predecessors, save Forster's; namely, the absence of all guide to the various widely different applications of the English words. Now the more numerous are the renderings, the more needful some marks by which to direct the choice of the student.

3rd. This work also fails in distinguishing pure Bengálí from Hindustání and other exotics. This, to the European particularly, and to him especially in the beginning of his course, when most requiring a guide to the formation of his style and the selection of his vocabulary, is an immense disadvantage.

4th. But, over and above the absence of all English synonyms, the words of the translation follow each other without any order or dependance

VII.

2 U

whatever, apparently just as they were obtained from time to time, setting all system as it were at defiance, and rendering the investigation of their proprieties an utter impossibility. The student is, in fact, lost in a forest of words, where literally he cannot see the wood for trees! We defy any, save those to whom a Dictionary is of little value but as an occasional reference, to make any intelligent or safe use, generally, of this work ;—one must, at the least, have a pandit by him, to say which among the crowd of renderings is the word required in any particular application: and then where the utility or economy of a Dictionary, either in money or time? A work of such a size and price, ought certainly to offer greater advantages to those who would consult it. But it is evident that nothing short of a distinct indication of all the various shades in the meaning and application of the terms explained, the explanations too being equally distinctive, will satisfy the full intention of a dictionary-yet, with exception of Forster's imperfect volume, none of the existing English and Bengálí Dictionaries has proceeded upon this most indispensable plan.

Had the laborious compiler taken a better English Dictionary for his groundwork, and, retaining the English meanings, inserted a pure Bengáli translation after each, his work would have earned for him a large meed of abiding praise, and been of inestimable utility both to his countrymen and to ours. As it is, not only have its size and price put it out of the reach of most, but the very multitude of its renderings, occasioning only endless confusion and doubt to the student, has, even to the few who can obtain it, so greatly lessened its utility as almost to throw it upon the shelf.

It is a perfect chaos of materials for future lexicographers; but to reduce which to order and productiveness would require no small exertion of skill, patience and exertion-an exertion, however, which we do earnestly trust some able scholar may yet be induced ere long to undertake. This work was published at 50 Rs. Its price is now 30 Rs, and probably it may be had much lower.

No. 14. A DICTIONARY, &c. English, Bengálí, and Hindústání, in the Roman character, with Walker's pronunciation of all the difficult or doubtful words. Calcutta, 1837. 1 vol. 8vo. pp. 525.

The proprietor and publisher of this work is Mr. P. S. D'Rozario, Superintendent of the Calcutta Church Mission Press, the same intelligent and enterprizing individual who has published romanized editions of the Prem Ságar and other works in Hindi and Bengálí. Except in so far as it is his property, however, this Dictionary is, erroneously though commonly called D'Rozario's Dictionary. The plan of the work is his; he selected and had transcribed the English text; to which the Native explanations were added by different hands. The Bengálí is by the Rev. Wm. Morton, late of the Church Scy. P. G. F. P. now of the London Missionary Society; with exception of the two first letters A and B, which are the work of Bábú Táráchánd Chakrabarttí. The Hindustání is by Maulavi Zainuddin Hussain, and several other gentlemen, (Europeans it is believed.)

None of these individuals, however, were concerned in carrying the work through the press, nor consequently in the correction of the

proof sheets; and many changes having been made in the English text (originally Corrall's Johnson) both by additions and omissions, corresponding changes after the MS. left their hands severally, were rendered necessary in the Native interpretations also; which, as the parties whose services had been engaged by the enterprizing proprietor, had already completed their stipulated tasks, were made by Mr. D'Rozario himself, and his immediate assistants. It is right this should be clearly stated; especially as, in some instances, the changes effected exhibit a deviation, in the Bengáli portion especially, from the groundplan; which, among other peculiarities, rigidly excluded all but pure Bengálí words, except in rendering terms of European dress, furniture, &c. for which none purely native existed. Mr. D'Rozario deserves every liberal encouragement for this adventurous effort to meet the wants of the public. The romanizing controversy being hardly even yet concluded, it would scarcely be fair to assume a position decidedly either favourable or adverse to it, in passing a judgment on this publication. Time will however speedily set the question at rest; and, if we do not greatly mistake, the result of the late vigorous experiments is even now little doubtful.

For our own parts, if we required any additional arguments against the expediency and utility of substituting the very deficient and irregular Roman alphabet of 26 letters for the most complete and regular one in the world, (that of the Sanskrit and its derivatives, Bengáli especially,) this volume, and every other similar one, would furnish them in the insurmountable difficulties occasioned to the student by the omission or erroneous insertion of the dots, accents and other diacritical marks employed to make these 26 letters supply the place of 50. But, be the judgment of the public in regard to the scheme of Romanization what it may, the execution of this Dictionary has elicited many high commendations from competent individuals; and we believe the public at large have, by extensively purchasing the work, confirmed the judgment of Principal Mill, Mr. Yates, the Calcutta Press, &c.

The English words are followed, first by an English interpretation, then by a Bengálí one printed in Italics, and that succeeded by the Hindustání in Roman type: the three being thus kept perfectly distinct to the eye.

The meanings are full and generally satisfactory; circumstances, over which the proprietor had no control, compelled him to print the work, not at the Press superintended by himself, but elsewhere; which has prevented the realizing of that degree of Press correctness and freedom from typographical errors, in the diacritical marks especially, which are such essential merits in works of this kind.

On an average of 44 words to a page, this Dictionary explains above 23,000 English words. We should much wish to see the two portions, Hindustání and Bengálí, separated in a future edition; which, once more revised and the Native character restored, would form two invaluable dictionaries. For this recommendation, besides many other reasons that might be given, we may now notice particularly the small number of those, whether Europeans or Natives, who require to consult a double Dictionary of Hindustání and Bengálí; and consequently not only the

increased size but the increased expence of the volume, in their combination, to such as employ the one language only or the other respec tively. The one or the other is nearly, if not altogether, useless to most students; why tax them to purchase both?

Besides which, very few Natives especially are likely to avail themselves of a Romanized Dictionary, however excellent; whilst multitudes, more than ever now that English and the vernaculars are fast superseding the Persian throughout the whole country, would greedily have recourse to the same compilation if given them in their own characters, the only ones they can or are likely to be able to read at once with facility and correctness.

This work is sold at 10 Co.'s Rs. in cloth, at the Church Mission Press.

No. 15. " afsara," or A new Dictionary of the Bengálí with a Bengáli interpretation, is now in the press, compiled by Jagannáráyan Sharma, the Editor, we believe, of the native Newspaper called the ¶¶ɗatny, or the full-orbed moon of intelligence !

It is to extend to, at fewest, 300 pages in the small square form, printed in double columns; which, on an average of 20 words to a column, will contain about 12,000 words and upwards, nearly double the contents of Rám Chandra Sharma's similar Abhidhán noticed above (No. 4.) The interpretation likewise is much fuller, and the whole compilation a very creditable specimen of purely native lexicography. We trust and believe it will meet with merited encouragement, and so induce many successive imitators to enter upon this extensive field of useful labour. We have been favoured with the portion already printed off, and rejoice to perceive it free from exotics, and that it takes in none but pure Bengálí words. The general execution indeed, in a literary point of view, is highly satisfactory. The paper is good but rather thin, and has not taken the ink as well as could be desired, apparently from too great an oiliness in the latter.

The subscription price is very low, only one Rupee; to non-subscribers it will be 1-8. We trust these will be few in number.

No. 16. The preceding are the only works of their class yet published. We possess, by purchase from the executors of the late Rev. T. Reichardt, a MS. Dictionary, in which a considerable portion of the current language of this province is explained by short illustrative sentences, written apparently by that lamented and talented Missionary's Pandit. Many are curious, no doubt; but had they been rather sentences extracted from the best native authors, they would have been invaluable, and have carried an authority which the mere ex expresso coinages of an individual must ever want. To about one fourth of the whole is superadded an English interpretation, in the hand-writing of Mr. R. The writer of these notices would cheerfully hand over the MS to any Bengáli Scholar, who should wish to undertake its revision and publication, or to make use of it in forming any similar compilation.

It is right to state that the plan at least of this MS. originated with another most intelligent, able, and zealous Missionary now in Europe, the Rev. H. Townley of the Lon. Miss. Soc. Many small MS volumes exist, in the hands of different individuals, though formerly belonging to