OPINIONS OF THE BRITISH PRESS

" At last we hâve a real French Dictionary — a dictionary of the modem French language as it is actually wi-itten and spoken, compiled by a scholar and a man of taste, the resuit of fourteen years' labour. It is every way worthy of the patient aud persevering toil devoted to its composition.

" The English-French and French- English dictionaries which preceded that of Dr. Spiers are certainly very amusing productions. Their omissions, their vulgarisms, their uncritical ignorance, are such as could scarcely be believed to hâve been tolerated by the two most civilized and polished nations in the world, but for the proof existent in the stupidities themselves. It is the improved Boyer ' pubhshed in ail forais and copied even to the misprints, transcribed under ail names, that has formed the guide of ail who hâve studied English and French for a century aud a half, for five générations ! ' .... Thèse works are then obsolète ; unserviceable alike for Uterary and conversational use. They do not enable the engineers and merchants of the two countries to understand each other. They are inadéquate to the interprétation of the newspaper. They lend no aid to the railway or steam-boat traveller. They are copiously stored with slang expressions, if that be any compensation ; such only, however, as are antiquated.

" Dr. Spiers's book is rich in indications of the varied and modified acceptations of words and in illustration of the idiomatic and familiar phraseology.

"The persevering industry, the soundness and acutenessof intellect, the just and discriminating taste evinced in this work, are such as are rarely equalled in amoiint, and still more rarely found in combination. Dr. Spiers's dictionary is reaUy an interpréter of the French and English languages as they exist in the classics of both languages, and in the current language of domestic Ufe, the bar, the exchange, the manufactory, the field, and the garden. It is a genuinely trustworthy EngUsh-French and French-English dictionary." — > Examiner.

•' This want of a French and English dictionary, which should really reflect the language of the literature and hfe of our own times, was universally felt, when Dr. Spiers, who occupies a distinguished position in the educational institutes of Paris, undertook to supply the desideratum. No man could be better qualified for such a labour. An Englishman by birth, and a Parisian by long résidence, familiar with the idiomatic pecuHarities of both languages from his daily habits and pursuits ; possessed of great energy and persévérance, and comnianding the best sources of information through the leading men of letters and science in England and France, he brought peculiar advantages to the undertaking. And certainly, never was any work more conscientiously executed. Fourteen years of unremitting labour hâve been dedicated to the production of thèse volumes ; and we do not, in the slightest degree, magnify their importance in saying that they constitute a monument of learning, diligence and accuracy, which will transmit the name of their author to posterity as long as either language is read or spoken.

'• In short, this dictionai-y, in addition to being the fuUest that has ever issued from the press, présents the most complète analysis of the mechanism

of the two languages tbat bas hitherto been attempted. It bas already acbieved the higbest honour tliat can be conferred on sucb a work, having been adojited by the University of France for the use of French collèges, and been distinguished by the spécial approbation of the Institute." — Bentley's Miscellany.

" The valuable work before us is remarkable for the abundance of information which it contains as compared with its bulk. Not only are ail the most reoently invented words in ordinary use to be found in its pages, but it is peculiarly rich in explanations of tecbnical terms and phrases — whether scientific, artistic, mecbanical, commercial, or légal — including the most modem. In gatbering thèse materials Dr. Spiers bas availed himself of the assistance of both French and English gentlemen familiar with the several departments from which be borrows expressions, as well as consulted the most distinguished works himself. Technological vocabularies prepared by différent individuals bave been communicated to him. Hence, the large addition hère made to the stock of words contained in other dictionaries is itself sufficient to give to the présent a marked superiority.

" Again, the various shades of meaniiig that eacb word is capable of expressing are plainly given, — and illustrated when necessary by suitable examples ; a certain sign being prefixed to indicate whether the sensé is proper, figurative or tecbnical, good or bad, familiar, vulgar or elevated, and applicable to persons or to things.

" Compound words in one language which bave single équivalents or are expressed by différent -compounds in the other, are given, wbile sucb as may be translated literally are suppressed.

"The various meanings are well arranged too : the original one standing first, and the rest foUowing in the natural order of their dérivation — tbose which are tecbnical being arranged last in the alphabetical order of their désignation. The distinction between words nearly synonymous is succinctly but clearly pointed out.

" The most valuable feature of the work remains to be mentioned : — viz. the insight which it gives into the idiomatic structure of the two languages. Dr. Spiers's dictionaries are rich repositories of those idiomatic turns of expression, familiar sayings, and homely proverbs which are in bourly use, and which reveal so much of the national character. A résidence of thirty years in Paris, combined with access to leamed society, bas enabled him to give the proper French of proverbial phrases, — which we bave repeatedly sought for

in vain from Parisians We must express our bearty approbation of

botb the gênerai plan and the exécution of thèse volumes." — Alheiustini.

"A dictionary, so elaborate aud so différent from prec^ding books of the kind, may be considered an important addition to the French lexicography of

this country Dr. Spiers's meanings are most abundant, but he bas

taken great pains to classify them, introducing eacb new sensé with a figure, after the plan of the best Latin dictionaries He has also a very complète machinery of symbols to distinguish the especial style to which an expression may belong. The labour of classification must bave been immense, as tbere is not, to our knowledge, any French dictionary published in Eng-

land on this plan In enlarging his vocabulary by the addition of new

words, Dr. Spiers bas probably gone further than any one in his department. .... Both from its copiousness and the improved arrangement Dr. Spiers's book may be considered to mark an epoch in the making of modem dictionaries."— Times.