WRITINGS OF DR. SMITH, XV

guifhed abilities, but which they were preventedby other engagements from carrying farther thanthe two firft numbers. To this work Mr. Smithcontributed a review of Dr. Johnson’s Dictionaryof the Englilh Language, and alfo a letter, ad-drelfed to the editors, containing fome generalobfervations on the ftate of literature in the differ-ent countries of Europe . In the former of thefepapers, he points out fome defefts in Dr. Johnson’splan , which he cenfures as not fufficiently gram-matical. 44 The different fignifications of a word( he obferves) are indeed collected; but they are44 feldom digefted into general claffes, or ranged44 under the meaning which the word princi-“ pally exprefles : And fufficient care is not44 taken to diftinguifli the words apparently“ fynonymous. ” To illuflrate this criticifm, hecopies from Dr. Johnson the articles but andhumor, and* oppofes to them the fame articlesdigefted agreeably to his own idea. The variousfignifications of the word but are very nicely andhappily difcriminated. The other article doesnot feem to have been executed with equal care.

The obfervations on the ftate of learning inEurope are written with ingenuity and elegance;but are chiefly interefting, as they fhow the at-tention which the Author had given to the philofo-phy and literature of the Continent, at a periodwhen they were not much ftudied in this ifland.