Dedicatory
Things, Notions, and Words, which yet is necessary to the design here proposed.
Upon which account I may be excused for being so sollicitous about the assistance of others in these matters, because of their great difficulty and importance. The compleating of such a design, being rather the work of a College and an Age, then if any single Person: I mean; the combined Studies of many Students, amongst whom, the severall shares of such a Work should be distributed; And that for so long a course of time, wherein sufficient experiments might be made of it by practice.
It has been sayd concerning that famous Italian Academy styled de la Crusca, consisting of many choice Men of great Learning, that they bestowed forty years in finishing their Vocabulary. And 'tis well enough known, that those great Wits of the French Academy, did begin their Dictionary in the year 1639. And for the hastning of the Work, did distribute the parts of it amongst severall Committees; and yet that undertaking is (for ought I can understand) far enough from being finished.
Now if those famous Assemblies consisting of the great Wits of their Age and Nations, did judge this Work of Dictionary-making, for the polishing of their Language, worthy of their united labour and studies; Certainly then, the Design here proposed, ought not to be thought unworthy of such assistance; it being as much to be preferred before that, as things are better then words, as real knowledge is beyond elegancy of speech, as the general good of mankind is beyond that of any particular Countrey or Nation.
I am very sensible that the most usefull inventions do at their first appearance, make but a very slow progress in the World, unless helped forward by some particular ad-
