14 MAY 1859, Page 17

ALLIBONE'S DICTIONARY OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS. *

Wir.A.rsvkit oversight in plan or occasional errors in execution may be discovered in this gigantic undertaking by "the critic eye, that microscope of wit," the book should be in the hands of every person with the least pretension to be a student, or own a library. The first volume gets as far as Bishop Juxon—for who knows him as Archbishop F but when the work is finished its muster roll of British and American writers will amount to some thirty thousand " or famous or obscure." The titles of anonymous writings will also be included, as the volume's last line following " Juxon " is " Jy1 of Brentford. Testament in old verse, Lon., 4to." W'hen any curiosity or interest attends an anonymous work, the mystery is entered upon with more or less fulness. For example, the facts, and leading arguments as to the Letters of Junius are exhibited, and very ably present the pith of the question. In the appendix will be given "a copious index of subjects, so that the inquirer can find at a glance all the authors of any note in the language, arranged under the subject or sub- jects on which they have written." There is also some useful in- troductory matter including tabular exhibitions of the principal writers from the Saxon period to the present century, which though not complete for later times, and not professing so to be, are useful for their coup Of course a work of this kind must be in the main a compilation ; no mortal could examine the lives and writings of thirty thousand men, even if he could pro- cure them. The list of authorities that Mr. Allibone has "kept at his side" is, however, something stupendous, spreading over seven closely-printed columns.

The first use of a work of reference is to find what you look for. Mere literary merit or skilful execution is quite subordinate to this characteristic ; for the most dull or lax compiler can scarcely avoid furnishing you information as to the point you are inqui- ring about, if he includes the subject. The only true test of this quality is long use; for if time enabled you to read the dictionary you could not be certain as to what was omitted. So far as we have been able to push our references either directly to single names, or continuously as it were through a series of writers on a particular subject, we have found Mr. Allibone responsive, except in the case of Barnes of the Times, who was a book writer also. The present editor appears.

Critically some exception may be taken as to order and plan or rather perhaps execution. In dictionaries the first thing we re- quire is facts. If men are the subject, when were they born, when did they die, what did they do in this world, and what are the dates of their chief doings, form the main features. An esti- mate of their influence upon the world, if they were of mark i -enough to directly influence it, is desirable. It is necessary to know their position or grade in their own walk ; as say the rank of Milton among epic poets, and a list of his works. Additions much beyond these points seem to us to require consideration. Wedo not turn to a work of reference for biographical details, mere

one, or even full criticism, especially from various hands;

. .

though it is an advantage to be told in what books this elabo- ration may be found. Not only does such fulness occupy space, • d Critical Dictionary of _English Literature, and British and American Au- thors, living and deceased. From the Earliest Accounts to the Middle of the Nine- teenth Century. Containing thirty thousand Biographies and Literary Notices with forty indexes of subjects. By 9. Austin Allibone. Published by Childs and Peterson, Philadelphia; TrUbner and Co., London.

that might be more usefully, we will not say better filled, but it is seldom wanted. We have adduced Milton as an illustrative in- stance, for the sake of emphasis ; but in reality books of reference are rarely consulted with regard to well known men, unless upon some specific information that might be tabulated. This principle is not thoroughly adhered to by Mr. Allibone. Neither has he had much regard to scale, or the relative importance of persons. Cook, the circumnavigator, occupies the third of a column. Good- rich, (Peter Parley,) fills nearly eight columns, consisting mainly of lists of his books and squabbles about their authorship. It may be a right feature to quote the opinions of others as to the merits of the writer under consideration rather than to give Mr. Alli- bone's own, but perhaps he does not always sufficiently discrimi- nate between criticism, opinion, and mere favourable notice, es- pecially in living writers. The arrangement, we think, might be improved, by adopting a i chronological order in the more important names, and indeed in all, to facilitate reference, as a person generally i i knows the age of a man he wishes to inquire about. From the number of writers frequently of the same name, and the absence so far as we can discover of any principle for the order in which they stand, there is some trouble (not difficulty) in finding them. This would be obviated by placing the principal persons first, and the men of lines and sentences afterwards, priority of birth in each class governing priority of position.

These defects, however, if defects they be, are rather errors of design than execution. The shorter notes and notices are clear, the longer lives very carefully and ably done. In answer to the objection of fulness in critical quotation, Mr. Allibone may say that his work is intended for a "dictionary of literature," as well of authors, and that as to the length of the lives many may prefer it, especially in such lives as Byron, Goldsmith, and johnson. This may be, but we think our remarks might be advantageously considered in a new edition, or even in the remainder of the work if in time.