English as She is Spoke ; or, a Jest in
Sober Earnest. With an Introduction by James Millington. (Field and Tuer.)—This is not the first time that fun has been made out of the ingenious Seiler Caroline's attempt to instruct the studious youth of Portugal and Brazil in English "clean of gallicisms and despoiled phrases," but the jest will bear repetition. A more curious example of a dictionary-constructed language could not be found. Schoolmasters know what absurd results follow when their pupils have the free use of an English-Latin dictionary, but they will not be able to match this. Sometimes, indeed, the compiler has soared beyond the dic- tionary, and gone through processes which it is impossible to trace. It is perplexing to find among " kitchen utensils" " the shovels," and "some wigs" among " eatings." An ordinary acquaintance with " hunting " does not include the term "hound's fee," nor is "starch" commonly included among "metals and minerals." " Gleek " is an obscure "game," and the " degree " of " harbinger " is uncommon. As a sample of continuous English, we may take this advice of an old physician who had " enjoied of a health unalterable,"—" I live of the product of my ordering without take any remedy I command to my sicks."
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