Errors of Speech and of Spelling. By E. Cobham Brewer,
LL.D. 2 vols. (Tegg.)—It is somewhat startling to find more than fifteen hundred pages (such is the size of these two volumes) of " errors" made, as Dr. Brewer says in his preface, "not by the uneducated, but by those who wish to speak and spell correctly." Our surprise is diminished when we examine the book, and find that much of it is quite beside the purpose indicated by the author. Dr. Brewer, indeed, often points out possible, sometimes, we may say, scarcely possible errors, but much of his book is really a dictionary. As such, it has a certain value, for it is carefully put together. At the same time, it is quite capable of improvement. To say, for instance, that German and Germanus are "from germino," is a quite marvellous way of speaking, in these days of philological science. Again, the two derivations given for "Hebrew," "either from Abraham or Eber, great-grandson of Shem," are both exploded. " Haeres, from haereo, to stick," is very questionable. "Hell, the place of future torment," should not be given without some explanation. Who was "Lacon," "a Spartan, noted for brevity of speech and conciseness of writing?" And is not this description of" prmtor "somewhat loose ?—" A chief magistrate of Rome; in Cicero's time, there were two, similar to our Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Middlesex ; subsequently the number was increased, and they were governors of provinces." Dr. Brewer gives us, in his preface, his views on spelling reform. He starts with views that are moderate and sensible, but seems to be carried away by his theme. Is it not really something too audacious even for a Doctor of Laws to propose changes of inflexion? to suggest, for instance, that we are to say " thiefs," instead of "thieves?"
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