the Roman and Teutonick: under the Roman I comprehend the French
and provincial tongues; and under the Teutonick range the Saxon,
German, and all their kindred dialects. Most of our polysyllables
are Roman, and our words of one syllable are very often Teutonick.

In assigning the Roman original, it has perhaps sometimes happened
that I have mentioned only the Latin, when the word was borrowed
from the French, and considering myself as employed only in the
illustration of my own language, I have not been very careful to
observe whether the Latin word be pure or barbarous, or the French
elegant or obsolete.

For the Teutonick etymologies, I am commonly indebted to Junius
and Skinner, the only names which I have forborn to quote when I
copied their books; not that I might appropriate their labours or
usurp their honours, but that I might spare a perpetual repetition
by one general acknowledgment. Of these, whom I ought not to mention
but with the reverence due to instructors and benefactors, Junius
appears to have excelled in extent of learning, and Skinner in
rectitude of understanding. Junius was accurately skilled in all
the northern languages. Skinner probably examined the ancient and
remoter dialects only by occasional inspection into dictionaries;
but the learning of Junius is often of no other use than to show
him a track by which he may deviate from his purpose, to which
Skinner always presses forward by the shortest way. Skinner
is often ignorant, but never ridiculous: Junius is always full of
knowledge; but his variety distracts his judgment, and his learning
is very frequently disgraced by his absurdities.

The votaries of the northern muses will not perhaps easily restrain