p.

GENERAL SCHEME
of
THE DICTIONARY OF FICTION, ETC.

I. The Important Names in Pure Fiction, including .

1. Poetry . . . . .
α. Drama (as, Bobadil, Ague-cheek, Paul Pry, &c.)
β. Epic, Romantic &c. (as, Palinurus, Adamastor, Alcina, &c.).
γ. Ballads (as, Gil Morrice, Sir Patrick Spens, &c.).
2. Prose Romance &c . . . . .
α. Legends of the Middle Ages (as, Wandering jew, Prester John, Seven Sleepers, &c.).
β. Parables, Allegories, Proverbs, &c. (as, Lazarus, Great-heart, Jack Robinson, &c.).
γ. Novels, Romances, Tales (as, Pantagruel, Sancho Panza, Uncle Toby, Meg Merrilies, Laputta, Pickwick, &c.).
3. Angelology (as, Gabriel, Ithuriel, Sandalphon, &c.)
Demonology, Fairy Mythology and Popular Superstitions (as, Mephistophles, Cluricaune, Titania, Davy Jones, Mother Carey, Flying Dutchman, &c.).
5. Names of Pseudo-Saints, and other Imaginary Ecclesiastical Personages (as, St. Christopher, St. Tammy, Pope Joan, &c.).

II. Pseudonyms . . . . . . . .

(Only those in English, French, German &c., which are of great importance or frequent occurrence ; such as Martin Mar-prelate, Junius, Peter Pindar, Boz, Diedrich Knickerbocker, Georges Sand, Novalis, &c.)

III. Surnames and Sobriquets .

1. Personal appellations (as, Philosopher of Malmesbury, Man of Ross, Iron Mask, Bomba, Ettrick Shepherd, &c.).
2. Familiar Names of Parties, Sects, Laws, Battles &c.). (as,Young Italy, Della Cruscans, Lakers, Blue Laws, Battle of Spurs, Bloody Assizes, &c.).
3. Poetical or Popular Names of Countries, States, Cities, Oceans, Seas, &c. (as, Columbia, Coila, Edina, North Britain, Horse Latitudes, Old Dominion, Modern Athens, Spanish Main, &c.).
4. Personifications (as, Jack Frost, King Cotton, Yellow Jack, Don Perlone, &c.).

IV. Miscellaneous Designations, information about which is not easily obtainable, including . . . . . . . .

1. Some Ancient Geographical Names bestowed by the early Navigators and Discoverers (as, Arcadia, New France, Estotiland, Vermilion Sea &c.).
2. A few quasi-historical, or real, but obscure, Names of Persons, Places, and Things, often alluded to, and requiring explanation (as, Robin Hood, Darby and Joan, Mother Goose, Vinegar Bible &c.).

COMMENDATORY OPINIONS.

Specimens of the work have been submitted to a number of our leading literary men, who have formed a very favourable estimate of its plan and execution. Mr Everett says, "I have examined the specimens of your proposed new work with much pleasure. The conception is a happy one, and the execution, as far as I can judge from specimens, highly successful. I have no doubt the work will attain popularity both here and in England." Mr Hawthorne writes, "I have found great pleasure and entertainment in looking over the specimens of your Dictionary, and I really have nothing to suggest towards the improvement of your plan . . . . I think it must prove a very curious and interesting work. In fact, I once had a similar idea in my own mind, - a sort of mythological dictionary embracing the principal characters in modern fiction. I hope you will indicate the right pronunciation of the names - a point on which I often find people at variance." Other testimonials equally favourable have been recieved from Dr. Holmes, Prof. Longfellow, Mr. Emerson, Prof. Lowell, Mr. George Ticknor, Dr. Worcester, Mr. Wendell Phillips, &c.