Many  words  yet  stand  supported  only  by  the  name
of  Bailey,  Ainsworth,  Philips,  or  the  contracted  Diet,
for  Dictionaries,  subjoined;  of  these  I  am  not  always
certain  that  they  are  read  in  any  book  but  the  works

35  of  lexicographers.  Of  such  I  have  omitted  many,  be-
cause I  had  never  read  them;  and  many  I  have  inserted,
because   they   may   perhaps    exist,    though   they   have


40  SELECTIONS  FROM  JOHNSON

escaped  my  notice;  they  are,  however,  to  be  yet  con-
sidered as  resting  only  upon  the  credit  of  former  dic-
tionaries. Others,  which  I  considered  as  useful,  or  know
to  be  proper,  though  I  could  not  at  present  support
them  by  authorities,  I  have  suffered  to  stand  upon  my  5
own  attestation,  claiming  the  same  privilege  with  my
predecessors,  of  being  sometimes  credited  without  proof.
