ay when required. While thus prepared, in 1842 my excellent and
highly accomplished friend was most unexpectedly assailed by an
afflicting malady, which at once reduced a brilliant mind to a
distressing fatuity, which--after two lingering years--closed his
valuable life, and clued up our arrangements.

Meantime our plan had oozed out, and too great an expectation was evoked
in certain quarters, the inquiries from whence were frequent reminders.
At length in 1865, most of my undertakings having been completed, and
out of the way, I made an overhaul of the bulky ribs and trucks of the
scheme in question. Both my judgment and feelings united in showing that
it is now too late in the day for me to think of setting about such a
work as was contemplated thirty years ago; yet finding myself still
capable of application, and fully knowing all the bearings of the case,
I feel assured that a comprehensive and useful "word-book" may be made
from the shakings. On the whole, therefore, the foregoing particulars
seem to be a necessary prelude to this introduction.

Doubtless a well-digested marine dictionary would be equally beneficial
to the country and to the service, for the utility of such a work in
assisting those who are engaged in carrying on practical sea duties is
so generally admitted, that it is allowable here to dilate upon its
importance, especially when it is considered how much information a
youth has to acquire, on his first going afloat, in order to qualify him
for a position so totally different from what he had hitherto been
familiar with. In this case such a volume might justly be deemed one of
the most useful of his companions, as it would at all times answer his
questions, and aid that ardour of inquiry which some of his shipmates
might not find it easy to satisfy. It would quicken the slow progress of
experience, and aid those who take a pleasure in the knowledge and
discharge of their duties. But a work of this description must
necessarily require constant additions, and revised explanations, to
enable it to keep pace with the wondrous alterations and innovations
which are now taking place in every department of the naval service. The
future of all this is utterly inscrutable!

Nor has this province been neglected, as the efforts of Captain John
Smith (of mine own clan), Maynwaring, Boteler, Blanckley, Falconer,
Young, and many others, testify; and however they may fall short of what
naval science demands, t