Lexiphanes, A Dialogue...being an attempt to Restore the English Tongue to its Antient Purity, and to correct as well as expose the Affected Style, Hard Words, and Absurd Phraseology of Many Late Writers, and Particularly of our English Lexiphanes, The Rambler
1 vols. 12mo
1783 · London
by (Johnson, Samuel) [Campbell, Archibald]
London: Printed for R. Faulder, 1783. Third edition corrected. 1 vols. 12mo. Contemporary sheep, spine and corners worn, free endpapers and blanks at front removed, some browning and soiling. With 2 pages comments at back by G.H. Birks Thorne, and the signature of William Birks Thorne, April 16 1852. Third edition corrected. 1 vols. 12mo. Anti-Johnson. Anti-Johnson. Written in response to Johnson's reception and recognition "as the best model of writing, and the only standard of purity and elegance in the English tongue." The author felt that Johnson's English was "a barbarous jargon, attempted to be imposed upon us, by a few School-masters and Pedants, who owe all their credit to their petulance and impudence, who are equally ignorant of books and men, and who think they have done a fine thing when they have tack'd an English termination to a Latin work." An amusing satirical work. Courtney pp. 27-28 (Inventory #: 28220)