The Queen's English vs The Dean's English [pp. 558-585]

1867.]` TIte Dean's Engtisk. 559
exist until recently. But the publication of manuscripts and
the republication of our early authors is gradually multiplying.
the facilities for such speculations, and increasing the number
of persons devoted to them. Along with the more profound
works. which have been the result of this movement, a number
of small volumes have recently appeared, some of which we
propose to notice in the present article.
"A Plea for the Queen's English," or "Stray Notes on
Speaking and Spelling," is a collection of papers originally
delivered as lectures to the Church of England Young Men's
Literary Association at Canterbury, by Dr. Al ford, Dean of
Canterbury. They were afterwards published in "Good
Words," and now appear in a volume under the above title,
but considerahly modified in form. "The Dean's English"
consists of a series of criticisms upon the Dean's Essays as they
appeared in "Good Words." They were written by Mr. G.
Washington Moon, F. R. S. L., who considered it his duty to
expose the errors of the Dean, lest others should be injured by
the example of "one of exalted position and reputed learning."
The sharp controversy that ensued attracted public attention
throughout the English Jiterary world; and although both the
disputants lost their temper, and notably the Dean, yet the
discussion has been of much service. The verdict of the
literary public in England upon nearly all the points in con~troversy has been in favour of the critic and against the Dean.
Mr. Gould's work on "Good English" should be studied by
every one who desires to avoid the popular errors in language
which often escape the observation of educated men just because
they are so common. The lecture upon Clerical Elocution, at
the close of the volume, may be read with profit by ministers
outside of the pale of the particular denomination for which it
was intended.
We read the Dean's work very carefully and made our own
criticisms as we read. Upon taking up Mr. Moon's little work
we, of course, found that we had been anticipated in most of
them, and were pleased to have the weight of his authority to
sustain our judgment. There are, doubtless, many excellent
things in "The Queen's English," to which we should do well
to take heed; the style of the author, however, is not only