or ACADEMISTS, a denomination given to the cultivators of a species of philosophy originally derived from Socrates, and afterwards illustrated and enforced by Plato, who taught in a grove near Athens, consecrated to the memory of Academus an Athenian hero; from which circumstance this philosophy received the name of academical. Before the days of Plato, philosophy had, in a great measure, fallen into contempt. The contradictory systems and hypotheses that had successively been urged upon the world, were become so numerous, that, from a view of this inconstancy and uncertainty of human opinions, many were led to conclude, that truth lay beyond the reach of our comprehension. Absolute and universal scepticism was the natural consequence of this conclusion. In order to remedy this abuse of philosophy and of the human faculties, Plato laid hold of the principles of the academical philosophy, and, in his Phaedo, reasons in the following manner: "If we are unable to discover truth, (says he), it must be owing to two circumstances; either there is no truth in the nature of things, or the mind, from a defect in its powers, is not able to apprehend it. Upon the latter supposition, all the uncertainty and fluctuation in the opinions and judgments of mankind admit of an easy solution: Let us therefore be modest, and ascribe our errors to the real weakness of our own minds, and not to the nature of things themselves. Truth is often difficult of access; in order to come at it, we must proceed with caution and diffidence, carefully examining every step; and after all our labour, we will frequently find our greatest efforts disappointed, and be obliged to confess our ignorance and weakness."

Labour and caution in our researches, in opposition to rash and hasty decisions, were the distinguishing characteristics of the disciples of the ancient academy. A philosopher possessed of these principles, will be slow in his progress, but will seldom fall into errors, or have occasion to alter his opinion after it is once formed. Vanity and precipitance are the great sources of scepticism: hurried on by these, instead of attending to the cool and deliberate principles recommended by the academy, several of our modern philosophers have plunged themselves into an absurd and ridiculous kind of scepticism. They pretend to discredit things that are plain, simple, and easily comprehended; but give peremptory and decisive judgments upon subjects that evidently exceed the limits of our capacity. Of these Berkeley and Hume are the most considerable. Berkeley denied the existence of every thing, excepting his own ideas. Mr Hume has gone a step further, and questioned even the existence of ideas; but at the same time has not hesitated to give determined opinions with regard to eternity, providence, and a future state; miraculous interpositions of the Deity, &c., subjects far above the reach of our faculties. In his essay on the academical or sceptical philosophy, he has confounded two very opposite species of philosophy. After the days of Plato, indeed, the principles of the first academy were grossly corrupted by Arcesilas, Carneades, &c. This might lead Mr Hume into the notion that the academical and sceptical philosophy were synonymous terms. But no principles can be of a more opposite nature than... than those which were inculcated by the old academy of Socrates and Plato, and the sceptical notions which were propagated by Arcesilas, Carneades, and the other disciples of the succeeding academies.

**Academy**, in antiquity, a garden or villa, situated within a mile of Athens, where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences. It took its name from one Academus, or Eudemus, a citizen of Athens, who was the original owner of it, and made it a kind of gymnasion: he lived in the time of Theseus. Cimon embellished it with fountains, trees, and walks; but Sylla, during the siege of Athens, employed these very trees in making battering-engines against the city. Cicero too had his villa, or place of retirement, near Puzzuoli, which he also named an academy, where he composed his *Academical questions*, and his book *De natura deorum*.

**Academy**, among the moderns, is most commonly used to signify a society of learned men, established for the improvement of any art or science. Charlemagne was the first that established an academy in Europe. Most nations have since followed his example; but Italy has by far the greatest number. In the cities of Piedmont, Ferrara, and Milan, Jareckius reckons 550. We have but few in Britain. In England those of note are, the Royal Society, the Antiquarian Society, Society for the encouragement of arts, and the Academy of Painting; in Scotland, the Edinburgh Society, College of Physicians, and Musical Society; all which see in their proper places.

The French have several academies; as, the Royal Academy of Sciences, for the improvement of physics, mathematics, and chemistry. It was first instituted in 1666, by the assistance of Mr Colbert, comptroller-general of the finances, but was not confirmed by the French king till the year 1696, who, by a regulation dated the 26th of January, new-modelled and put it on a better footing. According to this regulation, the academy was to be composed of ten honorary academicians, eight strangers associates, twenty pensionaries fellows, twenty eleves or scholars, and twelve French associates; these were to be divided into six classes, viz. geometricians, astronomers, mechanics, anatomists, chemists, and botanists; the honorary academicians to be all inhabitants of France, the pensionaries and eleves all to reside at Paris.

In the year 1716, the duke of Orleans, then regent, made an alteration in their constitution, augmenting the number of honoraries and associates to twelve, admitting regulars among such associates, suppressing the class of eleves, and establishing in lieu thereof a new class of twelve adjuncts to the fix several kinds of science cultivated by the academy; and, lastly, appointing a vice-president, to be chosen yearly by the king out of the honorary members, and a director and sub-director out of the pensionaries.

The academies of Florence and Bologna, of Montpelier and Bordeaux, of Leipzig and Berlin, and of late those of Petersburg and Seville, were formed upon the same model with the Royal Academy of Sciences.

**French Academy**, a society of forty, established for improving the French language.

This academy was founded by Cardinal Richlieu, and confirmed by the edict of Lewis XIII, in 1635. They have compiled a dictionary, intitled, *Le Dictionnaire de l'académie Francoise*. This work was begun in 1637, and finished in 1694. They have a director and chancellor, who are drawn by lot every three months, and a secretary who is perpetual. They meet at the old Louvre, on the Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, all the year round, and hold an extraordinary meeting at the reception of a new member, and on St Lewis's day, when the prizes of eloquence and poetry are adjudged.

**Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture**. This society was founded about the year 1648. The members were at first about twenty-five in number, viz., twelve officers, called ancients, eleven private members, and two syndics; but at present it consists of forty painters and sculptors. There are four perpetual rectors, nominated by the king; a director and chancellor; a secretary, who keeps the register, and counter-signs the dispatches; a treasurer, twelve professors, adjuncts to the rectors and professors, fix counsellors, a professor for the part of anatomy that belongs to painting and sculpture, and another for geometry and perspective.

There is also an academy of painting, sculpture, &c. at Rome, established by Lewis XIV, wherein those who have won the annual prize at Paris, are entitled to be three years entertained for their further improvement.

**Academy of Medals and Inscriptions**, called also *The academy of belles lettres*, was erected by Lewis XIV, for the study and explanation of ancient monuments, and to perpetuate the remembrance of great events, by medals, reliquos, inscriptions, &c. The plan of this academy was formed by Mr Colbert, and established in 1662. In its first institution it consisted only of four or five members; but in 1701, they were increased to forty, viz. ten honoraries, ten pensionaries, ten associates, and ten novices or eleves, under the direction of a president and vice-president, who are annually appointed by the king.

Their chief employment has been upon the medallic history of the reign of Lewis their founder. But the learned are indebted to this academy for many volumes of essays on other parts of history, published under the title of *Memoirs*, &c.

**Academy of Architecture**, established about the end of the year 1671 by Mr Colbert, consisted at first only of fix architects; but their number is since considerably increased.

**Academy of Politics**, is composed of fix persons, who meet at the Louvre, in the chamber where the papers relating to foreign affairs are lodged. But as the kings of France are unwilling to trust any, except their ministers, with the inspection of foreign affairs, this academy is of little use to the public.

**Royal Academy of Dancing** was established by the King of France in 1661. It consists of thirteen able dancing-masters, masters, who meet once a-month; and two of the academists teach by turns the art of dancing, ancient and modern.

The French have also academies in most of their great cities, as, the Academy of Sciences at Montpelier, that of the Lanternnits at Thoulouse; besides others at Nimes, Arles, Angiers, Lyons, Caen in Normandy, &c.; and the Chirurgical Academy at Paris is a modern institution for the general improvement of the art, and to compile and publish the ancient and modern history of it.

Royal Spanish Academy at Madrid, has for its object the cultivation of the Castilian tongue, and was established in 1714 by the Duke d'Éfcalona, with the approbation of the King of Spain. It consists of twenty-four academists, including the director and secretary.

In Portugal, John V. founded an historical academy at Lisbon, in the year 1720, for collecting and ascertaining the history of his own dominions. It consists of fifty members, a director, four censors, and a secretary.

In Germany, they have the Academy of Naturae Curiosi, otherwise called the Leopoldine Academy, founded in 1652 by Jo. Laur. Bausch a physician, and, in 1670, taken under the protection of the Emperor Leopold. The design of this society was to promote medical knowledge. They began in 1684 to publish their observations, under the title of Ephemerides; which publication has been continued annually, with some interruptions, and under different titles. This academy consists of a president, two adjuncts or secretaries, and colleagues or members without limitation.

Berlin Academy, was founded by Frederick I. the late King of Prussia, in the year 1700. It has for its objects the improvement of natural knowledge, and the belles lettres. The charter of this society was amended in 1710, and by it the president is to be nominated by the king. The members are divided into four classes; 1. for physic, medicine, and chemistry; 2. for mathematics, astronomy, and mechanics; 3. for the German language, and the history of the country; 4. for Oriental learning, particularly what relates to the propagation of the gospel among infidels. The great promoter of this foundation was the celebrated Mr Leibnitz.

Russian Academy was founded by Czar Peter the Great, at Petersburg, upon the plan of the Academy of Sciences at Paris; besides which, they take in the Russian language.

Academy is also a term for schools and other seminaries of learning among the Jews, where their rabbins and doctors instructed their youth in the Hebrew language, and explained to them the Talmud, and the secrets of the Cabbala: Thofoe of Tiberias and Babylon have been the most noted.

Academy is often used with us to denote a kind of collegiate school, where youth are instructed in arts and sciences. There is one at Portsmouth for teaching navigation, drawing, &c.; another at Woolwich, for fortification, gunnery, &c.

Academy is likewise a name given to a riding-school, where young gentlemen are taught to ride the great horse, &c. and the ground allotted for it is usually called the Menage.

Academy figure, a drawing of a naked man or woman, taken from the life, which is usually done on paper with red or black chalk, and sometimes with pastils or crayons.

Acadie, or Acadia, in geography, a name formerly given to Nova Scotia, one of our American colonies. See Nova Scotia.

Acana, in antiquity, a Grecian measure of length, being a ten feet rod, used in measuring their lands.

Acajaba. See Acajou.

Acaja, in botany, a synonyme of the Spondias lutea, an American tree. See Spondias.

Acajou, in botany, a synonyme of the Anacardium occidentale, or cashew-nut-tree. See Anacardium.

Acaleptic, in ancient profody, a complete verse.

Acalis, in botany, an obsolete name of the Ceratonia. See Ceratonia.

Acalypha, in botany, a genus of plants belonging to the monoeica monadelphia clasps. There are only four species of this plant; the acalypha virginica, which is a native of Ceylon; the virgata, indica, and australis, all natives of America. Sir Hans Sloane ranks this plant with the nettle, under the name of urtica minor iners spicata.

Acamatos, a word used to express the best shape of the human body.

Acambou, a kingdom on the coast of Guinea in Africa.

Acameeh, among some of the old chemists, the scoria of silver; as also a superfluity of the humidum radicale.

Acanaceous plants, such as are armed with prickles.