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 Academies used to signify a society of learned men, established for the improvement of any art or science.

The first Academy we read of, was established by Charlemagne, at the instigation of Alcuin. It was composed of the chief wits of the court, the emperor himself being a member. In their academical conferences, every person was to give an account of what ancient authors he had read; and each even assumed the name of some ancient author who pleased him most, or some celebrated person of antiquity. Alcuin, from whose letters we learn these particulars, took that of Flaccus, the surname of Horace: a young lord, named Augilbert, took that of Homer: Adelard, bishop of Corbie, was called Augustin: Riculfe, bishop of Mentz, was Dametas; and the king himself, David*. This shows the mistake of some modern writers, who relate, that it was in conformity with the genius of the learned men of those times, who were great admirers of Roman names, that Alcuin took the name of Flaccus Albinus.

Most nations have now their Academies; but Italy has by far the greatest number.—The French have many flourishing academies, most of which were established by Lewis XIV.—We have but few in Britain; and the general term with us for establishments of this kind is Academies.

In giving an account of the principal Academies, it seems most proper to arrange them according to their subjects.

I. Medical Academies; as that of the Nature Curiosi in Germany; that founded at Palermo in 1655; another at Venice in 1701, which meets weekly in a hall near the grand hospital; another at Geneva in 1715, in the house of M. Le Clerc. The colleges of physicians at London and Edinburgh are also, by some, ranked in the number of Academies*.

The Academy of Nature Curiosi, called also the Leopoldine Academy, was founded in 1632 by Jo. Laur. Bauschius, a physician; who, in imitation of the English, published an invitation to all physicians to communicate their extraordinary cases; and, meeting with success, was elected president. Their works were at first published separately; but in 1670 a new scheme was laid for publishing a volume of observations every year. The first volume appeared in 1684, under the title of Ephemerides, and the work has been continued with some interruptions and variations of the title, &c.

In 1687, the emperor Leopold took the society under his protection, granting the members several privileges, particularly that their presidents should be counts palatine of the holy Roman empire. This academy has no fixed residence or regular assemblies; instead of these, there is a kind of bureau, or office, first established at Breslau, and afterwards removed to Nuremberg, where letters, observations, &c., from correspondents or members are taken in. The academy consists of a president, two adjuncts or secretaries, and colleagues or members without restriction. The colleagues, at their admission, oblige themselves to two things: first, to chuse some subject out of the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdom, to handle, provided it had not been treated of by any colleague before; the second, to apply themselves to furnish materials for the Annual Ephemerides. Each member to bear a symbol of the academy; viz. a gold ring, whereon, instead of a stone, is a book open, and, on the face thereof, an eye; on the other side the motto of the academy, Nunquam otiofus.

II. Chirurgical Academies; as that instituted some years ago, by public authority, at Paris: the members of which were not only to publish their own and correspondents observations and improvements; but to give an account of all that is published on surgery, and to compose a complete history of the art, by their extracts from all the authors ancient and modern who have wrote on it. A question in surgery is annually proposed by the academy, and a gold medal of two hundred livres value given to him who furnishes the most satisfactory answer.

III. Ecclesiastical Academies; as that at Bologna in Italy, instituted in 1687, employed in the examination of the doctrine, discipline, and history, of each age of the church.

IV. Cosmographical Academies; as that at Venice, called the Argonauts. This was instituted at the solicitation of F. Coronelli, for the improvement of geographical knowledge. Its design was to publish exact maps, both celestial and terrestrial, as well particular as general, together with geographical, historical, and astronomical descriptions. Each member, in order to defray the expense of such a publication, was to subscribe a proportional sum, for which they were to receive one or more copies of each piece published. For this end, three societies are settled; one under F. Moro, provincial of the Minorites in Hungary; another under the abbot Laurence au Rue Payenne au Marais; the third under F. Baldigiani, Jesuit, professor of mathematics in the Roman college. The device of this academy is the terraqueous globe, with the motto Plus ultra; and at its expense all the globes, maps, and geographical writings, of F. Coronelli have been published.

V. Academies of Sciences.—These comprehend such as are erected for improving natural and mathematical knowledge. They are otherwise called Philosophical and Physical Academies.

The first of these was instituted at Naples, about the year 1560, in the house of Baptista Porta. It was called the Academy Secretorum Naturae; and was succeeded by the Academy of Lyncei, founded at Rome by Prince Frederic Cesi, towards the end of that century. Several of the members of this academy rendered it famous by their discoveries; among these was the celebrated Galileo. Several other academies were instituted about that time, which contributed greatly to the advancement of the sciences; but none of them comparable to that of the Lyncei.

Some years after the death of Torricelli, the Academy del Cimento made its appearance, under the protection of Prince Leopold, afterwards Cardinal de Medicis. Redi was one of its chief members; and the studies pursued by the rest may be collected from those curious experiments published in 1667, by their secretary Count Laurence Magulotti, under the title of Saggi di Naturali Esperienze; a copy of which was presented to the Royal Society, translated into English by Mr. Waller, and published at London in 4to.

The Academy dei P' Inquieti, afterwards incorporated into that of Della Traccia in the same city, followed the example of that of Del Cimento. Some excellent dif- Academies: courses on physical and mathematical subjects, by Geminiano Montenari, one of the chief members, were published in 1667, under the title of *Penfieri Fisico Matematici*.

The Academy of Rossano, in the kingdom of Naples, was originally an academy of Belles Lettres, founded in 1540, and transformed into an Academy of Sciences in 1695 at the solicitation of the learned abbot Don Giacinto Gimma; who being made president, under the title of Promoter General thereof, gave them a new set of regulations. He divided the academists into the following classes: Grammarians, Rhetoricians, Poets, Historians, Philosophers, Physicians, Mathematicians, Lawyers, and Divines, with a class apart for Cardinals and persons of quality. To be admitted a member, a man must have some degrees in the faculty. The members are not allowed to take the title of Academists in the beginning of their books, without a written permission from their president, which is not granted till the work has been examined by the censors of the Academy; and the permission is the greatest honour the Academy can confer, as they thereby adopt the work, and are answerable for it against all criticisms that may be made upon it. To this law the president or promoter himself is subject; and no academist is allowed to publish anything against the writings of another, without leave from the society.

Several other Academies of Sciences have been founded in Italy; but, for want of being supported by princes did not continue long. The loss of them, however, was abundantly repaired, by the institution of others still subsisting; such as, the Academy of Filarmo- nici at Verona; of Ricovari at Padua, where a learned discourse on the origin of springs was delivered by Sig. Vallinieri, first professor of physic in the university of that city, and which was afterwards printed. To the Academy of the Muti de Reggio, at Modena, the same Sig. Vallinieri presented an excellent discourse on the scale of created beings, since inserted in his history of the generation of man and animals printed at Venice in the year 1721.

F. Mercene is said to have given the first idea of a philosophical Academy in France, towards the beginning of the 17th century, by the conferences of naturalists and mathematicians occasionally held at his lodgings; at which Gassendi, Des Cartes, Hobbes, Roberval, Pascal, Blondel, and others assisted. F. Mercene proposed to each certain problems to examine, or certain experiments to be made. These private assemblies were succeeded by more public ones, formed by Mr Montmort, and Mr Thévenot the celebrated traveller. The French example animated several Englishmen of distinction and learning to erect a kind of philosophical academy at Oxford, towards the close of Oliver Cromwell's administration; which, after the Restoration, was erected into a Royal Society*. The English example, in its turn, animated the French. Lewis XIV. in 1666, afflired by the counsels of Mr Colbert, founded an Academy of Sciences at Paris, with a sufficient revenue to defray the charge of experiments, and salaries to the members.

Royal Academy of Sciences. After the peace of the Pyrenees, Lewis XIV. being desirous of establishing the arts, sciences, and literature, upon a solid foundation, directed M. Colbert to form a society of men of known abilities and experience in the different branches, who should meet together under the king's protection, and communicate their respective discoveries. Accordingly Mr Colbert, having conferred with those who were at that time most celebrated for their learning, resolved to form a society of such persons as were conversant in natural philosophy and mathematics, to join to them other persons skilled in history and other branches of erudition, along with those who were entirely engaged in what are called the Belles Lettres, grammar, eloquence, and poetry. The geometers and natural philosophers were ordered to meet on Tuesdays and Saturdays, in a great hall of the king's library, where the books of mathematics and natural philosophy were contained; the learned in history to assemble on Mondays and Thursdays, in the hall where the books of history were contained; and the class of Belles Lettres to assemble on Wednesdays and Fridays. All the different classes were likewise ordered to meet together upon the first Thursday of every month; and, by their respective secretaries, make a report of the proceedings of the foregoing month.

In a short time, however, the classes of History, Belles Lettres, &c., were united to the French Academy, which was originally instituted for the improvement and refining the French language, so that the royal Academy contained only two classes, viz. that of natural philosophy and mathematics.

In year 1696, the king, by a proclamation dated the 26th of January, gave this Academy a new form, and put it upon a more respectable footing.—It was now to be composed of four kinds of members, viz. honorary, pensionary associates, and elevos. These last were a kind of pupils, or scholars, each of whom was attached to one of the pensionaries. The first class to contain ten persons, and each of the rest twenty. The honorary academists to be all inhabitants of France; the pensionaries all to reside at Paris; eight of the associates allowed to be foreigners; and the elevos all to live at Paris. The officers to be, a president named by the king, out of the class of honorary academists; and a secretary and treasurer to be perpetual. Of the pensionaries, three to be geometers, three astronomers, three mechanics, three anatomists, three chemists, three botanists, and the remaining two to be secretary and treasurer. Of the twelve associates, two to apply themselves to geometry, two to botany, and two to chemistry. The elevos to apply themselves to the same kind of science with the pensionaries they were attached to; and not to speak, except when called by the president. No regular or religious to be admitted, except into the class of honorary academists; nor any person to be admitted either for associate or pensionary, unless known by some considerable printed work, some machine, or other discovery. The assemblies were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, unless either of them happened to be a holiday, and then the assembly was held on the preceding day.—To encourage the members to pursue their labours, the king engaged not only to pay the ordinary pensions, but even to give extraordinary gratifications, according to the merit of their respective performances; furnishing withal the expense of the experiments and other inquiries necessary to be made. If any member gave in a bill of charges of experiments he had made, or desired the printing of any book, and brought Academies brought in the charges of graving, the money was immediately paid by the king, upon the president's allowing and signing the bill. So, if an anatomist required live tortoises, for instance, for making experiments about the heart, &c., as many as he pleased were brought him at the king's charge. Their motto was,

*Invenit et perfectit.*

In the year 1716, the duke of Orleans, then regent, made an alteration in their constitution; augmenting the number of honoraries, and of associates capable of being foreigners, to 12; admitting regulars among such associates; and supplanting the class of elevos, as it appeared to be attended with some inconveniences, particularly that of making too great an inequality among the Academists, and being productive of some misunderstandings and animosities among the members.

At the same time he created other two classes; one consisting of 12 adjuncts, who, as well as the associates, were allowed a deliberative voice in matters relative to science; and the other six free associates, who were not attached to any particular science, nor obliged to pursue any particular work.

Since its re-establishment in 1699, this Academy has been very exact in publishing, every year, a volume containing either the works of its own members, or such memoirs as have been composed and read to the Academy during the course of that year. To each volume is prefixed the history of the Academy, or an extract of the memoirs, and, in general, of whatever has been read or said in the Academy; at the end of the history, are the eulogisms on such Academists as have died that year.—M. Rouille de Meliay, counsellor to the parliament of Paris, founded two prizes, one of 2500, and the other of 2000 livres, which are alternately distributed by the parliament every year; the subject for the first must relate to physical astronomy, and those for the latter to navigation and commerce.

Notwithstanding the advantages which the members of this Academy enjoy over others, in having their expenses defrayed, and even being paid for their time and attendance, they have fallen under some imputations, particularly that of plagiarism, or borrowing their neighbours inventions; but with what justice we do not say.

The Royal Society at Berlin was founded in 1700, by Frederic II, king of Prussia, on the model of that of England; excepting that, besides natural knowledge, it likewise comprehends the Belles Lettres. In 1710, it was ordained that the president shall be one of the counsellors of state, and nominated by the king. The members were divided into four classes; the first for prosecuting physics, medicine, and chemistry; the second for mathematics, astronomy, and mechanics; the third for the German language and the history of the country; the fourth for oriental learning, particularly as it may concern the propagation of the gospel among infidels. Each class to elect a director for themselves, who shall hold his post for life. The members of any of the classes have free admission into the assemblies of any of the rest.

The great promoter of this institution was the celebrated Mr Leibnitz, who accordingly was made the first director. The first volume of their transactions was published in 1710, under the title of *Miscellanea Berolinensia*; and though they received but few marks of the royal favour for some time, they continued to publish new volumes in 1723, 1727, 1734, and 1740.

At last, however, Frederic III, the present king of Prussia, gave new vigour to this Academy, by inviting to Berlin such foreigners as were most distinguished for their merit in literature, and encouraged his subjects to prosecute the study and cultivation of the sciences by giving ample rewards; and thinking that the Academy, which till that time had had some minister or opulent nobleman for its president, would find an advantage in having a man of letters at its head, he conferred that honour on M. Maupertuis. At the same time, he gave a new regulation to the academy, and took upon himself the title of its protector.

The academists hold two public assemblies annually; one in January, on the present king's birthday; and the other in May, on the day of his accession to the throne. At the latter of these is given, as a prize, a gold medal of 50 ducats value; the subject for this prize is successively, natural philosophy, mathematics, metaphysics, and erudition.

The Imperial Academy at Petersburgh was projected by Czar Peter the Great, who had taken the necessary measures for its establishment, when he was prevented by death from putting them into execution. His successor, the Czarina Catherine, laboured on the same plan; and in a short time formed one of the most celebrated academies in Europe, composed of the most considerable foreigners, some of them settled at Petersburgh. The memoirs of this academy, which are published in Latin, are highly valuable, particularly for the mathematical part. The Academy, however, was in a very languishing condition, when the empress Czarina Elisabeth ascended the throne; but that princess, happily, naming count Rafowowski president, he gave it a new body of statutes, and quickly restored it to its ancient splendor.

The building and apparatus of this academy are extraordinary, there being a fine library, observatory, &c. It partakes much of what we call an University; having regular professors in the several faculties, who read lectures as in our schools.—The ordinary assemblies are held twice a-week, and public or solemn ones thrice a-year. In the public assemblies an account is given of what has been done in the private ones. The Academy has this modest motto, *Paulatim.*

The Academy of Sciences, called the Institute of Bologna, was founded by count Marigli in 1712, for the cultivating of physics, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, and natural history. Its history is written by M. de Limiers, from memoirs furnished by the founder himself.

VI. Academies of Law; as that famous one at Beryta, and that of the Siententes at Bologna.

VII. Academies of History; as the Royal Academy of Portuguese History at Lisbon. This Academy was instituted by King John V, in 1720. It consists of a director, four censors, a secretary, and 50 members; to each of which is assigned some part of the ecclesiastical or civil history of the nation, which he is to treat either in Latin or Portuguese. In the church-history of each diocese, the prelates, synods, councils, churches, monasteries, academies, persons illustrious for sanctity or learning, places famous for miracles or relics, must be distinctly related in twelve chapters. The civil histo- Academies. ry comprises the transactions of the kingdom from the government of the Romans down to the present time. The members who reside in the country are obliged to make collections and extracts out of all the registers, &c., where they live. Their meetings to be once in fifteen days.

A medal was struck by this Academy, in honour of their prince; the front of which was his effigy, with the inscription "Johannes V. Lusitanorum Rex"; and, on the reverse, the same prince is represented standing, and raising History almost prostrate before him, with the legend "Historia Refugiae." Underneath are the following words in abbreviation: REGIA ACADemia HISTORICAE LUSITANAE, INSTITUTA VI. IDUS DECEMBRIS MDCCXX.

VIII. Academies of Antiquities; as that at Cortona in Italy, and at Upsal in Sweden. The first is designed for the study of Etrurian antiquities; the other for illustrating the northern languages, and the antiquities of Sweden, in which notable discoveries have been made by it. The head of the Etrurian Academy is called Lucumon, by which the ancient governors of the country were distinguished. One of their laws is to give audience to poets only one day in the year; another is to fix their salaries, and impose a tax of a dissertation on each member in his turn.

The Academy of Medals and Inscriptions at Paris was set on foot by M. Colbert, under the patronage of Lewis XIV. in 1663, for the study and explanation of ancient monuments, and perpetuating great and memorable events, especially those of the French monarchy, by coins, reliques, inscriptions, &c. The number of members at first was confined to four or five, chosen out of those of the French Academy; who met in the library of Mr. Colbert, from whom they received his majesty's orders. The days of their meetings were not determined; but generally they met on Wednesdays, especially in the winter season; but, in 1691, the king having given the inspection of this academy to M. de Pontchartrain comptroller general, &c., he fixed their meetings on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

By a new regulation, dated the 16th of July 1701, the Academy was composed of ten honorary members; ten associates, each of whom had two declarative voices; ten pensionaries; and ten elevos, or pupils. They then met every Tuesday and Wednesday, in one of the halls of the Louvre; and had two public meetings yearly, one the day after Martinmas and the other the 16th after Easter. The club of elevos has been supprest, and united to the associates. The king nominates their president and vice-president yearly; but their secretary and treasurer are perpetual. The rest are chosen by the members themselves, agreeably to the constitutions on that behalf given them.

One of the first undertakings of this Academy, was to compose, by means of medals, a connected history of the principal events of Lewis XIV.'s reign: but in this design they met with great difficulties, and of consequence it was interrupted for many years; but at length it was completed down to the advancement of the duke of Anjou to the crown of Spain.

In this celebrated work, the establishment of the Academy itself was not forgot. The medal on this subject represents Mercury fitting, and writing with an antique stylus on a table of brats; he leans with his left hand upon an urn full of medals, and at his feet are several others placed upon a card: the legend, "Rerum gestarum fides;" and on the exergue, "Academia regia inscriptio et monumentum instituta M.DC.LXIII." signifying that the Royal Academy of Medals and Inscriptions, founded in 1663, ought to give to future ages a faithful testimony of all great actions. Besides this work, we have several volumes of their memoirs; and their history, written and continued by their secretaries.

IX. Academies of Belles Lettres, are those wherein eloquence and poetry are chiefly cultivated. There are very numerous in Italy, and not uncommon in France.

The Academy of Umidi at Florence has contributed greatly to the progress of the sciences by the excellent Italian translations given by some of its members, of the ancient Greek and Latin historians. Their chief attention is to the Italian poetry, at the same time that they have applied themselves to the polishing of their language, which produced the Academy La Crusca.

The Academy of Humorists, Umoretts, had its origin at Rome from the marriage of Lorenzo Marini, a Roman gentleman; at which several persons of rank were guests; and, it being carnival time, to give the ladies some diversion, they took themselves to the reciting of verses, funnets, speeches, first ex tempore, and afterwards premeditatedly; which gave them the denomination of Belli Humori. After some experience, coming more and more into the taste of these exercises, they resolved to form an Academy of Belles Lettres; and changed the title of Belli Humori for that of Humorists; choosing for their device a cloud, which, after being formed of exhalations from the salt waters of the ocean, returns in a gentle sweet shower; with this motto from Lucretius, "Redit agmine dulci."

In 1690, the Academy of Arcadi was established at Rome, for reviving the study of Poetry and of the Belles Lettres. Besides most of the politer wits of both sexes in Italy, this academy comprehends many princes, cardinals, and other ecclesiastics; and, to avoid disputes about pre-eminence, all appear masked after the manner of Arcadian shepherds. Within ten years from its first establishment, the number of Academists amounted to six hundred. They hold assemblies seven times a-year in a mead or grove, or in the gardens of some nobleman of distinction. Six of these meetings are employed in the recitation of poems and verses of the Arcadi residing at Rome; who read their own compositions; except ladies and cardinals, who are allowed to employ others. The seventh meeting is set apart for the compositions of foreign or absent members.

This academy is governed by a Cufos, who represents the whole society, and is chosen every four years, with a power of electing 12 others yearly for his assistance. Under these are two sub-cufos, one vicar or pro-cufos, and four deputies or superintendents, annually chosen. The laws of the society are immutable, and bear a near resemblance to the ancient model.

There are five manners of electing members. The first is by acclamation. This is used when sovereign princes, cardinals, and ambassadors of kings, desire to be admitted; and the votes are then given *viva voce*. The second is called *annumeration*. This was introduced in favour of ladies and academical colonies, where the votes are taken privately. The third, *representation*, was established in favour of colonies and universities, where the young gentry are bred; who have each a privilege of recommending one or two members privately to be ballotted for. The fourth, *succession*, whereby new members are substituted in the room of those dead or expelled. The last, *definitive*, whereby, when there is no vacancy of members, persons of poetical merit have the title of Arcadi conferred upon them, till such time as a vacancy shall happen. All the members of this body, at their admission, assume new pastoral names, in imitation of the shepherds of Arcadia. The academy has several colonies of Arcadii in different cities of Italy, who are all regulated after the same manner.

X. Academies of Languages; called, by some, Grammatical Academies; as,

The Academy della Crusca at Florence, famous for its vocabulary of the Italian tongue, was formed in 1582, but scarce heard of before the year 1584, when it became noted for a dispute between Tasso and several of its members. Many authors confound this with the Florentine academy. The discourses which Torricelli, the celebrated disciple of Galileo, delivered in the assemblies, concerning levity, the wind, the power of percussion, mathematics, and military architecture, are a proof that these academists applied themselves to things as well as words.

The Academy of Fructiferi had its rise in 1617, at an assembly of several princes and nobility of the country, who met with a design to refine and perfect the German tongue. It flourished long under the direction of princes of the empire, who were always chosen presidents. In 1668, the number of members arose to upwards of 900. It was prior in time to the French academy, which only appeared in 1629, and was not established into an academy before the year 1635. Its history is written in the German tongue, by George Neumark.

The French Academy, which had its rise from a meeting of men of letters in the house of M. Conrat, in 1629. In 1635, it was erected into an academy, by Cardinal Richelieu, for refining and ascertaining the French language and style.—The number of its members is limited to 403 out of whom a director, chancellor, and secretary, are to be chosen: the two former hold their post for two months, the latter is perpetual. The members of this academy enjoy several privileges and immunities, among which is that of not being obliged to answer before any court but that of the king's household. They meet three times a-week in the Louvre; at breaking up, forty silver medals are distributed among them, having on one side the king of France's head, and on the reverse, *Protector de l'Academie*, with laurel, and this motto, *A l'Immortalite*. By this distribution, the attendance of the Academists is secured, those who are present receiving the surplus otherwise intended for the absent. To elect or expel a member, at least eighteen are required; nor can any be chosen unless he petition for it; by this expedient, the affront of refusals from persons elected is avoided. Religious are not admitted; nor can any nobleman, or person of distinction, be admitted on another footing than as a man of letters. None are to be expelled, except for base and dishonest practices; and there are but two instances of such expulsions, the first of M. Granier for refusing to return a deposit the other of the Abbé Furetière for plagiarism.—The design of this academy was to give not only rules, but examples, of good writing. They began with making speeches on subjects taken at pleasure, about twenty of which were printed. They met with great opposition from the parliament at their first institution; it being two years before the patents granted by the king would be registered. They have been severely satirized, and their style has been ridiculed as enervating instead of refining the French language. They are also charged with having forfeited the world by flattery, and having exhausted all the topics of panegyric in praise of their founder; it being a duty incumbent on every member, at his admission, to make a speech in praise of the king, the cardinal, the chancellor Seguier, and the person in whose place he is elected. The most remarkable work of this academy is a dictionary of the French tongue; which, after 50 years spent in settling the words and phrases to be used in writing, was at last published in 1694.

The Royal Spanish Academy at Madrid held its first meeting in July 1713, in the palace of its founder, the duke d'Esclonza. It consisted at first of eight Academists, including the duke; to which number 14 others were afterwards added, the founder being chosen president or director. In 1714, the king granted them his confirmation and protection. Their device is a candelabrum in the middle of the fire, with this motto, *Limia, Es, y da Esplendor*: "It purifies, fixes, and gives brightness." The number of members is limited to 24; the duke d'Esclonza to be director for life, but his successors chosen yearly, and the secretary to be perpetual. Their object, as marked out by the royal declaration, was to cultivate and improve the national language; they were to begin with choosing carefully such words and phrases as have been used by the best Spanish writers; noting the low, barbarous, or obsolete ones; and composing a dictionary wherein these may be distinguished from the former.

XI. Academies of Dancing; as that erected by Lewis XIV. with privileges above all the rest.

XII. Academies of Painting; as the Academy of Painting and Sculpture at Paris. This took its rise from the disputes that happened between the master painters and sculptors in that capital; in consequence of which, M. Le Brun, Sarazin, Comelle, and others of the king's painters, formed a design of instituting a particular academy; and, having presented a petition to the king, obtained an arrêt dated Jan. 20, 1648. In the beginning of 1655, they obtained from cardinal Mazarin a brevet, and letters patent, which were registered in parliament; in gratitude for which favour, they chose the cardinal for their protector, and the chancellor for their vice-protector. In 1663, by means of M. Colbert, they obtained a pension of 4000 livres. The academy consists of a protector; a vice-protector; a director; a chancellor; four rectors; adjuncts to the rectors; a treasurer; four professors, one of which is professor of anatomy, and another of geometry; several adjuncts and counsellors; an historiographer, a secretary, and two ushers. The Academy of Painting holds a public assembly every day for two hours in the afternoon, to which the painters resort either to design or to paint, and where the sculptors model after a naked person. There are 12 professors, each of whom keeps the school for a month; and there are 12 adjuncts to supply them in case of need. The professor upon duty places the naked man as he thinks proper, and sets him in two different attitudes every week. This is what they call setting the model. In one week of the month he sets two models together, which is called setting the group. The paintings and models made after this model, are called academies, or academy-figures. They have likewise a woman who stands for a model in the public school. Every three months, three prizes for design are distributed among the clever or disciples; two others for painting, and two for sculpture, every year.

There is also an Academy of Painting, Sculpture, &c., at Rome, established by Lewis XIV., wherein those who have gained the annual prize at Paris are entitled to be three years entertained at the king's expense, for their further improvement.

XIII. Academies of Architecture; as that established by M. Colbert in 1671, consisting of a company of skilful architects, under the direction of the superintendent of the buildings.

XIV. Academies of Politics; as that at Paris, consisting of six persons, who met at the Louvre, in the chamber where the papers relating to foreign affairs were lodged. But this Academy proved of little service, as the kings of France were unwilling to trust any but their ministers with the inspection of foreign affairs.

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; those 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.—Besides these, there are numerous academies, especially in London, for teaching mathematics, languages, writing, accounts, drawing, and other branches of learning.

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 is usually called the Manège.