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Arcefilaus, one of his Succeffbrs, introducing fome Alte- rations into the Philofophy of this Sect, founded what they call the Second Academy.
The EftabliJhment of the third, call'd alfo the Neiv A- eademf) is attributed to Laades, or Cameades.
Some Authors add a fourth, founded by Philo and Car- mides ; and a fifth by Antiochus, called the Antiochan, which temper'd the Antient Academy with Stoicifm. See Stoicism.
The Antient Academy doubted of every thing ; and went fo far as to make it a Doubt, whether or no they ought to doubt. — 'Twas a fort of Principle with them, never to be fure or fatisfy'd of any thing ; never to affirm or deny any thing either tor true or falfe. — In effect, they afferted ari abfolute Acatalepfia. See Acatalepsia.
The New Academy was fomewhat more reafonablej they own'd feveral things for Truths, but without attaching
themfelves to any with entire Affurance. Thefe Philofo-
phers had found, that the ordinary Commerce of Life and Society was inconfiftent with the abfolute and univerfal Doubtfu-lnefs of the Antient Academy ; and yet, 'tis evi- dent, they themfelves looked upon things rather as probable, than as true and certain $ by this Amendment, thinking to fecure themfelves from thofe Abfurdities into which the Antient Academy had fallen. See Doubting, &c.
See alfo further in the Academical £>iieftioi2S of Cicero ; where that Philofopher explains and unravels the Senti- ments of thofe who in his Days call'd themfelves Follow- ers of the new and old Academy, with great Clearnefs and Addrefs.
Academy is particularly ufed among the Moderns, for a regular Society or Company of learned Perfons ; instituted under the Protection of a Prince, for the Cultivation and Im- provement of Arts, or Sciences. See Society.
Some Authors confound Academy with Univerfity 5 but, tho much the fame in Latin, they are very different things in Englijh. — An Univerfity is, properly, a Body compofed of Graduates in the feveral Faculties ; of Profeffbrs, who teach in the publick Schools 5 of Regents or Tutors, and Students who learn under them, and afpife likewife to De- grees. See University.
Whereas an Academy is not intended to teach, or profefs any Art, fuch as it is, but to improve it : 'Tis not for No- vices to be inftructed in, by thofe that are more knowing ; but for Perfons of diftingui/h'd Abilities to confer in, and communicate their Lights and Difcovefies to each other for their mutual Benefit.
The firft Academy we read of, was eftablifh'd by Char- lemaign at the Motion of Alcuin : It was compofed of the chief Wits of the Court, the Emperor himfelf being a Mem- ber, — In their Academical Conferences, every Perfon was to give an account of what antient Authors he had read $ and each even affumed the Name of fome antient Author whom he affected mod, or fome celebrated Perfon of Anti- quity. Alcuin, from whofe Letters we learn thefe Particu- lars, took that of Flaccus, the Sirname of Horace ; a young Lord, named Augilbert, took that of Homer : Adelard, Bifhop of Corbie, was called Augnjlin : Riculfe, Bi/hop of Mentz, was ^Dametas ; and the King himfelf, 2)avid. See School.
This lets us fee a Miftake in fome modern Writers, who relate, that it was in Conformity with the Genius of the learned Men of thofe Times, who were great Admirers of Roman Names, that Alcuin took the Name of Flaccvs Albimls.
Moft Nations have now their Academies, Rufjia not ex- cepted : But, of all Countries, Italy bsars the Bell in this
reipect. We have but few in England. — The only one
of Eminence is called by another Name, m9. the Royal Society : An Account whereof, fee under the Article Royal Society.
Befide this, however, we have a Royal Academy of Mu- fick ; and another of Painting ; eftablifh'd by Letters Pa- tent, and govern'd by their refpective Directors.
The French have flourifhing Academies of all Kinds, eftablinYd at 'Paris j moftly by the late King.
Royal Academy of Sciences, for the Improvement of Phyficks, Mathematicks, and Chymiflry 5 was firft fet on foot in 1666, by Order of the King, tho without any Aft of Royal Authority iffued for that End. — In the Year 1699, it had as it were a fecond Birth 5 the fame Prince, by a Regulation dated the 2<Sth of January, giving it a new form, and putting it on a new and more folemn Footing.
In Virtue of that Regulation, the Academy was to be compofed of four Kinds of Members, viz. Honorary, Peti- tionary, AJfociates, and Eleves. — The firft Clafs to confift of ten Perfons $ and the reft of twenty each. — The Honorary Academics to be all Inhabitants of France ; the Penfiona- ries all to refide at Paris $ eight of the Ajfociates allowed to confift of Foreigners ; and the Eleves all to live at 'Paris. ■ — The Officers, to be a c Prefident, named every Year by the King, out of the Clafs of Honorary Academijls 3 and a Secretary and treafitrer, to be perpetual.
Of the Penfionancs, three to be Geometricians, three A- itronomers, three Mechanicks, three Anatomifts, three Chy- milts, three Botanifts ; the remaining two, Secretary and Treaiurer. Of the twelve Affbciates, two to apply them- felves to Geometry, two to Aftronomy, two to Mechanicks 3 two to Anatomy, two to Botany, and two to Chymiflry.— The Eleves to apply themfelves to the fame kind of Science with the Penfionariestheyareattach'dto ; andnot to fpeak, except when called thereto by the Prefident.— No Regular or Re- ligious to be admitted, except into the Clafs of Honorary Academijls ; Nor any Perfon to be admitted, either for Af- fociatu or Penfionary, unlefs known by fome confiderable printed Work, fome Machine, or otht:r Diwovery. — Further, no Perfon to be allowed to make ufe of his Quality of Aca- demi/l, in the Title of any of his Books, umefs fuch Book have been read to, and approved by the Academy.
The Meetings of the Academy were appointed to be held twice a-week, on Wednefdays and Saturdays, in the King's Library: (Tho foon after, they were removed to a more commodious Apartment in the Louvre) And to lait, at leaft, two Hours, viz. from Three to live. At the Begin- ning of every new Year, each Penfionary to be obiig'd to declare in Writing what Work he intends chiefly to profecute that Year 5 and the reft io be invired to do the fame. All the Obfervations the Academijls bring to the Meeting to be left in Writing, in the Hands of the Secretary 5 who is to enter the SubUance of what pafles at each Affembly in a Regifter : and at the End of every Year, to publifh. the Hiftory, or Tranfactions of the Academy for that Year.
No Perfon, not a Member, to be prefent at their ordi- nary Meetings ; unlefs fuch as are introduced by the Secre- tary, to propofe fome new Machine or Difcovery 5 tho their publick Meetings, twice a-year, {hall be open to every body. To encourage the Members to continue their Labours,; the King engages not only to pay the ordinary Penfions j but even to give extraordinary Gratifications, according to the Merit of their refpective Performances : furnifning, withal, the Expence of the Experiments, and other Inqui ries ncceflary to be made. — Their Motto, Invcnit%3 fer fecit. In the Year 1716, the Duke of Orleans, then Regent^ made an Alteration in their Conftitution ; augmenting the Number of Honoraries, and of Affbciates capable of being Foreigners, to twelve ; admitting Regulars among fuch AI- fociates $ fup^refling the Clafs of Eleves, and eitabli filing, in lieu thereof, a new Clafs of twelve Ad]unBs, to the fix feveral Kinds of Sciences cultivated by the Academy : and, laftly, appointing a Vice-Prefident, to be chafe yearly by the King, out 0^ the Hon6rary Members ; and a Director and Sub-: director out of the Penfion.uies.
Their Secretary, M. He Fo?ztenelle, has oblig'd the Publick with 28 elegant Volumes of the Productions of this illuftri- Ous Body 5 under the Title of Hijloire de lAcademe Royale, &c. avec les Memoires de Mathematiqzte & de Tkyfique tirez> des Regijlres, &c.
Academy of 'Painting, was eftabliflYd fifty Years ago, under the Cardinal Mazarin, firft Protector thereof; and the Chancellor Seguier, Vice-Protector.
It confifts of a Director, a Chancellor, four Rcftors, a Treafurer, twelve Profeffbrs ; Adjuncts to the Rectors and Profeffbrs $ Counfellors 5 a Secretary ; a Profeflbr fbr Anatomy, and another for Geometry, and Perfpective.
Perfons are here admitted either in Quality of Painters or Sculptors. — The Painters are admitted according to their refpedtive Talents ; there being a Diftinction made between thofe who work in Hiftory, and thofe who only paint Por- traits, or Landfkips, or Beafts, or Fruits, or Flowers, or paint in Mignature 5 or only Defign; or Engrave 5 or Carve, £#c.
Academy of Medals and Infcriptions, was erected for the Study and Explanation of antient Monuments ; and to confecrate great and memorable Events to Pofterity, by fimi- lar Monuments j as Medals, Relievo's, Infcriptions, &c.
Academy of Politicks, is compofed of fix Perfons, who meet on certain Days each Week at the Louvre, in the Chamber where the Papers relating to foreign Affairs are lodg'd. — Here they perufe fuch Papers as are put in their Hands, by order of the Secretary for foreign Affairs, who acquaints the King with the Progreffes they make, and the Capacities of each, that his Majefty may employ them ac- cordingly.
French Academy, eftablifh'd for the Improvement and Refining of the Language. See French, and Language. Academy of Mttjick, is no other than the Managers and Directors of the Opera. See Opera.
The French have alfo confiderable Academes in raoft of their great Cities ; as, at Montpelier, a Royal Academy of Sciences, on the like Footing as that at Paris ; being as it were a Counterpart thereof: At T'holoufe, an Academy un- der the Denomination of Lanternijls : Others at Niftnes, Aries, &c. 'The Royal Spanifh Academy, is an Academy eftablifh'd
at Madrid, on the Model of the French Academy, •
E The
