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THE REIGN

most distinguished was the academy of polite learning. It was certainly very wonderful, that all the kingdoms in Europe, should have their academies near four centuries before Great-Britain, but George supplyed the want of every thing that reflected an honour on his country. This noble institution, consisted of a president, but the number of members was not limited; the former had two thousand pounds a year, and the latter three hundred each; the first creation was of twenty-three members: and perhaps no period of time can display a brighter union of geniuses. The most distinguished were, How, whose essays, letters, discourses, and poetical pieces, gained him such a great reputation, both for his learning and genius; he was the president. Reynolds, whose tragedies are so famous.—Young, the comic writer.—Price, the author of our British epic.—Minors,Wilson,