THEBritishAcademy,&c.SUCH is our Case at present, that if we have a Mind to be agreeably entertain’d with the State of our own Affairs, we must look into Foreign Papers, rather than into those that are publish’d here by Authority; and therefore I often read theDutchPrints with the same Eagerness and Pleasure, as theFrenchatParisread thePost Boy. If we have no good News for Our selves here, we may sometimes find some fromHolland; and what is good, is so rare, that I had rather have it from any Place, than not at all. I was so delighted with the following Paragraph in theAmsterdamGazette of the 20th ofMay1712.N.S.that I cou’d not help transcribing, and turning it intoEnglish, that such Comfortable Tidings toMen of Obscure Merit, might be convey’d all over the Nation. And I shall endeavour to prove, that the Design there mention’d, is much likelier to succeed inEngland, than ever it was inFrance.The Words of theDutchGazette are as follows,Din the Article fromLondon.Il s’est formé ici depuis peuune Societé pour recompenser & encourager le Mérite, par report aux beaux Arts. Elle doit être composée de 21 Membres, dont il y en a déja 19 d’Arretez savoir lesDucsde Beaufort & d’Ormond; les Comites d’Arran & d’Orrery: les Lords Duplin, Gendre du Grand Tresorier; Harley, Fils dudit Tresorier; Lansdowne, Secretaire des Guerres; Masham & Bathurst: les Chevalier Windham: Messieurs St. Jean, Secretaire d’Etat: Harcourt Fils du Garde des Seaux; Raymond Solliciteur-General; les Colonels Hill & Desney; Swif, Docteur en Theologie; Prior Arbuthnott, Medicin de la Reine; & Friend, Medicin duDucd’Ormond. Ces Messieurs, qui ont reservé de Nommer les Deux autre, Membres lors qu’ils le jugeront à propos, s’assemblanttousles Jeudis, & ont déja fait des gratifications à quelques Auteurs dont les ouvrages ont été goûtez, & recommandé d’autres aux Ministres d’Etat pour avoir quelque Etablissement.There has been lately form’d herea Society to Reward and Encourage Merit, with respect to the Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is to be composed of 21 Members, of which Number there are already 19 chosen: That is to say, The Dukes ofBeaufortandOrmond; the Earls ofArranandOrrory; the LordsDuplin, Son-in-Law of the Great Treasurer;Harley, Son of the said Treasurer;Lansdown, Secretary of War;MashamandBathurst; SirW. Windham; Mr.St. John, Secretary of State;Harcourt, Son of the Lord Keeper; andRaymond, Sollicitor-General: The ColonelsHillandDesney;Swift, Doctor of Divinity;Prior,Arbuthnottthe Queen’s Physician; andFriend, Physician to the Duke ofOrmond. These Gentlemen who have deferr’d naming the other Two Members till such time as they think fit, do now assemble everyThursday, and have already given Rewards to some Authors, whose Works have been approved of, and have recommended Others to the Ministers of State, that they may have some Establishment.This Fact being thus fairly related, the Reader is desired to observe, That it was in the Year 1629, under the single Ministry of CardinalRichlieu, when a Society of such great Wits was first form’d atParis; which was soon after establish’d, by an Edict of the King, with the Style and Title of theFrenchAcademy. And it is left to be determin’d by all Judicious Readers, whether thisBritishSeminary of Wit and Learning is not a Copy of that Renown’d Society inFrance; and whether the Design and Model of it has not been approved of there, since our happy Correspondence with that Ingenious Nation.TheFrenchSociety consisted only at their first Meeting, of Seven or Eight Men of Letters, who met together to talk about their Books and Writings: And it was some time before MonsieurServien, Secretary of State, and other Persons, distinguish’d by their Condition, as well as by their Merit, were added to the Company. But here we see theBritishSociety, at the very first Formation of it, is compos’d of no less than Two Dukes, not only capable ofRewarding, but of Judging, as well as of Writing: And likewise ofTwo Earls; Five Lords; One Knight; One Secretary of State; Two Colonels of Foot, and One Squire: Not to mention the Lawyer; the Doctors; the Religious Priest; and the Poet. What therefore may we not expect from the future Progress of this Society, which sets out with so much greater Lustre, than that of its Original atParis; so famous now all overEurope.The Great End and Business of theFrenchAcademy, was to correct and refine their Language, as may be seen at large in the History of that Academy, written by MonsieurPelisson: And we have already a Proposal, publish’d the 17th ofMay1712,for Correcting, Improving, and Ascertaining theEnglishTongue, in a Letter to the most HonourableRobertEarl ofOxfordandMortimer, Lord High Treasurer ofGreat Britain: ByJonathan Swift, D.D.Louis, King of France, by Letters Patents, in the Year 1635, having mention’d the Great Things done for the Glory and Embellishment ofFrance, by his dearly belov’d Cousin the CardinalRichlieu, His Principal Minister of State, gives that Minister Power and Authority to call himself the Chief, and the Protector of theFrenchAcademy: And doubtless the Scheme of thisBritishAcademy is form’d with a View no less Glorious; That the Great and Memorable Actions of thisMinister; the mighty Things perfom’d for the Allies and the Common Cause; the vast Successes against the Enemy; and, above all, the Restoring of Credit, and Paying the Publick Debts, may be fairly transmitted to Posterity.That this is the chief Design of ournew Erected Society, is plainly insinuated by the Author of the Letter before mentioned; for which the Reader may please to see his own Words:If Things go on, says he,at the present Rate, (that is, if our Language be not corrected, improved, and ascertain’d,)all I can promise your Lordship, is, That about Two hundred Years hence some painful Compiler, who will be at the Trouble of studying old Language, may inform the World, that in the Reign ofQueenANNE,ROBERTEarl ofOXFORD,a very Wise and Excellent Man, was madeHigh Treasurer, and saved his Countrey.[Mark those last Words, pray, as you go along.]Thus much he may be able to pick out, and willing to transfer into his New History; but the rest of your Character which I, or any other Writer, may value ourselves by drawing: And the Particular Account of thegreatThings, done under your Ministry, for which you are already so Celebrated inmostParts ofEurope, will probably be dropt.So far that Author: But I cannot help differing with him in one Particular: For I am firmly of Opinion, that altho our Language should happen not to beimprovedorascertain’d, yet thegreat Thingsdone by thatvery Wise and Excellent Man, will not so easily be forgotten; nor therestof his Character bedropt, for which he is alreadyso celebrated in most Parts ofEurope.Besides, as there seems to be an Exact Agreement between the intended Protector of this Society, and that of theFrenchAcademy in its Infancy, there can be no Doubt but the great Work will be carried on after much the same Manner, and under the same Statutes and Regulations. And it appears in MonsieurPelisson’s History of theFrenchAcademy, That every Member of it, both Present and Future, Friend or Foe, was oblig’d in Gratitude to their Protector, torevere his Virtue and his Memory. TheBritishAcademicians being therefore under the same Obligation, how is it possible that theirProtector’sVertueorMemoryshould ever be forgotten?And there is one considerable Advantage, which our New Academy will have above theFrench. For it appears by the History just mention’d, that after theFrenchKing had given his Consent, that his dear Cousin should be Chief of the Academy, the Parliament could not for a long while be brought to confirm the Patent. And MonsieurPelissongives the Reasons of it.CardinalRichlieu, says he,having carried theRoyal Authoritya great deal higher than any one had done before him; tho belov’d by some, was envy’d by others, hated and detested by many, fear’d and dreaded by all. His Creatures, continues he,talk’d of this Design with excessive Encomiums. Never, said they,were the past Ages possest of so much Eloquence as ours is like to be. We shall out-do all that went before us, and all that shall come after. And the greatest Share of the Glory will redound to the Academy and the Cardinal. Others, on the contrary, treated this Design as ridiculous. They accused the Academy as aiming to give Laws to Things not susceptible of them, and were perpetually falling upon them with Jests and Satyrs. Distrustful People could not tell but there might be a Snake in the Grass; and were afraid the establishing this Society would be a new Support of his Domination, that they were onlyhis Pensioners, maintain’d by him to justify all his Actions, and make Observations on those of others.These were the Difficulties in France: But our New Society need fear no such Opposition as theFrenchmenfound from their Parliament ofParis. OurParl——twill most certainly be as forward to pass an Act in Favour of them and their Protector, as they have been to do so many great Things already for him and the Nation, and even to pass a Vote in his Praise. Besides, there is no Body can pretend thathe has ever carried the Royal Authority higher than any one had done before him; nor can it be imagin’d that he has a thousandth Part of the Enemies that CardinalRichlieuhad: And I am fully persuaded, that all Things being consider’d, both at Home and Abroad, there is not a Man in the World thatenvieshim. And tho he has been suspected tomaintain Pensioners to justify his own Actions, and make Observations on those of others; yet, whoever will look carefully over the List of the Members, must needs acquit him of that Calumny, and confess, that he who pick’d out such a Set ofWitsandPatrons, could have no such base Thoughts in his Head.When theFrenchAcademy had settled their Statutes, the next Thing they didwas to get a Seal. And what was the Impression? Why, only their Protectors Picture; not engrav’d like aSeneca’s Head, but drawn at length with a modest Word on the Reverse.To Immortality.Something like this may be very easily done here. But I am not for putting on the Reverse,the Bill for the Protestant Succession; tho it may be seen in the Protector’s Hand at SirG. Kneller’s: For that is too gross, even for a common Picture. But what think you of his own Head on one Side and Twelve Lords on the Reverse? Or since all other Societies have taken theirMotto’sfrom the Old World, suppose he fetch’d one from the New; and clapp’d his own Face upon the Frontispiece, with this Word on the Reverse, written in Cyphers,THE SOUTH-SEA.I have but one or two Objections to the Statutes inFrance, which I cannot get over. One is, they must not meddle with Matters of Religion. This might have very ill Consequences, and hinder their Top Wit from shewing his Talents: I mean that Orthodox Divine, who it is well known was never half so witty upon any other Subject, as upon that of Religion. Another Law of theirs that gives me Offence, is, The Law by which they are oblig’dto judge of no-body’s Works but their own. For perhaps our Academy may not be in a Humour to write any Thing these Hundred Years, except a Trifle now and then, as anExaminer, aConduct, aJohn Bull, or so. All which Works are allowable, because theFrenchStatute says,Political Matters may be treated of conformably to the Authority of the State.There was one Rule more among theFrenchAcademicians, that will never do inEnglandwhich is their forbidding the Academy’s Certificate to be printed before the Writings of the Members, and allowing ’em only to put,Par un tel de l’Academie Francoise; As if one should say,By such a Person of theBritishAcademy. This would make mad Work here: Every littleGrubstreetScribler would presently be publishing his Trash, with the stolen Title ofMy Lord such a one, or Brigadier such a one, of theBritishAcademy.And how should we be able to distinguish the Right from the Wrong, unless their License be printed before in Form, like a Privilege Royal,To our Trusty and Well-belovedAbel Roper, ofLondon, Bookseller.Having just mention’dAbel, it puts me in Mind of a certain Officer belonging to theFrenchAcademy, call’da Library-Keeper. This was given to oneCamusat, the most Eminent Bookseller then inParis: And I presume no body will say that TrustyAbelis not the fittest Man inEnglandfor that Office: He being supposed not only to have printed, but even to have father’d some considerable Works of the most Elegant of all our Academicians.There’s nothing else very remarkable in the Laws of theFrench Academy, except their forbidding any Member to write in their Defence, which it is probable will be thought worth observing here. For if our Society should pretend to answer every impertinent Thing that will be written against them, they would be finely set to Work. If therefore they should happen to be daily pelted at, the shortest way will be to despise their Opponents, and to consider themselves as Persons above the Reach of Malice; incorporated under a glorious Protector for some good End or other; and in daily Expectation of having a Charter and an Act of Parliament to back them; and of being made Wits by the Laws of the Land.I cannot conclude without observing how pat every Thing happens: TheFrenchSociety met onThursdays. So the Newstells us, theEnglishdo; with this good difference: TheFrenchmet after they had din’d. TheEnglish, they say, dine together, and drink a chearful Glass afterwards; which has great Efficacy in Matters of Wit and Eloquence, as well for those that are towrite, as those that are toreward. Wine is therefore call’dGenerous, and is as nearly ally’d to Wit, as Wit is to Madness. How much wittier are some Men over the third Bottle than over the first! A strong Reason that the Meeting should be at a Tavern, and not any private House, which theFrenchAcademy found very inconvenient; for whenever the Members, at whose Houses they met, took a Fancy to Marry, their Wives turn’d the Wits out of Doors; as it happen’d in the Case of MonsieurConrartand some others. Thus they were driven from one place to another, till their Protector got them a Room in the King’s own Palace; which cannot conveniently be done inEnglandwhilst Lodgings are so scarce: And therefore I hope they will drink on as they do, tillWhitehallis rebuilt. And here I will leave them for the present: When their two other Members are chosen, it may perhaps be not unseasonable to acquaint the Publick with thefurther Progress of this hopeful Society; and to shew all the World how far we not only imitate or copy, but even excel our Friends theFrench. In the mean time, I hope, some of their best Writers will be order’d to give us a short Touch or Essay of their Eloquence, uponour late Glorious Enterprize against theFrench, onTuesdaythe 20th of this presentMay, under the Command of his Grace the D. ofOrm—d.
THE
SUCH is our Case at present, that if we have a Mind to be agreeably entertain’d with the State of our own Affairs, we must look into Foreign Papers, rather than into those that are publish’d here by Authority; and therefore I often read theDutchPrints with the same Eagerness and Pleasure, as theFrenchatParisread thePost Boy. If we have no good News for Our selves here, we may sometimes find some fromHolland; and what is good, is so rare, that I had rather have it from any Place, than not at all. I was so delighted with the following Paragraph in theAmsterdamGazette of the 20th ofMay1712.N.S.that I cou’d not help transcribing, and turning it intoEnglish, that such Comfortable Tidings toMen of Obscure Merit, might be convey’d all over the Nation. And I shall endeavour to prove, that the Design there mention’d, is much likelier to succeed inEngland, than ever it was inFrance.
The Words of theDutchGazette are as follows,Din the Article fromLondon.
Il s’est formé ici depuis peuune Societé pour recompenser & encourager le Mérite, par report aux beaux Arts. Elle doit être composée de 21 Membres, dont il y en a déja 19 d’Arretez savoir lesDucsde Beaufort & d’Ormond; les Comites d’Arran & d’Orrery: les Lords Duplin, Gendre du Grand Tresorier; Harley, Fils dudit Tresorier; Lansdowne, Secretaire des Guerres; Masham & Bathurst: les Chevalier Windham: Messieurs St. Jean, Secretaire d’Etat: Harcourt Fils du Garde des Seaux; Raymond Solliciteur-General; les Colonels Hill & Desney; Swif, Docteur en Theologie; Prior Arbuthnott, Medicin de la Reine; & Friend, Medicin duDucd’Ormond. Ces Messieurs, qui ont reservé de Nommer les Deux autre, Membres lors qu’ils le jugeront à propos, s’assemblanttousles Jeudis, & ont déja fait des gratifications à quelques Auteurs dont les ouvrages ont été goûtez, & recommandé d’autres aux Ministres d’Etat pour avoir quelque Etablissement.
There has been lately form’d herea Society to Reward and Encourage Merit, with respect to the Liberal Arts and Sciences. It is to be composed of 21 Members, of which Number there are already 19 chosen: That is to say, The Dukes ofBeaufortandOrmond; the Earls ofArranandOrrory; the LordsDuplin, Son-in-Law of the Great Treasurer;Harley, Son of the said Treasurer;Lansdown, Secretary of War;MashamandBathurst; SirW. Windham; Mr.St. John, Secretary of State;Harcourt, Son of the Lord Keeper; andRaymond, Sollicitor-General: The ColonelsHillandDesney;Swift, Doctor of Divinity;Prior,Arbuthnottthe Queen’s Physician; andFriend, Physician to the Duke ofOrmond. These Gentlemen who have deferr’d naming the other Two Members till such time as they think fit, do now assemble everyThursday, and have already given Rewards to some Authors, whose Works have been approved of, and have recommended Others to the Ministers of State, that they may have some Establishment.
This Fact being thus fairly related, the Reader is desired to observe, That it was in the Year 1629, under the single Ministry of CardinalRichlieu, when a Society of such great Wits was first form’d atParis; which was soon after establish’d, by an Edict of the King, with the Style and Title of theFrenchAcademy. And it is left to be determin’d by all Judicious Readers, whether thisBritishSeminary of Wit and Learning is not a Copy of that Renown’d Society inFrance; and whether the Design and Model of it has not been approved of there, since our happy Correspondence with that Ingenious Nation.
TheFrenchSociety consisted only at their first Meeting, of Seven or Eight Men of Letters, who met together to talk about their Books and Writings: And it was some time before MonsieurServien, Secretary of State, and other Persons, distinguish’d by their Condition, as well as by their Merit, were added to the Company. But here we see theBritishSociety, at the very first Formation of it, is compos’d of no less than Two Dukes, not only capable ofRewarding, but of Judging, as well as of Writing: And likewise ofTwo Earls; Five Lords; One Knight; One Secretary of State; Two Colonels of Foot, and One Squire: Not to mention the Lawyer; the Doctors; the Religious Priest; and the Poet. What therefore may we not expect from the future Progress of this Society, which sets out with so much greater Lustre, than that of its Original atParis; so famous now all overEurope.
The Great End and Business of theFrenchAcademy, was to correct and refine their Language, as may be seen at large in the History of that Academy, written by MonsieurPelisson: And we have already a Proposal, publish’d the 17th ofMay1712,for Correcting, Improving, and Ascertaining theEnglishTongue, in a Letter to the most HonourableRobertEarl ofOxfordandMortimer, Lord High Treasurer ofGreat Britain: ByJonathan Swift, D.D.
Louis, King of France, by Letters Patents, in the Year 1635, having mention’d the Great Things done for the Glory and Embellishment ofFrance, by his dearly belov’d Cousin the CardinalRichlieu, His Principal Minister of State, gives that Minister Power and Authority to call himself the Chief, and the Protector of theFrenchAcademy: And doubtless the Scheme of thisBritishAcademy is form’d with a View no less Glorious; That the Great and Memorable Actions of thisMinister; the mighty Things perfom’d for the Allies and the Common Cause; the vast Successes against the Enemy; and, above all, the Restoring of Credit, and Paying the Publick Debts, may be fairly transmitted to Posterity.
That this is the chief Design of ournew Erected Society, is plainly insinuated by the Author of the Letter before mentioned; for which the Reader may please to see his own Words:If Things go on, says he,at the present Rate, (that is, if our Language be not corrected, improved, and ascertain’d,)all I can promise your Lordship, is, That about Two hundred Years hence some painful Compiler, who will be at the Trouble of studying old Language, may inform the World, that in the Reign ofQueenANNE,ROBERTEarl ofOXFORD,a very Wise and Excellent Man, was madeHigh Treasurer, and saved his Countrey.[Mark those last Words, pray, as you go along.]Thus much he may be able to pick out, and willing to transfer into his New History; but the rest of your Character which I, or any other Writer, may value ourselves by drawing: And the Particular Account of thegreatThings, done under your Ministry, for which you are already so Celebrated inmostParts ofEurope, will probably be dropt.So far that Author: But I cannot help differing with him in one Particular: For I am firmly of Opinion, that altho our Language should happen not to beimprovedorascertain’d, yet thegreat Thingsdone by thatvery Wise and Excellent Man, will not so easily be forgotten; nor therestof his Character bedropt, for which he is alreadyso celebrated in most Parts ofEurope.
Besides, as there seems to be an Exact Agreement between the intended Protector of this Society, and that of theFrenchAcademy in its Infancy, there can be no Doubt but the great Work will be carried on after much the same Manner, and under the same Statutes and Regulations. And it appears in MonsieurPelisson’s History of theFrenchAcademy, That every Member of it, both Present and Future, Friend or Foe, was oblig’d in Gratitude to their Protector, torevere his Virtue and his Memory. TheBritishAcademicians being therefore under the same Obligation, how is it possible that theirProtector’sVertueorMemoryshould ever be forgotten?
And there is one considerable Advantage, which our New Academy will have above theFrench. For it appears by the History just mention’d, that after theFrenchKing had given his Consent, that his dear Cousin should be Chief of the Academy, the Parliament could not for a long while be brought to confirm the Patent. And MonsieurPelissongives the Reasons of it.CardinalRichlieu, says he,having carried theRoyal Authoritya great deal higher than any one had done before him; tho belov’d by some, was envy’d by others, hated and detested by many, fear’d and dreaded by all. His Creatures, continues he,talk’d of this Design with excessive Encomiums. Never, said they,were the past Ages possest of so much Eloquence as ours is like to be. We shall out-do all that went before us, and all that shall come after. And the greatest Share of the Glory will redound to the Academy and the Cardinal. Others, on the contrary, treated this Design as ridiculous. They accused the Academy as aiming to give Laws to Things not susceptible of them, and were perpetually falling upon them with Jests and Satyrs. Distrustful People could not tell but there might be a Snake in the Grass; and were afraid the establishing this Society would be a new Support of his Domination, that they were onlyhis Pensioners, maintain’d by him to justify all his Actions, and make Observations on those of others.These were the Difficulties in France: But our New Society need fear no such Opposition as theFrenchmenfound from their Parliament ofParis. OurParl——twill most certainly be as forward to pass an Act in Favour of them and their Protector, as they have been to do so many great Things already for him and the Nation, and even to pass a Vote in his Praise. Besides, there is no Body can pretend thathe has ever carried the Royal Authority higher than any one had done before him; nor can it be imagin’d that he has a thousandth Part of the Enemies that CardinalRichlieuhad: And I am fully persuaded, that all Things being consider’d, both at Home and Abroad, there is not a Man in the World thatenvieshim. And tho he has been suspected tomaintain Pensioners to justify his own Actions, and make Observations on those of others; yet, whoever will look carefully over the List of the Members, must needs acquit him of that Calumny, and confess, that he who pick’d out such a Set ofWitsandPatrons, could have no such base Thoughts in his Head.
When theFrenchAcademy had settled their Statutes, the next Thing they didwas to get a Seal. And what was the Impression? Why, only their Protectors Picture; not engrav’d like aSeneca’s Head, but drawn at length with a modest Word on the Reverse.To Immortality.Something like this may be very easily done here. But I am not for putting on the Reverse,the Bill for the Protestant Succession; tho it may be seen in the Protector’s Hand at SirG. Kneller’s: For that is too gross, even for a common Picture. But what think you of his own Head on one Side and Twelve Lords on the Reverse? Or since all other Societies have taken theirMotto’sfrom the Old World, suppose he fetch’d one from the New; and clapp’d his own Face upon the Frontispiece, with this Word on the Reverse, written in Cyphers,THE SOUTH-SEA.
I have but one or two Objections to the Statutes inFrance, which I cannot get over. One is, they must not meddle with Matters of Religion. This might have very ill Consequences, and hinder their Top Wit from shewing his Talents: I mean that Orthodox Divine, who it is well known was never half so witty upon any other Subject, as upon that of Religion. Another Law of theirs that gives me Offence, is, The Law by which they are oblig’dto judge of no-body’s Works but their own. For perhaps our Academy may not be in a Humour to write any Thing these Hundred Years, except a Trifle now and then, as anExaminer, aConduct, aJohn Bull, or so. All which Works are allowable, because theFrenchStatute says,Political Matters may be treated of conformably to the Authority of the State.
There was one Rule more among theFrenchAcademicians, that will never do inEnglandwhich is their forbidding the Academy’s Certificate to be printed before the Writings of the Members, and allowing ’em only to put,Par un tel de l’Academie Francoise; As if one should say,By such a Person of theBritishAcademy. This would make mad Work here: Every littleGrubstreetScribler would presently be publishing his Trash, with the stolen Title ofMy Lord such a one, or Brigadier such a one, of theBritishAcademy.And how should we be able to distinguish the Right from the Wrong, unless their License be printed before in Form, like a Privilege Royal,To our Trusty and Well-belovedAbel Roper, ofLondon, Bookseller.
Having just mention’dAbel, it puts me in Mind of a certain Officer belonging to theFrenchAcademy, call’da Library-Keeper. This was given to oneCamusat, the most Eminent Bookseller then inParis: And I presume no body will say that TrustyAbelis not the fittest Man inEnglandfor that Office: He being supposed not only to have printed, but even to have father’d some considerable Works of the most Elegant of all our Academicians.
There’s nothing else very remarkable in the Laws of theFrench Academy, except their forbidding any Member to write in their Defence, which it is probable will be thought worth observing here. For if our Society should pretend to answer every impertinent Thing that will be written against them, they would be finely set to Work. If therefore they should happen to be daily pelted at, the shortest way will be to despise their Opponents, and to consider themselves as Persons above the Reach of Malice; incorporated under a glorious Protector for some good End or other; and in daily Expectation of having a Charter and an Act of Parliament to back them; and of being made Wits by the Laws of the Land.
I cannot conclude without observing how pat every Thing happens: TheFrenchSociety met onThursdays. So the Newstells us, theEnglishdo; with this good difference: TheFrenchmet after they had din’d. TheEnglish, they say, dine together, and drink a chearful Glass afterwards; which has great Efficacy in Matters of Wit and Eloquence, as well for those that are towrite, as those that are toreward. Wine is therefore call’dGenerous, and is as nearly ally’d to Wit, as Wit is to Madness. How much wittier are some Men over the third Bottle than over the first! A strong Reason that the Meeting should be at a Tavern, and not any private House, which theFrenchAcademy found very inconvenient; for whenever the Members, at whose Houses they met, took a Fancy to Marry, their Wives turn’d the Wits out of Doors; as it happen’d in the Case of MonsieurConrartand some others. Thus they were driven from one place to another, till their Protector got them a Room in the King’s own Palace; which cannot conveniently be done inEnglandwhilst Lodgings are so scarce: And therefore I hope they will drink on as they do, tillWhitehallis rebuilt. And here I will leave them for the present: When their two other Members are chosen, it may perhaps be not unseasonable to acquaint the Publick with thefurther Progress of this hopeful Society; and to shew all the World how far we not only imitate or copy, but even excel our Friends theFrench. In the mean time, I hope, some of their best Writers will be order’d to give us a short Touch or Essay of their Eloquence, uponour late Glorious Enterprize against theFrench, onTuesdaythe 20th of this presentMay, under the Command of his Grace the D. ofOrm—d.
FINIS.
THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETYANNOUNCES ITSPublications for the Third Year (1948-1949)At least twoitems will be printed from each of thethreefollowing groups:Many of the listed titles are available as Project Gutenberg e-texts. Where possible, links are included. Some announced titles were published in a later year, or not at all.Series IV:Men, Manners, and CriticsSir John Falstaff (pseud.),The Theatre(1720).e-text 15999Aaron Hill, Preface toThe Creation; and Thomas Brereton, Preface toEsther.e-text 15870: Hill article, and anonymous articleOf GeniusNed Ward, Selected Tracts.Series V:DramaEdward Moore,The Gamester(1753).e-text 16267Nevil Payne,Fatal Jealousy(1673).e-text 16916Mrs. Centlivre,The Busie Body(1709).Published in year 4:e-text 16740Charles Macklin,Man of the World(1781).Published in year 5:e-text 14463Series VI:Poetry and LanguageJohn Oldmixon,Reflections on Dr. Swift’s Letter to Harley(1712); and Arthur Mainwaring,The British Academy(1712).Pierre Nicole,De Epigrammate.In preparation, with titleAn Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in Which from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing and Rejecting EpigramsAndre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry.Published in year 13 asThe preface to Aristotle’s Art of poetryIssues will appear, as usual, in May, July, September, November, January, and March. In spite of rising costs, membership fees will be kept at the present annual rate of $2.50 in the United States and Canada; $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent. British and continental subscriptions should be sent to B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. American and Canadian subscriptions may be sent to any one of the General Editors.TO THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY:I enclose the membership fee forthe third yearthe second and third yearthe first, second, and third yearNameAddressNote:All income received by the Society is devoted to defraying cost of printing and mailing.THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETYMAKES AVAILABLEInexpensive Reprints of Rare MaterialsFROMENGLISH LITERATURE OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIESStudents, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and philology will find the publications valuable.The Johnsonian News Letterhas said of them: “Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list.â€The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent.Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers.New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year’s publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee.During the first two years the publications are issued in three series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage.PUBLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR (1946-1947)May, 1946:Series I, No. 1—Richard Blackmore’sEssay upon Wit(1716), and Addison’sFreeholderNo. 45 (1716).e-text 13484July, 1946:Series II, No. 1—Samuel Cobb’sOf Poetry and Discourse on Criticism(1707).e-text 14528Sept., 1946:Series III, No. 1—Anon.,Letter to A. H. Esq.; concerning the Stage(1698), and Richard Willis’Occasional PaperNo. IX (1698).e-text 14047Nov., 1946:Series I, No. 2—Anon.,Essay on Wit(1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton’sAdventurerNos. 127 and 133.e-text 14973Jan., 1947:Series II, No. 2—Samuel Wesley’sEpistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry(1700) andEssay on Heroic Poetry(1693).e-text 16506March, 1947:Series III, No. 2—Anon.,Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage(1704) and anon.,Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage(1704).e-text 15656PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948)May, 1947:Series I, No. 3—John Gay’sThe Present State of Wit; and a section on Wit fromThe English Theophrastus. With an Introduction by Donald Bond.e-text 14800July, 1947:Series II, No. 3—Rapin’sDe Carmine Pastorali, translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton.e-text 14495Sept., 1947:Series III, No. 3—T. Hanmer’s (?)Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe.e-text 14899Nov., 1947:Series I, No. 4—Corbyn Morris’Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford.e-text 16233Jan., 1948:Series II, No. 4—Thomas Purney’sDiscourse on the Pastoral. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman.e-text 15313March, 1948:Series III, No. 4—Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.e-text 16335The list of publications is subject to modification in response to requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a scholar of special competence in the field represented.The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never be offered at “remainder†prices.GENERAL EDITORSRichard C. Boys,University of MichiganEdward Niles Hooker,University of California, Los AngelesH. T. Swedenberg, Jr.,University of California, Los AngelesADVISORY EDITORSEmmett L. Avery,State College of WashingtonLouis I. Bredvold,University of MichiganBenjamin Boyce,University of NebraskaCleanth Brooks, Yale UniversityJames L. Clifford,Columbia UniversityArthur Friedman,University of ChicagoSamuel H. Monk,University of MinnesotaJames Sutherland,Queen Mary College, LondonAddress communications to any of the General Editors. Applications for membership, together with membership fee, should be sent toThe Augustan Reprint Society310 Royce Hall, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 24, CaliforniaorCare ofProfessor Richard C. BoysAngell Hall, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MichiganPlease enroll me as a member of the Augustan Reprint Society.I enclose$2.505.00as the membership fee forthe second yearthe first and second yearNameAddress
At least twoitems will be printed from each of thethreefollowing groups:
Many of the listed titles are available as Project Gutenberg e-texts. Where possible, links are included. Some announced titles were published in a later year, or not at all.
Men, Manners, and Critics
Sir John Falstaff (pseud.),The Theatre(1720).e-text 15999
Aaron Hill, Preface toThe Creation; and Thomas Brereton, Preface toEsther.e-text 15870: Hill article, and anonymous articleOf Genius
Ned Ward, Selected Tracts.
Drama
Edward Moore,The Gamester(1753).e-text 16267
Nevil Payne,Fatal Jealousy(1673).e-text 16916
Mrs. Centlivre,The Busie Body(1709).Published in year 4:e-text 16740
Charles Macklin,Man of the World(1781).Published in year 5:e-text 14463
Poetry and Language
John Oldmixon,Reflections on Dr. Swift’s Letter to Harley(1712); and Arthur Mainwaring,The British Academy(1712).
Pierre Nicole,De Epigrammate.In preparation, with titleAn Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in Which from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing and Rejecting Epigrams
Andre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry.Published in year 13 asThe preface to Aristotle’s Art of poetry
Issues will appear, as usual, in May, July, September, November, January, and March. In spite of rising costs, membership fees will be kept at the present annual rate of $2.50 in the United States and Canada; $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent. British and continental subscriptions should be sent to B. H. Blackwell, Broad Street, Oxford, England. American and Canadian subscriptions may be sent to any one of the General Editors.
TO THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY:I enclose the membership fee forthe third yearthe second and third yearthe first, second, and third yearNameAddress
TO THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY:
Name
Address
Note:All income received by the Society is devoted to defraying cost of printing and mailing.
Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and philology will find the publications valuable.The Johnsonian News Letterhas said of them: “Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list.â€The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent.Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers.New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year’s publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee.During the first two years the publications are issued in three series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage.
Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and philology will find the publications valuable.The Johnsonian News Letterhas said of them: “Excellent facsimiles, and cheap in price, these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure to become a subscriber; and take it upon yourself to see that your college library is on the mailing list.â€
The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization, run without overhead expense. By careful management it is able to offer at least six publications each year at the unusually low membership fee of $2.50 per year in the United States and Canada, and $2.75 in Great Britain and the continent.
Libraries as well as individuals are eligible for membership. Since the publications are issued without profit, however, no discount can be allowed to libraries, agents, or booksellers.
New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year’s publications for $2.50, the annual membership fee.
During the first two years the publications are issued in three series: I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on the Stage.
Series I, No. 1—Richard Blackmore’sEssay upon Wit(1716), and Addison’sFreeholderNo. 45 (1716).e-text 13484
Series II, No. 1—Samuel Cobb’sOf Poetry and Discourse on Criticism(1707).e-text 14528
Series III, No. 1—Anon.,Letter to A. H. Esq.; concerning the Stage(1698), and Richard Willis’Occasional PaperNo. IX (1698).e-text 14047
Series I, No. 2—Anon.,Essay on Wit(1748), together with Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton’sAdventurerNos. 127 and 133.e-text 14973
Series II, No. 2—Samuel Wesley’sEpistle to a Friend Concerning Poetry(1700) andEssay on Heroic Poetry(1693).e-text 16506
Series III, No. 2—Anon.,Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the Stage(1704) and anon.,Some Thoughts Concerning the Stage(1704).e-text 15656
Series I, No. 3—John Gay’sThe Present State of Wit; and a section on Wit fromThe English Theophrastus. With an Introduction by Donald Bond.e-text 14800
Series II, No. 3—Rapin’sDe Carmine Pastorali, translated by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton.e-text 14495
Series III, No. 3—T. Hanmer’s (?)Some Remarks on the Tragedy of Hamlet. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe.e-text 14899
Series I, No. 4—Corbyn Morris’Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford.e-text 16233
Series II, No. 4—Thomas Purney’sDiscourse on the Pastoral. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman.e-text 15313
Series III, No. 4—Essays on the Stage, selected, with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch.e-text 16335
The list of publications is subject to modification in response to requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a scholar of special competence in the field represented.The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never be offered at “remainder†prices.
The list of publications is subject to modification in response to requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a scholar of special competence in the field represented.
The Augustan Reprints are available only to members. They will never be offered at “remainder†prices.
GENERAL EDITORSRichard C. Boys,University of MichiganEdward Niles Hooker,University of California, Los AngelesH. T. Swedenberg, Jr.,University of California, Los AngelesADVISORY EDITORSEmmett L. Avery,State College of WashingtonLouis I. Bredvold,University of MichiganBenjamin Boyce,University of NebraskaCleanth Brooks, Yale UniversityJames L. Clifford,Columbia UniversityArthur Friedman,University of ChicagoSamuel H. Monk,University of MinnesotaJames Sutherland,Queen Mary College, London
Richard C. Boys,University of Michigan
Edward Niles Hooker,University of California, Los Angeles
H. T. Swedenberg, Jr.,University of California, Los Angeles
Emmett L. Avery,State College of Washington
Louis I. Bredvold,University of Michigan
Benjamin Boyce,University of Nebraska
Cleanth Brooks, Yale University
James L. Clifford,Columbia University
Arthur Friedman,University of Chicago
Samuel H. Monk,University of Minnesota
James Sutherland,Queen Mary College, London
Address communications to any of the General Editors. Applications for membership, together with membership fee, should be sent to
The Augustan Reprint Society310 Royce Hall, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 24, California
or
Care ofProfessor Richard C. BoysAngell Hall, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Please enroll me as a member of the Augustan Reprint Society.IÂ enclose$2.505.00as the membership fee forthe second yearthe first and second yearNameAddress
Please enroll me as a member of the Augustan Reprint Society.
as the membership fee for
the second year
the first and second year
Name
Address
Transcriber’s NotesThe word “tho’†appears both with and without final apostrophe.ItalicsIn this section, the Italic (body text) and Roman (emphatic) types are garbled. As printed:page image... that theEd’swent away with the For to’s. and theUntil’sin that generalRout that fell on the whole Body of ...Corrected in e-text to:... that theEd’swent away with theFor to’s, and theUntil’sin that general Rout ...Horace,Ars Poetica(orDe Arte Poetica), ll. 52-61B.Horace, who tells us in his Epistlede arte Poetica, that Present Use is the final Judge of Language, (the Verse is too well known to need quoting)C.what he says,of Words going off and perishing like Leaves, and new ones coming in their Placeset nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem siGraeco fonte cadent, parce detorta. quid autemCaecilio Plautoque dabit Romanus ademptumVergilio Varioque? ego cur, acquirere pauca  [55]si possum, invideor, cum lingua Catonis et Ennisermonem patrium ditaverit et nova rerumsignatum praesente nota producere nomen.ut silvae foliis privos mutantur in annos,prima cadunt ita verborum vetus interit aetas  [60]et iuvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque.Il s’est formé ...Except for clear typographical errors, the French text was left unchanged because it is impossible to know where the errors originated. All accents are as printed.les Comites: Modern form isComtes.les Chevalier Windham: Error forleChevalier ...Fils du Garde des Seaux: Possible error for Sceaux. In modern French,seauis a coal scuttle whilesceauis a seal (here, Lord Keeper of the Seal).Swif: Error for Swift.Prior Arbuthnott: Missing punctuation such as , or ; between names.Medicin du Duc: SpellingMedicinunchanged.les Deux autre: Error forautres.
The word “tho’†appears both with and without final apostrophe.
In this section, the Italic (body text) and Roman (emphatic) types are garbled. As printed:
page image
... that theEd’swent away with the For to’s. and theUntil’sin that generalRout that fell on the whole Body of ...
Corrected in e-text to:
... that theEd’swent away with theFor to’s, and theUntil’sin that general Rout ...
B.Horace, who tells us in his Epistlede arte Poetica, that Present Use is the final Judge of Language, (the Verse is too well known to need quoting)
C.what he says,of Words going off and perishing like Leaves, and new ones coming in their Places
et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem siGraeco fonte cadent, parce detorta. quid autemCaecilio Plautoque dabit Romanus ademptumVergilio Varioque? ego cur, acquirere pauca  [55]si possum, invideor, cum lingua Catonis et Ennisermonem patrium ditaverit et nova rerumsignatum praesente nota producere nomen.ut silvae foliis privos mutantur in annos,prima cadunt ita verborum vetus interit aetas  [60]et iuvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque.
et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem si
Graeco fonte cadent, parce detorta. quid autem
Caecilio Plautoque dabit Romanus ademptum
Vergilio Varioque? ego cur, acquirere pauca  [55]
si possum, invideor, cum lingua Catonis et Enni
sermonem patrium ditaverit et nova rerum
signatum praesente nota producere nomen.
ut silvae foliis privos mutantur in annos,
prima cadunt ita verborum vetus interit aetas  [60]
et iuvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque.
Except for clear typographical errors, the French text was left unchanged because it is impossible to know where the errors originated. All accents are as printed.
les Comites: Modern form isComtes.les Chevalier Windham: Error forleChevalier ...Fils du Garde des Seaux: Possible error for Sceaux. In modern French,seauis a coal scuttle whilesceauis a seal (here, Lord Keeper of the Seal).Swif: Error for Swift.Prior Arbuthnott: Missing punctuation such as , or ; between names.Medicin du Duc: SpellingMedicinunchanged.les Deux autre: Error forautres.
les Comites: Modern form isComtes.
les Chevalier Windham: Error forleChevalier ...
Fils du Garde des Seaux: Possible error for Sceaux. In modern French,seauis a coal scuttle whilesceauis a seal (here, Lord Keeper of the Seal).
Swif: Error for Swift.
Prior Arbuthnott: Missing punctuation such as , or ; between names.
Medicin du Duc: SpellingMedicinunchanged.
les Deux autre: Error forautres.