THE PRUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 419 



of them could be brought to Berlin and elected to membership in the 

 academy. The statutes of the academy were framed after those of the 

 French Academy and the Royal Society of Great Britain. Leibniz was 

 to live in Hannover, but to come to Berlin when necessary and to have 

 the expenses of the journey paid. The astronomer Kirch alone was to 

 receive a salary. Kirch moved from Guben to Berlin, took up his 

 abode in the second story of the building which the government had 

 furnished for an observatory, brought with him his own instruments, 

 which were used in common with those the government owned, and 

 trusted to the income from a calendar, which he himself was to make, 

 for his support. The income from this source was estimated at about 

 $1,875 and the expense for the president, the astronomer, his assistant, 

 a secretary who should look after the business of the academy, a serv- 

 ant, instruments, books, experiments, printing, correspondence, medals 

 and miscellanies, at a trifle more. Perhaps no great enterprise has 

 ever been undertaken more confidently on the part of its leaders with 

 such small pecuniary resources at its command. The elector wished 

 provision made for the teaching and improving of the German lan- 

 guage. To him should be given the credit of forming the philological- 

 historical department of the academy. To his wife belongs the credit 

 of establishing its astronomical department, and to Leibniz of its sci- 

 entific departments. It was gravely proposed by Leibniz that the 

 academy should be also a missionary institution and should send the 

 gospel to the heathen. On this ground the churches might be asked 

 to contribute to its support. He would have it look after the sanitary 

 condition of the homes of the people, and the character of their food. 

 He had many plans for an increased income, but none of them proved 

 effective. Even the calendar monopoly met with opposition from 

 booksellers and was obtained with some difficulty. The letters actually 

 forming the academy were dated July 11, 1700, the elector's birthday, 

 and by them its members were required to give careful attention to the 

 German language and history, and especially to the political and ecclesi- 

 astical history of Brandenburg. The elector made himself the protector 

 of the academy, but directed it to govern itself through a council of its 

 own members. This council was to select and receive new members, 

 subject to his approval. Three classes were organized, one for the study 

 of physics and mathematics, another for the study of the German lan- 

 guage, and a third for the study of literature. No provision was made 

 for the study of philosophy, because Leibniz thought its principles un- 

 settled, and that its interests would be best promoted by considering 

 it in connection with other subjects. The members were divided into 

 ordinary, corresponding, home and foreign, and honorary members. 

 John Theodore Jabloniski, an older brother of the court preacher, was 

 made secretary, and at the same time directed to perform the duties 



