XL^O society of Arcadia. Oct. 17. 



have enjoj'ed it, and have, in the summer time, tlieir 

 jjublic and private meetings. The form is of a small 

 simple amphitheatre, with three rows of stonescats, sur- 

 rounded with fine luxuriant laurel trees ; the walls 

 that enclose the amphitheatre are decorated with 

 marble inscriptions to the memory of the deceased Ar- 

 acdians, who either had, by an universal renown, ad- 

 ded particular lustre to the society of Arcadia, or had 

 bestowed upon it some extraordinary favour. 



The first that liad this honour decreed to him, se- 

 ven years after the institution of Arcadia, was jlmi- 

 cio (Dr Francesco Redi,) well known as a profound 

 philosopher, and an elegant poet. To obtain such 

 a degree, one of the Arcadians presents a request for 

 making an inscription to the memory of any one he 

 thinks deserving of such h distinction. The custode 

 then gives the commifsion to some fit person of the 

 society to write his life, which is submitted to the 

 inspection of three other Arcadians, in order to ex- 

 amine whether, from it, there results the universal fame 

 required, after which they give their opinion in wri- 

 ting, and the person who makes the request, is at the 

 cxpence of the stone, as well as of the portrait in cop- 

 perplate, which, with a copy of the itiscription, is pre- 

 fixed to the life that is printed when there is a suffi- 

 cient number to make a volume. There are already 

 five volumes in 4to of them, and materials ready for 

 a sixth *. 



* As a specimen of the true, neat s"mplklty of the la;iicbiry stile, I have 

 chccn f.iMX of the inscriptions, out of ihe mjny that exist. Th» fi's: is to 

 the memory of Vmcenxo Leonio\ the scon J oi pope Clement xi; the 

 t)\\xA of ViKcemo yi-v'tani, the last scholar ofGalilcs] and the fourth of 

 ihe Marchaa Pctror.illa T.faJ^ir.i, an e'cgmt po:tefs. 



