102 Letter from bis Priefian Majefty 
dirééted “towards the public benefit?” Tt has confined itfelf 
too much to the difcuffion of abftra& fubjeéts, and to ens © 
riching ‘metaphyfies with fpeculative theories and ‘learned 
difcoveries ; and has’not paid fufficient attention to dire& its 
labours to objects of real utility, the improvement ‘of ‘the 
arts and fciences; a fervice by which the Academy’ of Paris, 
for example, notwithftanding its many defeéts and Vicious 
organifation, formerly diftinguifhed itfelt. I could ‘with 
then that the Academy of Berlin would bwmanife itfelf 
more, if I may ufe the expreffion, than it has hitherto done, 
by giving encouragement to efforts that contribute’ to the 
“happinefs of common life, to the improvement of ‘every 
thing that concerns its wants, and to its conveniences, by 
‘the conftant application of the theory of ‘the feiences to 
things, rather than to fpeculative meditations; that it'would 
excite the national induftry, which fo often makes attempts 
in new channels without fuccefs for want of the neceffary 
knowledge, ‘by furnifhing’ it with’ the principles: fuited’ to 
*that art which it’ exercifes; that it would endeavour ‘to 
purify’the different fyfiems: of moral and literary education 
from many vague and erroneous principles, which  fafhion, 
and the imagination of fome enthufiaftic pedagogues, have 
“Tntrodticed, and which muft degtade future generations ; 
and that it would combat the prejudices and delufions’ of the 
people, as well as the licentious and deftructive efforts of the 
falfe philofophers of the prefent day. 
It is by di recting the labours of the different claffes of the 
academy towards objetts of this nature, and towards’! a 
multitude of others, the influence of which is equally fa- 
jutary to the {tate and to its fubjects, that this inftitution 
can acquire the moft glorious titles to the gratitude of the 
public. The talents of its members authorife me to enter- 
tain great hopes, and feem to have need only of permanent 
impulfe: in a good internal direétion,, It belongs to the 
academy to call forth the principles of) it from» its; own 
bolom, The fallowing are a few general, points, which may 
ferve. 
