100 Literary Association j. [Chap. XXIII. 



Academy of Sciences of France, were formed. 

 The former by Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hooke, and a 

 number of others, who at that time held a high 

 station in the philosophical world ; and the latter 

 by Lewis XR'^, prompted by the suggestion and 

 assisted by the counsels of his minister, M. Colbert. 

 But the eighteenth century is preeminently re- 

 markable for multiplying these associations; for a 

 great increase in the number of their publications ; 

 and for their unexampled activity and usefulness 

 in the cause of science. Bv far the frreater num- 

 ber of the societies for promoting useful know^ledge 

 Avhich now exist in the world, were formed du- 

 ring the period under consideration. Among these 

 the most important and useful are the Imperial 

 Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg; the Royal 

 Academies of Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, and 

 Lisbon ; the Royal Society of EdirJourgh, and the 

 Royal Irish Academy of Dublin. Beside these, 

 a multitude of others have arisen, under different 

 names, for various purposes, and at different pe- 

 riods of the century, in Great Britain, France, 

 Italy, Germany, and almost ever}'' literary coun- 

 try of Europe. Perhaps in no part of the world 

 have institutions of this kind been so much multi- 

 plied as in Italy; and next to her, in the number 

 and activity of similar associations, we may esti- 

 mate Franc^e. In the former there is scarcely a 

 town of any importance without an academy or 

 literary association; and in the latter they are 

 very numerous. 



In addition to the societies formed for promot- 

 ing general literature and science, the eighteenth 

 century h distinguished by the formation of many 



