CllAP. XXIII.] Literary Associations. 101 



other associations, for promoting some particular 

 art or branch of science. There were instituted, 

 during this period, academies of Painting, of 

 Sculpture, of Music, of Inscriptions and Belles- 

 Lettres, of Lazv, of Medicine, of Arts and Manu- 

 factures, of Agriculture, and indeed for cultivat- 

 ing almost every particular department of human 

 art and knowledge. 



It was before remarked that the publications 

 made by these societies and academies, exhibit- 

 ing the result of their labours, were more nume- 

 rous, more valuable, and more generally circu- 

 lated, during the eighteenth century, than in any 

 former period. They amount to many hundred 

 volumes, and hold an important place among the 

 literary and scientific productions of the age. 



We had occasion to remark, in a former part 

 of this work, that the discoveries in Geography, 

 and the numerous improvements in Navigation, 

 during the last age, had led to a great and unex- 

 ampled increase of the intercourse of men. The 

 same effect has been produced, in modern times, 

 by the formation of so many learned societies, by 

 their great extent, their frequent meetings, their 

 numerous publications, and by their correspoii- 

 dewce and mutual interchange of literary ho- 

 nours. Never, assuredly, at any former period, 

 were learned men so well acquainted with the 

 labours and the characters of each other, so fi'ee 

 and mutually instructive in their intercourse, or 

 enabled so far to combine their talents and in- 

 dustry in the pursuit of important investigations. 

 But this is by no means the only advantage of 

 these associations. They may be reckoned among 



