^2o() Nations lately become Literary. [Ch. XXVI. 



against the common enemy were now turned to- 

 wards domestic improvement. 



In 1780 an act passed the legislature of Mas- 

 •sachusetts for establishing the American Academy 

 <lfArts and Sciences*. Its design was to promote 

 every species of liberal knowledge that might 

 tend to " advance the interest, honour, and hap- 

 piness, of a free, independent, and virtuous, peo- 

 ple." Tiiis institution soon rose into importance; 

 and, from the character of its members, and of 

 the publications which it has made, may be con- 

 sidered as among the most respectable and useful 

 associations in the United States. 



About this time three gentlemen of the name of 

 Phillips -j-, one residing at Andover, in Massachu- 



* The hon. Jaines Bowdoiii, afterward governor of the com- 

 monwealth, and a man of taste and science, \vas the first presi- 

 dent of the American academy. He was also a liberal benefac- 

 tor to the institution, and continued to preside over it with 

 honour until his death, in 1790. Another conspicuous benefac- 

 tor to this association was Josiah Quincy, esq., a learned and 

 eloquent counsellor, a distinguished patriot, and an able political 

 writer. To these may be added the hon. John Adams, late pre- 

 sident of the United States, and now president of the academy, 

 and Dr. Franklin, who also made important donations to the in- 

 stitution. But the greater part of the funds of the academy 

 consist of five thousand dollars, presented tovit by their illustrious 

 countryman count Rumford, who in 1796 made a donation of the 

 above sum, the interest of which is to be applied and given once 

 every second year, as a premium to the author of the most inv-^ 

 portant discovery, or useful improvement, on Light or on Heat, 

 which shall be made known to the public in any part of the 

 continent of America, or in any of the American islands, during 

 the two preceding years. 



f The family of Phillips, in Massachusetts and New Hamp- 

 shire, has been long distinguished for its great wealth, and also 

 for its love of religion and literature. A complete history ©f the 



