date. This error was, however, intended to be eradica- 

 ted in the constitutions of the first free associations, and 

 for that reason only it has been necessary to speak of it 

 now. It is said that the first foundations of this class, 

 those of France, England, Italy and Germany, were based 

 upon the suggestions of Bacon. But of this there is, to 

 say the least, much doubt; and it is much more reasona- 

 ble to suppose that their first constitutions were deter- 

 mined by the circumstances of the time. The distin- 

 guishing quality of the English Academy is its entire in- 

 dependence of the government, or rather this was its dis- 

 tinguishing quality at the period of its birth; and we may 

 suppose this rather to have been the consequence of ac- 

 cident than of any pre-cognition on the part of its first 

 members. Originating during the civil war, and before 

 the nation had approached the eminence of wealth and 

 power to which she subsequently attained, it was not at 

 the time of its foundation, accounted of sufficient impor- 

 tance to have any public function assigned to it, or to 

 hold any relation with, or receive any emolument from 

 the government. Its operations have therefore been si- 

 milar to those of any other corporation, and its expenses 

 have always been defrayed by subscription. The govern- 

 ment have often availed themselves of the science which 

 it embodies, and patronised it by advancing its members 

 to public stations, but other than this it has had no pro- 

 tection or patronage. This peculiarity distinguishes it 

 from all other European societies of its class, and has 

 been the cause, perhaps, why it has operated so power- 

 fully as a regulator and promoter of science throughout 

 the empire. The lectures of Sir Humphrey Davy, on 

 chemistry, are said to have done more for the advance- 

 ment of that single branch, than all the other instruction 

 of that day.* The want of professors and pensions has 

 been the subject of complaint among the English them- 

 selves, while foreigners have in general considered it as 

 an advantage, and lauded the English education as being 

 m ore practical than that of any other nation. The _eflect 

 * See Note 7. 



