TRAVELS 
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as it is otherwife called, the Eighteen, was inftituted by Guftavus III. 
in 1788 . Of this academy it maybe faid in general, that in- 
Read of feeking, it would be fought after; inftead of encouraging 
geniufes formed by nature, its aim and object is to create them : 
and certainly it muft be owned that it is a nobler atchievement to 
make fomething out of nothing, than to finifh a work after it is 
begun. It holds out prizes, it is true ; but it is neceffary to be in 
favour with fome of the members in order to obtain one. The 
merit of a compofition alone is not fufficient to enfure it fuccels; 
powerful recommendations and good management and addrefs 
are required. The members of the academy know beforehand 
who is to gain the prize, becaufe this is a matter that depends on 
their own will. They even lend a hand to the favourite candi¬ 
date for the improvement of his effay, and keep up a correfpon- 
dencc with him upon the fubjetft. It is not fo much the judg¬ 
ment, as the inclination of the academy, that decides. Above all 
things, a candidate for the prize muft take good care not to drop 
a hint of the time employed on his treatife. An author for whom 
the academy had deftined the firft prize, inadvertently mentioned 
in converfation that he had fmifhed his effay in no longer a period 
than eight days: the confequence was, that he loft the honour he 
would otherwife have obtained. During my abode at Stockholm, 
the prize was decreed in favour of a compofition entitled, “ A 
“ Poem to Melpomene, or on the dramatic Artcontaining 
fome common place obfervations, expreffed in high founding 
terms, and praifing different theatrical pieces, among which there 
was 
