TRAVELS 
ii 6 
pious the number of academicians, the more the chance and pro¬ 
bability is increafed of their admitting improper perfons for their 
aflbciates. Weak and ignorant men, once received, are as proud 
(and generally more fo) of the title of academicians as men who, 
by their talents and abilities, have rifen to that honour ; and 
wdiile they contribute nothing to the flock of knowledge, they 
perplex and confound, by the capricioufnefs of their votes, the beft 
laid plans for its enlargement. The number of one hundred is 
much too great for a country in which literature and fcience have 
made but a very limited progrefs. If there were only fifty adting 
members, and fifty honorary, that is members without votes in the 
affairs of the academy, there would be lefs room for intrigue and 
fadtion, their proceedings w'ould be more philofophical, and their 
induflry receive a happier diredtion. At prefent a confiderable 
portion of their fellows confifls of young men without a fufiicient 
acquaintance wdth literature and fcience for fupporting the name 
of academicians. For the acquirement of this title nothing more 
is requifite, than to be rich and to make prefents to the academy. 
Thus I know that gentlemen have been chofen whole only pre- 
tenfion was that of being called a banker, or infpedtor of the 
mines. I was acquainted with fome young men, the fons of 
members, not deficient in literature, but abounding alfo in wealth, 
who were eledted merely for the merits of their fathers. Others 
have come under my obfervation, who, having made a voyage to 
Batavia, jmd fent home fame birds and other produdlions of that 
v u,'. ! iiland, 
