Protector of this Society, and that of the _French_ Academy in its
Infancy, there can be no Doubt but the great Work will be carried on
after much the same Manner, and under the same Statutes and Regulations.
And it appears in Monsieur _Pelisson_'s History of the _French_ Academy,
That every Member of it, both Present and Future, Friend or Foe, was
oblig'd in Gratitude to their Protector, to _revere his Virtue and his
Memory_. The _British_ Academicians being therefore under the same
Obligation, how is it possible that their _Protector_'s _Vertue_ or
_Memory_ should ever be forgotten?
And there is one considerable Advantage, which our New Academy will have
above the _French_. For it appears by the History just mention'd, that
after the _French_ King had given his Consent, that his dear Cousin
should be Chief of the Academy, the Parliament could not for a long
while be brought to confirm the Patent. And Monsieur _Pelisson_ gives
the Reasons of it. _Cardinal +Richlieu+_, says he, _having carried the
+Royal Authority+ a great deal higher than any one had done before him;
tho belov'd by some, was envy'd by others, hated and detested by many,
fear'd and dreaded by all. His Creatures_, continues he, _talk'd of this
Design with excessive Encomiums. Never_, said they, _were the past Ages
possest of so much Eloquence as ours is like to be. We shall out-do all
that went before us, and all that shall come after. And the greatest
Share of the Glory will redound to the Academy and the Cardinal. Others,
on the contrary, treated this Design as ridiculous. They accused the
Academy as aiming to give Laws to Things not susceptible of them, and
were perpetually falling upon them with Jests and Satyrs. Distrustful
People could not tell but there might be a Snake in the Grass; and were
afraid the establishing this Society would be a new Support of his
Domination, that they were only his Pensioners, maintain'd by him to
justify all his Actions, and make Observations on those of others._
These were the Difficulties in France: But our New Society need fear no
such Opposition as the _Frenchmen_ found from their Parliament of
_Paris_. Our _Parl----t_ will most certainly be as forward to pass an
Act in Favour of them and their Protector, as they have been to do so
many great Things already for him and the Nation, and even to pass a
Vote in his Praise. Besides, there is no Body can pretend that _he has
ever carried the Royal Authority higher than any one had done before
him_; nor can it be imagin'd that he has a thousandth Part of the
Enemies that Cardinal _Richlieu_ had: And I am fully persuaded, that all
Things being consider'd, both at Home and Abroad, there is not a Man in
the World that _envies_ him. And tho he has been suspected to _maintain
Pensioners to justify his own Actions, and make Observations on those of
others_; yet, whoever will look carefully over the List of the Members,
must needs acquit him of that Calumny, and confess, that he who pick'd
out such a Set of _Wits_ and _Patrons_, could have no such base Thoughts
in his Head.
When the _French_ Academy had settled their Statutes, the next Thing
they did was to get a Seal. And what was the Impression? Why, only their
Protectors Picture; not engrav'd like a _Seneca_'s Head, but drawn at
length with a modest Word on the Reverse. _To Immortality._ Something
like this may be very easily done here. But I am not for putting on the
Reverse, _the Bill for the Protestant Succession_; tho it may be seen in
the Protector's Hand at Sir _G. Kneller_'s: For that is too gross, even
for a common Picture. But what think you of his own Head on one Side and
Twelve Lords on the Reverse? Or since all other Societies have taken
their _Motto's_ from the Old World, suppose he fetch'd one from the New;
and clapp'd his own Face upon the Frontispiece, with this Word on the
Reverse, written in Cyphers, _THE SOUTH-SEA_.
I have but one or two Objections to the Statutes in _France_, which I
cannot get over. One is, they must not meddle with Matters of Religion.
This might have very ill Consequences, and hinder their Top Wit from
shewing his Talents: I mean that Orthodox Divine, who it is well known
was never half so witty upon any other Subject, as upon that of
Religion. Another Law of theirs that gives me Offence, is, The Law by
which they are oblig'd to judge of no-body's Works but their own. For
perhaps our Academy may not be in a Humour to write any Thing these
Hundred Years, except a Trifle now and then, as an _Examiner_,
a _Conduct_, a _John Bull_, or so. All which Works are allowable,
because the _French_ Statute says, _Political Matters may be treated of
conformably to the Authority of the State_.
There was one Rule more among the _French_ Academicians, that will never
do in _England_ which is their forbidding the Academy's Certificate to
be printed before the Writings of the Members, and allowing 'em only to
put, _Par un tel de l'Academie Francoise_; As if one should say, _By
such a Person of the +British+ Academy_. This would make mad Work here:
Every little _Grubstreet_ Scribler would presently be publishing his
Trash, with the stolen Title of _My Lord such a one, or Brigadier such a
one, of the +British+ Academy._ And how should we be able to distinguish
the Right from the Wrong, unless their License be printed before in
Form, like a Privilege Royal, _To our Trusty and Well-beloved +Abel
Roper+, of +London+, Bookseller_.
Having just mention'd _Abel_, it puts me in Mind of a certain Officer
belonging to the _French_ Academy, call'd a Library-Keeper. This was
given to one _Camusat_, the most Eminent Bookseller then in _Paris_: And
I presume no body will say that Trusty _Abel_ is not the fittest Man in
_England_ for that Office: He being supposed not only to have printed,
but even to have father'd some considerable Works of the most Elegant of
all our Academicians.
There's nothing else very remarkable in the Laws of the _French
Academy_, except their forbidding any Member to write in their Defence,
which it is probable will be thought worth observing here. For if our
Society should pretend to answer every impertinent Thing that will be
written against them, they would be finely set to Work. If therefore
they should happen to be daily pelted at, the shortest way will be to
despise their Opponents, and to consider themselves as Persons above the
Reach of Malice; incorporated under a glorious Protector for some good
End or other; and in daily Expectation of having a Charter and an Act of
Parliament to back them; and of being made Wits by the Laws of the Land.
I cannot conclude without observing how pat every Thing happens: The
_French_ Society met on _Thursdays_. So the News tells us, the _English_
do; with this good difference: The _French_ met after they had din'd.
The _English_, they say, dine together, and drink a chearful Glass
afterwards; which has great Efficacy in Matters of Wit and Eloquence, as
well for those that are to _write_, as those that are to _reward_. Wine
is therefore call'd _Generous_, and is as nearly ally'd to Wit, as Wit
is to Madness. How much wittier are some Men over the third Bottle than
over the first! A strong Reason that the Meeting should be at a Tavern,
and not any private House, which the _French_ Academy found very
inconvenient; for whenever the Members, at whose Houses they met, took a
Fancy to Marry, their Wives turn'd the Wits out of Doors; as it happen'd
in the Case of Monsieur _Conrart_ and some others. Thus they were driven
from one place to another, till their Protector got them a Room in the
King's own Palace; which cannot conveniently be done in _England_ whilst
Lodgings are so scarce: And therefore I hope they will drink on as they
do, till _Whitehall_ is rebuilt. And here I will leave them for the
present: When their two other Members are chosen, it may perhaps be not
unseasonable to acquaint the Publick with the further Progress of this
hopeful Society; and to shew all the World how far we not only imitate
or copy, but even excel our Friends the _French_. In the mean time,
I hope, some of their best Writers will be order'd to give us a short
Touch or Essay of their Eloquence, upon _our late Glorious Enterprize
against the +French+, on +Tuesday+ the 20th of this present +May+, under
the Command of his Grace the D. of +Orm--d+._
_FINIS._
* * * * *
* * * *
_THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY_
Announces Its
_Publications for the Third Year (1948-1949)_
[Transcriber's Note:
Where available, Project Gutenberg e-text numbers are shown in
brackets, along with other information. Some announced titles were
published in a later year, or not at all.]
_At least two_ items will be printed from each of the _three_
following groups:
Series IV: Men, Manners, and Critics
Sir John Falstaff (pseud.), _The Theatre_ (1720). [15999]
Aaron Hill, Preface to _The Creation_; and Thomas Brereton,
Preface to _Esther_. [15870: Hill article, and anonymous article
_Of Genius_]
Ned Ward, Selected Tracts.
Series V: Drama
Edward Moore, _The Gamester_ (1753). [16267]
Nevil Payne, _Fatal Jealousy_ (1673). [16916]
Mrs. Centlivre, _The Busie Body_ (1709). [16740: Year 4]
Charles Macklin, _Man of the World_ (1781). [14463: Year 5]
Series VI: Poetry and Language
John Oldmixon, _Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Harley_ (1712);
and Arthur Mainwaring, _The British Academy_ (1712).
Pierre Nicole, _De Epigrammate_.
[In preparation as "An Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in Which
from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing and
Rejecting Epigrams"]
Andre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry.
[Published in year 13 as "The preface to Aristotle's Art of poetry"]
Issues will appear, as usual, in May, July, September, November,
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_THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY_
Makes Available
_Inexpensive Reprints of Rare Materials_
from
English Literature Of The Seventeenth And Eighteenth Centuries
Students, scholars, and bibliographers of literature, history, and
philology will find the publications valuable. _The Johnsonian News
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these represent the triumph of modern scientific reproduction. Be sure
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The Augustan Reprint Society is a non-profit, scholarly organization,
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New members may still obtain a complete run of the first year's
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During the first two years the publications are issued in three series:
I. Essays on Wit; II. Essays on Poetry and Language; and III. Essays on
the Stage.
_PUBLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR (1946-1947)_
MAY, 1946: Series I, No. 1--Richard Blackmore's _Essay upon Wit_ (1716),
and Addison's _Freeholder_ No. 45 (1716). [13484]
JULY, 1946: Series II, No. 1--Samuel Cobb's _Of Poetry and Discourse on
Criticism_ (1707). [14528]
SEPT., 1946: Series III, No. 1--Anon., _Letter to A. H. Esq.; concerning
the Stage_ (1698), and Richard Willis' _Occasional Paper_ No. IX (1698).
[14047]
NOV., 1946: Series I, No. 2--Anon., _Essay on Wit_ (1748), together with
Characters by Flecknoe, and Joseph Warton's _Adventurer_ Nos. 127 and
133. [14973]
JAN., 1947: Series II, No. 2--Samuel Wesley's _Epistle to a Friend
Concerning Poetry_ (1700) and _Essay on Heroic Poetry_ (1693). [16506]
MARCH, 1947: Series III, No. 2--Anon., _Representation of the Impiety
and Immorality of the Stage_ (1704) and anon., _Some Thoughts Concerning
the Stage_ (1704). [15656]
_PUBLICATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR (1947-1948)_
MAY, 1947: Series I, No. 3--John Gay's _The Present State of Wit_; and a
section on Wit from _The English Theophrastus_. With an Introduction by
Donald Bond. [14800]
JULY, 1947: Series II, No. 3--Rapin's _De Carmine Pastorali_, translated
by Creech. With an Introduction by J. E. Congleton. [14495]
SEPT., 1947: Series III, No. 3--T. Hanmer's (?) _Some Remarks on the
Tragedy of Hamlet_. With an Introduction by Clarence D. Thorpe. [14899]
NOV., 1947: Series I, No. 4--Corbyn Morris' _Essay towards Fixing the
True Standards of Wit_, etc. With an Introduction by James L. Clifford.
[16233]
JAN., 1948: Series II, No. 4--Thomas Purney's _Discourse on the
Pastoral_. With an Introduction by Earl Wasserman. [15313]
MARCH, 1948: Series III, No. 4--Essays on the Stage, selected, with an
Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch. [16335]
The list of publications is subject to modification in response to
requests by members. From time to time Bibliographical Notes will be
included in the issues. Each issue contains an Introduction by a
of special competence in the field represented.
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Errata (noted by transcriber)
The word "tho'" is written both with and without final apostrophe.
Typographical Errors and Inconsistencies
those of Carew of Antony and Edmund Bolton [_text unchanged_]
we are to be happier than we thought of [thonght]
and are more for _Liquids_ than the Men [more sor]
I give them over to Mr _Collier_ [_anomalous missing ._]
26th of _April_, 1711. [_. for ,_]
and some Years since [_"some-/Years" at line break_]
originally seems to be plac'd in the People [to to]
the Smock to be upript by the Butler
[_text unchanged: quoted passage has "unript"_]
went away with the For to's, [_. for ,_]
No, tho' y' have purchas'd to your Name [y have]
or what Works of theirs [theris]
_Horace_ asserts _Osse_ to be the only Rule of [_text unchanged_]
As naturally as Pigs squeak.: [_punctuation unchanged_]
did not approve of _Horace_, [_text unchanged_]
_Monumentum AEre perennius_? [pereunius]
as unintelligible in his Time [unintelligable]
_Horace_'s Works are still [ere]
there's a Thirst after Wit [ther'es]
the Thought from the Diction. [_missing ._]
when the _French_ Stage was Barbarous [the the]
to see some of those Productions [of of]
to rally one of the late M------rs [ofs the]
an Errant Politician in Physick [en Physick]
_with the +For to's+ and the +Until's+ in that general Rout that_ ...
[The italics are garbled in these lines: as printed,
_with the For to's_ and the _Until's_ in that general _Rout that_
or (with de-italicized text in +marks+)
_with the For to's +and the+ Until's +in that general+ Rout that_]
Mechanical Errors
Unless otherwise noted, the error is an invisible apostrophe. In
phrases containing more than one apostrophe, the relevant word is
given in brackets.
I am very unwilling to reckon our Author. [invisible .]
one of the Champions of our Church [invisible u in "Church"]
Publick Injuries are so seldom redress'd
I am very well satisfy'd,
his Academy will have the Glory of [invisible o in "of"]
for want of the _Ez's_ and _Er's_ [_Ez s_]
he has criticis'd on his Lordship's Poem [Lordship s]
Who pall'd the Appetite he meant to raise.
not to stand stockstill like Dr. +Donne+'s,
the +thereon's+, the +therein's+, [therein s]
the ancient House of the +hereof's+
his Epistle +de arte Poetica+, that [invisible a in "that"]
the Example of all the Polite Writers [invisible f in "of"]
whether any one wou'd not be better pleas'd [pleas d]
very much chang'd in _Quintilian_'s Time [_Quintilian_ s]
where 'tis bad 'tis abominable [tis bad]
confound Men's Qualities
of sorded Flatterers [invisible r in "sorded"]
_Un Coeur Noble est content de ce qu'il trouve en lui
as much above his Satyr [invisible a in "his"]
has been long complain'd of
he has assum'd a Post
Members are nam'd
strange Things which can never be effected. [invisible .]
Horace, _Ars Poetica_ (or _De Arte Poetica_) ll. 52-62
+Horace+, who tells us in his Epistle +de arte Poetica+,
that Present Use is the final Judge of Language,
(the Verse is too well known to need quoting)
Words going off and perishing like Leaves, and new ones coming in
their Places_, [60-62]
et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem si
Graeco fonte cadent, parce detorta. quid autem
Caecilio Plautoque dabit Romanus ademptum 55
Vergilio Varioque? ego cur, acquirere pauca
si possum, invideor, cum lingua Catonis et Enni
sermonem patrium ditaverit et nova rerum
signatum praesente nota producere nomen.
ut silvae foliis privos mutantur in annos, 60
prima cadunt ita verborum vetus interit aetas
et iuvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque.
_Il s'est forme_ ...
Except for clear typographical errors, the French text was left
unchanged because it is impossible to know where the errors originated.
All accents are as printed.
les Ducs [text has Dues]
les Comites [spelling unchanged: modern form is Comtes]
les Chevalier Windham [error for le]
Fils du Garde des Seaux
[Error for Sceaux? In modern French, "seau" is a coal-scuttle while
"sceau" is a seal (here, Lord Keeper of the Seal)]
Swif [error for Swift]
Prior Arbuthnott [missing , or ; between names]
Medicin du Duc [text has Due, as above; spelling "Medicin" unchanged]
les Deux autre, [error for autres]
s'assemblant tous les Jeudis [text has tons]