ACADEMY is also used to signify a collegiate semi nary, either of a public or private nature, where youth are instructed in the arts and sciences. There were two public academies of this kind in the Roman empire ; one at Rome, founded by Adrian, in which all the sciences were taught ; and the other at Bervtes, in Phccnicia, which was confined chiefly to the science of law. In the thirteenth century, similar academies began to he erected in various parts of Europe; peculiar privileges were granted to the students; they were invested with a certain jurisdiction, and governed by their own laws and statutes. See UNIVERSITY.
Frederick 1. king of Prussia, established an Academy in Berlin, in 1703, for the education of the young nobility belonging to the court. This illustrious seminary, which was called the Academy of Princes, has now lost much of its original splendour, The Romans had a kind of military academies in all the cities of Italy, called Camiii ,Ifurtii, where youth were admitted to he trained for war at the public ex pense. The Greeks, besides academics of this kind, had military professors, called Tactici, who taught all the higher offices of war, ,c.e.c.
In this country, we have two royal academies of this kind ; one at Portsmouth, in which navigation, drawing, Sze. are taught. It was founded by George I. in 1722; and is under the direction of the Board of Admiralty, which gives salaries to various masters, with one of whom the students are boarded at their own expense, their education only being supplied by government. The young men are rated as midshipmen when they en ter the academy ; and the time that they spend at this seminary, not exceeding two years, is considered the same as if they had been in actual service.—The other is a Military Academy at Woolwich, where young men are taught fortification, gunnery, mining, and such branches of the mathematics as are necessary to them for the service of the artillery and engineers. It was instituted by George 11. by warrants, dated Seth April, and 181.11 Not ember 1741; and is under the direc tion of the Master-general and Board of Ordnance. The gentlemen educated at this academy, amounting to 180, are the sons of noblemen and military officers. They
are called Gentlemen Cadets; and are not admitted un der 14, nor above 16 years of age. The cadets are limier the direction of a lieutenant-governor. Each company has a captain and two subalterns, as military directors , and an inspector, who superintends the studies of the ca dets. The academy has at present about 20 viz. a professor of mathematics, and eight other mathe matical masters; a professor of fortification, and two mac tens; five drawing masters ; two French masters ; with masters for chemistry, fencing, and dancing. This in stitution is of the greatest consequence to the state ; and it is hardly credible that so important an object should be accomplished at such a trifling expense. The pay of each cadet is only 2s. 6d. per day ; and as this is suffi cient for his maintenance, his parents are at no expense while he continues at the academy. Owing to the un healthy and confined situation of the old buildings, govern ment determined to erect new ones on the side of Shooter's hill. The foundation stone was accordingly laid by the duke of York on the 27th May' 1803, and the academy was removed to them on the 12th of August 1806. The Cadets' Barracks is a very handsome building, and has a noble appearance from the number of field-pieces ar ranged before it. The academy is an elegant building. in the Gothic style. For an account of the Military Col lege at Marlow, see COLLEGE.
The Dissenters in England have sevc ral pri,.ate acade mies, at which those who are intended for the ministry are educated. Prior to the restoration of Charles II. the. universities of Oxford and Cambridge were open to all protestants, of whatever denomination. At that time, however, certain oaths were introduced, which excluded those who did not adhere to the national establishment. Hence private academies were instituted by many of the most eminent of the nonconformist divines in different parts of the kingdom. These have produced many cele brated men : but, of late years, they have rather fallen off. A pretty full account of them may be found in the Theo logical and Biblical Magazine for 1807, in an Essay, in titled, Dissenting .leuden.ies. (u)