The academies at Paris already mentioned were in a great measure eclipsed by the Royal Academy of Sci ences which was established in 1666. by Louis Xi'.. When the peace of the Pyrenees allowed this monarch to rest from his conquests, he instructed his minister Colbert, to form a society of men distinguished for their learning and talents, who should meet under the royal protection, and communicate their respective disco veries. Agreeably to these instructions, Colbert se lected some of those who were most celebrated for their knowledge in physics, mathematics, history, and the belles lettres, to form the new institution. The members were arranged into four distinct classes, and had their meetings appointed on different days. But the classes of history and belles lettres were afterwards taken from it, and united to the French academy ; so that there remain ed only the classes of mathematics and natural philoso phy. At this early period, the academy published, in 1692-3, sonic fugitive pieces, which had been read in the meetings of these years, but which were too short for separate publication ; and many of the academicians re ceived considerable pensions from the king.
In 1699, at the suggestion of the Abbe Bignon, who had long been president, it obtained a new set of regula tions ; according to which its members were divided into honorary, pensionaries, or those who received sala ries from the king, associates, and elevcs.
In 1716, the duke of Orleans, with the authority of the king, suppressed the class of eleves, and established in its place 12 adjuncts, to whom he gave the power of voting in matters of science. The number of honorary members was increased to 12 ; and a class of associates was created to the number of six, who were not confined to any particular department or science. It underwent still farther changes in the year 1785. The king added classes of natural history, agriculture, mineralogy, and physics, and incorporated the associates and adjuncts, limiting the members of each class to six. These classes were composed of persons celebrated for their literary and scientific attainments. There were besides a perpetual secretary and treasurer ; twelve free asso ciates, and eight associate foreigners.
This academy has done more to promote the progress of science, than any other upon the continent. It has repeatedly sent out persons to make observations in different parts of the world, and has been at great pains in computing the meridian. Since the re-establishment of the academy, in 1699, it has annually published a quarto volume, containing the papers that have been read in it during that year. A history of the academy, together With an epitome of its memoirs, has been pre fixed to each volume ; and at the end of the history are eulogiums on such academists as have died in the course of the year. The Abbe Rozier has published, in four 4to volumes, an excellent index to the whole, from its commencement to the year 1770. M. Rouille de 1\leslay, founded two prizes, one of 2500, and the other of 2000 Byres, to be distributed every year alternately. The
subject of the first related to physical astronomy ; that of the latter, to navigation and commerce. Besides these prizes, and the salaries which were regularly paid to the pensionaries, extraordinary gratuities were sometimes given, and such expenses defrayed as were necessarily incurred in making experiments.
The memoirs of the academy, from its commence ment till the year 1793, when it was abolished by the Convention, are comprehended in 139 volumes, in 4to ; 11 from its foundation to its re-establishment in 1699 ; 92 from 1699 to 1790 ; the year 1772 containing two volumes ; 11 of memoirs presented to the academy by learned foreigners ; nine of prizes ; nine of tables to 1780 ; and seven of drawings of machines.
The history of the academy, to the year 1697, was written by Duhamel, and continued from year to year by Fontcnelle, under the following titles ; Duhamel Histo ria Regi‘c Academia' Scientiarum. Histoire de l'Academie Royale des Sciences, avec les Memoires de Illathematique ct de Physique, tire: de:: Registres de l'•cademie. His toirc de l'Academie Royale des Sciences, depuis son esta blissement en 1666, jusqu'en 1699 en 13 tomes 4to. In latter times, the history of the academy was prefixed to each volume. Their motto is Invenit et perfi•it. This academy having been abolished at the Revolution, a new one was established in its place tender the name of the .Aittional Institute ; for an account of which, see Institute.
The Royal Academy of Surgery was instituted at Paris in 1731, and confirmed by letters patent in 1748. The object of this institution is not merely to communicate the observations and discoveries of its members, but also to give an account of whatever is written on surgery. All the regular surgeons in Paris are members of this academy. Forty members are counsellors of a perpe tual committee, and there are twenty adjuncts. A ques tion is proposed yearly, and a gold medal of the value of 500 'lyres is given to him who can produce the best answer. Their transactions have been published in a considerable number of volumes.
Besides these, the French have many other academics of less note ; viz. The Academie des jeux Floraux, esta blished at Thoulouse, consisting of 4U members, and one of the most ancient in the kingdom. The Royal Academy of Sciences and Polite Literature at Thoulouse, whose transactions have been published in a considerable num ber of volumes, the first of which appeared in 1782, in 4to. The academy at Caen, founded by letters patent, in 1705. The academy at Rouen, established in 1736, by M. Le Cat, who was its perpetual secretary. There were also academies founded at Bourdeaux, 1703 ; Sois sons, 1675 ; Marseilles, 1726 ; Dijon, Orleans, Pau, Be ziers, Montauban, M etz, Amiens, 1750 ; Chalons, Nanci, &c. At Dijon, there is a very handsome saloon, belong ing to the academy, ornamented with the busts of the eminent men whom that city has produced. Among these are Bossuet, Fevret, De Brosses, Crebillon, Pyron, and Buffon.