rature and belles-lettres, as well as philolophical eflays, very free
and bold for the prefent times and circumftances. In this journal
the principal writers are, Mr. Herfparre, Mr. Leopold, and Mr.
Lehnberg. It would have been fupprefled on more than one oc-
caiion, i f thoie three gentlemen had not poflefled confidcrable
credit at court, as well as influence with the cenfors.
CH P A T E R
CHAPTER, V I.
Remarks on Academies or learned Societies— Thofe ejiablijhed by
Lewis X IF . in France— EffeSt o f Opinions and theoretical Principles
upon the Fate o f Nations— How fa r the public Opinion
may be direSled or influenced by learned Societies More o f the
CharaSleriftics o f thefe Societies difplayed Academy o f Belles-
Lettres at Stockholm— Members o f this Academy The Swediih
Academy, or the Eighteen; its Proceedings, Prizes, & c.— Members
o f the Swedijk Academy— Account o f fome Swedifh Poets,
' among whom is mentioned Mr. Torild, an Admirer and Imitator
o f OJfiati.
TH E faihion o f patronizing literature and fcience, in the beginning
o f the fixteenth century,, when a matrimonial alliance
exifted between the houfe o f M edici and that of Bourbon,
was imported into France from Italy. Academies for the cultivation
o f the arts and fciences were inftituted early in the reign o f
Lewis X IV . and nobly endowed with pecuniary funds, as well as
privileges and honours. T he vanity o f the king, the foie motive
o f his liberality, was abundantly gratified; for nothing could exceed
the obfequious adulation o f the academicians. They once
V o l . I. O had