b o o k a d v a n c e s m a d e b y t h e lo a d f to n e a n d n e e d le f o r th e d i f c o v ery
j of the longitude *.
The emprefs-fettled a fund o f£4982+ per annum for the
fupport of the academy; and fifteen members, all eminent
for their learning and talents, were admitted and penfioned
under the title o f profeffors in the various branches o f literature
and fcience. The moft diftinguifhed o f thefe profeffors
were Nicholas and Daniel Bernoulli, the two De Lifles,
Bulfinger and Wolf.
During the ihort reign o f Peter II. the falaries o f the
members were difcontinued, and the academy was utterly
neglected by the court; but it was again patronized by the
emprefs Anne, who even added a feminary for the education
o f youth, under the fuperintendence o f the profeffors. Both
inftitutions flourifhed for fome time under the diredtion o f
baron K o r f; but upon his death, towards the latter end o f
Anne’s reign, an ignorant perfon being appointed prelident,
many o f the moft able members quitted Rufiia. At the ac-
ceffion o f Elizabeth, new life and vigour were again reftored
to the academy: the original plan was enlarged and improved
; fome o f the moft learned foreigners were again
drawn to Peterfburgh ; and, what was confidered as a good
omen for the literature o f Ruffia, two natives, Lomonofof
and Rumovlky, men o f genius and abilities who had pro-
fecuted their ftudies in foreign univerfities, were enrolled
among its members. The annual income was increafed to
, f i o , 6 5 9 J,and foonafterwards the newinftitutiontook place.
The prefent emprefs, with her ufnal zeal for promoting
the diffufion of knowledge, has taken this ufeful fociety un-
* See N a ch r ich t vo n de r K a y s : A c a d . i£ e § duodecim rubeHonum.” N o v . C om . I.
& c . in Schmidt B e y tra g e , p . 35 ; alfo J ou r . p . 5.
P e t . fo r Jun e , 1 7 79 , p. 3S3. % i ‘ Clementiffime ju bemu s ad jic i o& o et
t “ Summam a Petro M a gn o co n ilitu - “ v ig in t i m illia rubeilones tre centos e t oc-
tam v ig in ti qu a tu o r millium nongentorum “ taginta f e x .” N o v . C om . I . p . 6.
der
der her more immediate protedlion. She has altered the court chap.
o f directors greatly to the advantage o f the whole body ; fhe
has corrected many abufes, and has infufeda new fpirit into
their refearches. By her majefty’s particular recommendation,
the moft ingenious profeffors have vifited the various
provinces of her vaft dominions; and as the fund o f the
academy was not fufficient to fupply the whole expence o f
thefe feveral expeditions, the emprefs bellowed a largefs *
o f^ 2 o o o , which fhe has renewed as occafion has required.
The purpofe and intent of thefe travels will appear from
the inftrudtions given by the academy to the feveral perfons
who were engaged in them. They were ordered to purfue
their inquiries upon the different forts o f earths and waters ;
upon the beft methods o f cultivating the barren and defert
fpots; upon the local diforders incident to men and animals,'
and the moft efficacious means o f relieving them; upon the
breeding o f cattle, and particularly o f ffieep ; on the rearing
of bees and filk worms; on the different places and objedls
for fifhing and hunting; on minerals;' on the arts and
trades ; and on forming a Flora Ruffica, or collection o f indigenous
plants : they were particularly inftrudted to redtifv
the longitude and latitude o f the principal towns ; to make '
altronomical, geographical, and meteorological obfervations •
to trace the courfe o f the rivers; to take the moft exact
charts; and to be very diftindt and accurate in remarking
and defcribmg the manners and cuftoms o f the different people,
their dreffes, languages, antiquities, traditions, hiftory
re lgion ; and, in a word, to gain every information which
might tend to illuftrate the real ftate o f the whole Ruffian
empn Co
V ol. II.
* Ba ch . R u ff. B ib l. v o l. I . p . J0.
R In