Robinia-psuedo-acacia of Linnæus: and the rosa acacia (so called from its rose coloured flowers) is the Robinia hispida of that writer. In the Materia Medica an inspissated juice of the first of them is used as an astringent: and is sometimes successfully imitated by the juice of sloes boiled to the same consistence.

ACACIANS, in ecclesiastical history, a sect of heretics, of the fourth century, so named from Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, who denied the Son to be of the same substance with the Father. Their founder was successor to Eusebius, and surnamed Luscus, from being blind of one eye. ACACIUS, (St.) bishop of Amida, in Mesopotamia, in 220, distinguished by his piety and charity, sold the plate belonging to his church, to redeem seven thousand Persian slaves, and giving each of them some money, sent them home. Their king, Veranius, was so affected with this instance of benevolence, that he desired to see the bishop: and the interview resulted in a peace between that prince and Theodosius I.

has since been used to designate a literary or scientific society, university, or school.

But ye withdrowen frome this man, that he hath been nourished in my studies or scholes of eleatices, and of achademicies, in Greece. Chaucer's Bacius, b. i.

Our court shall be a little academe,
Still and contemplative in living arts.

Shakspeare's Love's Labour Lost. Amongst the academies, which were composed by the rare genius of those great men, these four are reckoned as the principal, namely, the Athenian school, that of Sicyon, that of Rhodes, and that of Corinth. Dryden's Dufremoy. Academical study may be comprised in two points: reading and meditation.

Berkeley's Minute Philosopher.

A young academic shall dwell upon a journal, that treats of trade, and be lavish in the praise of the author; while persons, skilled in those subjects, hear the tattle with contempt.

Watts's Improvement of the Mind. While through poetic scenes the genius roves, Or wanders wild in academic groves.

Dunciad, b. iv.

He drew him first into the fatal circle, from a kind of resolved privateness; where, after the academical life, he had taken such a taste of the rural; as I have heard him say, that he could well have bent his mind to a retired course. Wotton.

It is observed by the Parisian academists, that, some amphibious quadrupeds, particularly the seacalf or seal, hath his epiglottis extraordinarily large. Ray on the Creation.

ACADEMY, originally intended a villa or grove, situated about six stadia, or three quarters of a mile from Athens, the seat of literature and the arts, where Plato taught the substance of his philosophy. The origin of the name is by some derived from Cadmus, commonly called the Phoenician, because he introduced the learning of Egypt into Greece, and brought the sixteen simple letters of the Greek alphabet from Phonicia. Its origin, however, is more properly as cribed to Academus, or Ecademus, to whom it at first belonged, and who bequeathed it to the citizens for a gymnasium. It was diversified by Cimon with fountains, trees, and walks, for the convenience of philosophers in their private meditations, surrounded with a wall built by Hipparchus, and rendered more solemn by becoming the burial place of illustrious men.

Plato purchased a small garden for 3000 drachmas, equal to £116. 10s. 6d. of our money, and delivered lectures for the benefit of all who attended. In allusion to this circumstance, all public places for the association and resort of learned men have been since called academies. Cicero had a small villa near Puzzuoli, called Academia, in which he entertained his friends, and composed his book De Natura Deorum, also his academical questions. Academy is now used in a general sense, to signify a society of learned men, formed for their own improvement, and the promotion of the arts. Ptolemy Soter, it

is said, founded an academy at Alexandria for the encouragement of learning and the sciences, provided with a collection of books, which afterwards became the finest library in the world, commonly called the "Alexandrian Library;" and Theodosius established an academy at Constantinople, furnished with a number of professors in every department of science and knowledge, intended to rival the institution of Rome destroyed by the Goths at the close of the fourth century.

An academy is different from an university. The latter consists of graduates in the several faculties; of professors who teach in the public schools; of regents or tutors, and students who learn under them; whereas the former is not intended to teach, but to improve. It is not strictly for students to learn in, but for distinguished proficients to confer in, and communicate their lights and discoveries to each other for the general improvement. The first academy of which we read was that of Charlemagne, established at the request of Alcuin his preceptor, to improve the language of the country, as well as elicit a general attention to literature and the arts. During their academical conferences, each member delivered a statement of the ancient authors he had read, and a short commentary upon them, assuming at the same time, the name of the ancient author which gave him most satisfaction. Alcuin took the name of Flaccus,

Augilbert, of Homer; Adelard, bishop of Corbile, was called Augustin; and the king himself, David. The institution perished at the death of Alcuin, and literature seemed as if banished from the world. Although many eminent characters arose, in the dark ages that followed, resembling meteors that dart through the midnight gloom, there was no union of effort, no combination of genius, no interchange of thought, no associations that could promote or even protect knowledge; and had not the muses on their banishment from the academic haunts of public patronage, retired into the private cells of monastic superstition, and there preserved the compositions of antiquity, every spark of light must have been extinguished. After the overthrow of the Roman empire by the Turks about the year 1453, several eminent Greek scholars settled in the West of Europe, chiefly in Italy, under the sanction of Pope Nicholas and the Medicean family. These imported with them the treasures of Grecian knowledge and antiquity, and forming themselves into academies, and intellectual societies, schools, libraries, and museums, began to spread over the face of Europe. Of these useful institutions we shall at present merely attempt an enumeration. The first class of them comes under the head of

ACADEMIES OF ANTIQUITIES.-The Academy of Cortona is designed for the study of Etrurian Antiquities, which are very numerous and extensive. The principal is called Lucomon, a name derived from the ancient governors of Hetruria, and the institution imposes a tax of dissertation on each member in his turn.

The Academy of Antiquities at Upsal, is designed for the illustration of Swedish antiquities, as also the cultivation and improvement of the Northern languages.

In the 15th century, under the pontificate of Paul II. an attempt was made at Rome to establish a similar institution, but it was defeated by the persecuting spirit of the papal hierarchy. And although resumed by Leo X. with apparent success, it gradually dwindled to insignificance, and some others that arose from its ruins were shortly extinguished.

The Academy of Inscriptions and Medals at Paris commenced in the generous exertions of M. Colbert in 1663, under the patronage of Louis XIV; it was designed for the study and explanation of antique monuments, also for the perpetuation of memorable events (especially those of the French monarchy) by coins, relievos, inscriptions, &c. The number of members at first did not exceed four, from which circumstance it acquired the name of Petite Academy. But on July 16, 1701, the institution was greatly enlarged, and consisted of 10 honorary members, 10 pensioners, 10 associates, (each of whom had two declarative voices,) and 10 eléves, or pupils. Shortly after the class of eléves was suppressed, and added to the associates; then a yearly president and vice president were appointed by the king, and other inferior managers whose offices were perpetual. The earliest and most considerable attempt of this academy, was a complete history of the most important events of the reign of Louis, accomplished by means of medals. This they effected as far as the elevation of the Duke

of Anjou to the crown of Spain, besides which they published several volumes of essays in the form of memoirs. The motto of the society was 'vetat mori,' and Mercury is represented on one of their medals, sitting and writing with an antique styler on a table of brass, leaning with his left hand upon an urn full of medals, whilst others on a board are lying at his feet, the legend "Rerum gestarum fides," and on the exergue "Academia regia inscriptionum et numismatum, instituta M.DC.LXIII. intimating that the Royal Academy of Medals and Inscriptions ought to give to future ages a faithful testimony of great actions. The usefulness of this and other French Academies has been prevented by the political changes and events connected with the late revolution.

The Academy of Herculaneum was established at Naples in 1755, when a museum was formed for the bestowment and preservation of the antiquities excavated from the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeia, by the marquis Tanucci, minister of state. The primary object of the society was, to explain the paintings discovered at these places, for which purpose the members met every fortnight, when the paintings were submitted to a corresponding number of Academicians, who made a report upon them at the next sitting. In 1775, the first volume appeared, and has been succeeded by several others under the title of Antichita di Ercolano, exhibiting engravings of the most valuable paintings, statues, marble figures, bronzes, medals, utensils, &c. accompanied by explanations from the society.

The Neapolitan Academy of History and Antiquities was established at Naples by Joseph Buonaparte in 1807, consisting of 40 members, 20 appointed by nomination from the king, who were individually to present him for his choice, names of three candidates for every one wanted to complete the number. A grand meeting was to be held every year, when prizes were to be awarded, and analyses of the works read. Eight thousand ducats were to be annually allotted for the current expences, and two thousand for prizes to the authors of four works, at the discretion of the society. The subsequent revolutions in the political state of Naples prevented the permanent usefulness of this institution.

A Parisian Academy for the Discovery of Celtic Antiquities, was established in 1807. It contemplated, first, The elucidation of history, customs, antiquities, and monuments of the Celts, particularly in France. Secondly, the etymology of all the European languages by the Celto-Briton, Welsh, and Erse; and third Druidical remains. Fourth The history and settlements of the Galatæ in Asia. Lenoir, the keeper of the museum of French monuments was president. A Fasciculus, containing 150 or 160 pages, was to be printed monthly. The engravings, &c. under the direction of Lenoir. The devices are, Gloria majorum, and Sermonem patrium, moresque requiret.

Academy for the Illustration of Tuscan Antiquities, established at Florence, was founded in 1807, &c. has published volumes of essays and researches.

ACADEMIES OF MEDICINE.-The Leopoldine Academy, or the Academia Natura Curiosum

was founded in Germany, in the year 1652 by I. L. Bauchius, a celebrated physician of Sweinfurt, in the circle of Franconia, who invited other physicians to meet for the purpose of communicating extraordinary cases that had fallen under their observation, and was afterwards elected president of a society formed upon the basis of such communications. In January 1652, they held their first meeting. The president proposed subjects for discussion, and their works were, at first, published separately; but, in the year 1670, they agreed to publish a volume of memoirs every year. The first of these, called "Ephemerides,” appeared in 1684, and was followed by others under different titles. In 1687 the emperor Leopold took this society under the royal protection, endowed it with certain privileges and immunities, dignified the presidents with the title of "Counts palatine of the holy Roman empire," and honoured it with the title "Casareo Leopoldina Natura Curiosorum Academia;" or the "Leopoldine Academy." The institution has no fixed residence, or regular assemblies, but a bureau or office, established first at Breslau, and afterwards at Nuremberg, where all communications are received. The Academy consists of one president, two adjuncts or secretaries, and colleagues or members. The colleagues, at their admission, oblige themselves first, to give in a written treatise upon some subject out of the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdom, not previously handled by any member of the society; and, secondly, to wear as a symbol of the academy, a gold ring on which is a book open with an eye on the front, and on the opposite side the motto of the Academy, "Nunquam otiosus," never idle. See Buchaeri Hist. Acad. Natura Curiosorum, Hal. 1756. Societies of the same name have been established on the Continent, as at Palermo in 1645, Venice in 1701, Geneva in 1715, Spain in 1652.

The Royal Academy of Surgeons at Paris, was instituted in 1731. The members of which publish their own observations and discoveries, in which they endeavour to lay down a complete system of surgery. The institution proposes a question annually, and awards a gold medal, value 500 livres, to the best dissertation upon the subject.

The Academy of Surgery at Vienna, instituted in 1783, originated in Francis II. and was placed under the direction of Brambilla. The institution formerly consisted of two professors and 130 pupils, but is now considerably enlarged. Contiguous is an extensive botanical garden, and a splendid edifice provided by the emperor, affording accommodation to professors, students, pregnant women, patients for clinical lectures, servants, &c.; also a voluminous library, complete set of chirurgical instruments, philosophical apparatus, specimens for illustrations of natural history, preparations in wax, &c. together with a comprehensive variety of anatomical and pathological preparations. Medals, each of 40 florins value, are annually bestowed on those students, who return the best answers to certain chirurgical questions.

COSMOGRAPHICAL ACADEMIES.-The Cosmographical Academy at Venice, called the Argo

nauts, was instituted about the eighteenth century, by means of Vincent Coronelli, for the improvement of geography. The device is, the globe, accompanied with the motto" plus ultra.” The primary object of the institution is the publication of correct maps, celestial and terrestrial, accompanied with geographical, historical, and astronomical descriptions, definitions, &c. Each member subscribes to defray the expences, and receives one or more copies of each piece. All the globes, maps, writings, &c. are published by the society. To facilitate the objects of the institution, three societies were settled, one under F. Mons, provincial of the Minorites in Hungary; another under F. Baldigiani the Jesuit, professor of mathematics in the Roman college; a third under Abb. Laurence, au rue Payenne au Marais.

SCIENTIFIC ACADEMIES. - The Neapolitan Academia Secretorum Nature was instituted at Naples in 1560, to advance the knowledge of mathematical and physical science; but was soon crushed by an interdict from the church of Rome.

The Academia Lyncei which succeeded the former, was established at Rome, by prince Frederick Cesi, to promote the improvement of natural philosophy. It became eminent in consequence of the discoveries made by its members, as in the case of Galileo.

The Academy del Cimento flourished in the seventeenth century under the auspices of Prince Leopold, afterwards Cardinal de Medicis. Το this institution belonged Paul de Buono, who, in 1657, invented an instrument consisting of a globular shell of gold, to demonstrate the incompressibility of water. To the same Academy belonged Vincent Vivani, Francis Redi, Count Laurence Magalotti, (who published "Saggi di Naturali Esperienze," a curious work, translated into our language by Waller,) and Alphonso Borelli, who wrote "De Motu Animalium."

The Academy degl' Inquieti at Bologna, afterwards incorporated into that of Della Tracia, met in the house of Eustachio Manfredi in 1690; hence, that gentleman is often represented as the founder. Their badge was a representation of of the planetary system, surrounded by a serpent with a tail in its mouth. Their motto was "Mens agitat," hence their name Inquieti. Their very admirable discourses were collected and given to the world in 1667, under the title of Pensieri Fisico-Matematici. In 1714 it was new modelled, and united with the Bononian institute, richly endowed by the Popes, and defended by the civil power. The director was also dignified with the title of president; the society itself called the Academy of the Institute and afterwards Academia Clementina, from the patronage of Clement. Ladies were admitted into the society, and several of them elevated to professorships. Anna Manzolini was professor of anatomy, &c. The library contains 120,000 volumes, a cabinet of natural history, numerous manuscripts, &c.; and the building consists of 40 rooms, besides halls underneath.

La Sociéta Scientifica Rossunensa degl' Incuriosi, was established at Rossano, in Naples, in 1540. On its establishment, it was an academy

of belles lettres, and became an academy of sciences in 1695, when Don Giacinto Gimma the abbot, divided the members into grammarians, rhetoricians, poets, historians, physicians, mathematicians, philosophers, lawyers, and divines. The greatest honour the academy can confer is, giving a written permission from the president to assume the title of academist, which is not granted till the proposed publication has been sanctioned and approved by all the academy. From this law even the president is not exempt. No academist may publish against the writings of another without the consent of the academy. Italy has been celebrated for its academies. Jarckius reckons 550, and 25 in the city of Milan. Some of these are gone to ruin; many have acquired lasting fame: the Academy of Filarmonici at Verona, the Academy of Ricovaltro at Padua, and others. In the latter Sig. Vallisnieri wrote his ingenious dissertation.

The Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris was founded by Louis XIV. in 1666, who, after the peace of the Pyrennees, ordered M.Colbert to associate a few men of learning to communicate their discoveries to each other for the promotion of the general improvement. The minister accordingly formed a society of gentlemen, in high repute for philosophy and mathematics, history, and belles lettres. Gentlemen of different departments assembled in different days of the week. History and rhetoric were soon after united to another French academy, which proposed the improvement of the language; and the royal academy consisted of two great divisions, philosophy, and mathematics. The king, in 1669, appointed a new set of regulations, by which he made four kinds of members, honorary, pensionary, associates, and eléves. The last three were to contain each 20 persons, the first only 10. The honorary members were to be all inhabitants of France; the pensionaries to reside in Paris. Of the associates, eight only might be foreigners, and the eléves to be resident in Paris. A president was to be named by the king from the honorary members, the secretary and treasurer to be perpetual. Of the pensionaries, three were to be astronomers, three chemists, three geometricians, three botanists, and three anatomists. The remaining two were intended for secretary and treasurer. Of the associates, two were to apply to geometry, two to botany, and two to chemistry. The eléves applied themselves to the same sciences as their pensionaries, and might not speak except when called on by the president. No person might be admitted for associate or pensionary, unless known to the world by authorship, or the invention of some machine, &c. &c. The society's motto was, Invenit et perfecit.

The Duke of Orleans in 1716 very much extended the institution, suppressed the class of eléves and introduced two other classes, one consisting of twelve adjuncts and six free associates, who were not obliged to pursue any particular study. A vice-president was to be chosen annually by the king from the honorary class, with a director and sub-director from the pensionaries. In 1785, the king superadded several other classes, as natural history, agriculture, mineralogy, and physics. He likewise introduced

several political changes into the constitution The society consisted of eight classes, viz. astronomy, geometry, physics, mechanics, chemistry, and metallurgy, anatomy, botany, and agriculture, natural history, and mineralogy.

This institution, by computing the meridian, and sending out persons to make observations, has been of great service to the world. Memoirs of the society have been published almost every year since its establishment in 1669. To each volume is prefixed an abstract of the history of the academy, and eulogiums on such members as have died within the year. M. Rouille de Meslay, counsellor to the parliament of Paris, founded two prizes, one of 2500, the other of 2000 livres, to be alternately distributed by parliament every year; the subject for the first to be physical astronomy, for the second navigation and commerce.

The history of the academy to the year 1697, was published by Du Hamel. After that period it was continued by Fontenelle in his "Histoire de l'Academie Royal des Sciences; avec les Memoires de Mathematique et de Physique, tirez des Registres de l'Academie, Histoire de l'Academie Royale des Sciences depuis son Etablissement en 1666, jusqu'en 1699," en 13 tomes, 4to.

In 1793, the convention dissolved the institution, on the ground of its being a supposed bulwark of royalty, and established another under the name of the National Institute. The memoirs to this period are published in 139 quarto volumes. Other academies of considerable importance are established in the principal cities of France, as the Academie des jeux Floraux, at Toulouse; Royal Academy of Sciences, at Toulouse, Academy at Caen, Rouen, and many others. That at Dijon contains, in a handsome saloon, the busts of eminent men, natives of the city, as Buffon, Bossuet, Piron, Crebillon, De Brosses, Freret, &c.

The Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin, established in 1700, was formed by Frederic II. king of Prussia, after the model of that of England, with the addition of belles lettres. In 1710 some alterations took place, and the president became one of the counsellors of state. The members consisted of four classes, the first including physics, medicine, and chemistry. The second, mechanics, astronomy, and mathematics; the third, history, particularly German history and language; the fourth, oriental learning, which was adopted as a means of facilitating the spread of the gospel among the heathen. The first business of every class was to choose a director, who held his station for life: of these Leibnitz was the first director. The classes had free communion with one another.

Though the society originated in Frederic II. at so early a period, it was not till 1743 that it enjoyed any considerable share of the royal favour; when Frederic III. took upon himself in person, the entire management, chose a proper president, invited the most distinguished scholars on the continent to Berlin, and adopted the most vigorous measures to raise the institute into celebrity. In gratitude for these distinguishing marks of favour, the society agreed to hold their

two public assemblies, one in January, on the king's birth-day, and the other in May, on the day of his accession to the throne. On the latter occasion, a gold medal is awarded for the best dissertation, the subject of which is to be successively philosophy, metaphysics, mathematics, and general erudition. The Berlin cabinet of curiosities, and the public library were added by an act of the crown; and in order to expand the views of the academy, and promote among the people a more general attention to the arts, the king, in 1798, appointed a directory consisting of four members to undertake the entire management of the funds, a president, and two additional members, to be chosen from among men of business. Each class had a director of its own, elected for life; and the appointment of officers was at the nomination of the academy, subject however to the confirmation of the king. A number of volumes have been published by the names of "Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles Lettres à Berlin." A history of the institution has also been given to the public. The regulations of 1798 have greatly tended to liberalize the views of the academy, and to direct their attention to subjects of general utility.

The Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh, originated with the Czar, Peter the Great, who, during his travels on the continent, having observed the manifold advantages arising from literary institutions, resolved on forming an academy in his own dominions. With the assistance of Wolf and Leibnitz, he had projected the plan of the proposed institution, and invited several learned foreigners to become members, when death put an end to all his designs, and extinguished all the hopes, expectations, and solicitudes of that great and distinguished man. Czarina, Catherine I. nevertheless, adopted his views, and approving the plan already laid down, put it into execution in 1725, when the society held their first meeting before the duke of Holstein, and many other persons of rank and eminence. In the ensuing August the czarina herself attended the meeting, on which occasion the celebrated Bulfinger, a German naturalist, delivered an oration on the utility of the loadstone and needle for the discovery and calculation of longitude. Impressed yet more deeply with the importance and excellence of the institution, she immediately devoted £4982 per annum to its support, admitted fifteen members, eminent for literature and science; and under the title of professors, honoured them with pensions. The most distinguished of these individuals were Nicholas and Daniel Bernoulli, the two De Lisles, Bulfinger, and Wolf. In 1721, a gymnasium was added to the academy, and afterward an university, the professors of which gave lectures in the various branches of learning.

Peter II. disapproved of the society, and proceeded to stop the salaries of its members. By his example, the institution was neglected by persons of rank, and languished for want of support. It revived, however, under the empress Anne, and flourished during the successful presidency of the celebrated Baron Korfe, but after his death, an ignorant person being appointed to the office, the most eminent members quitted the kingdom.

A second revival took place upon the accession of czarina Elizabeth, when the original plan was enlarged, the internal government improved, and most of the eminent members, who had relinquished, were induced to return; and two natives of genius and ability, who had prosecuted their studies in foreign universities, Lomonosoff and Rumorsky, attached themselves to the institution. Catherine II. took the institution under her auspices. An Academy of Arts was added (but afterwards separated in 1764). The influx of learned and ingenious foreigners inspired new vigour expeditions were sent over the whole empire, for the purpose of obtaining knowledge, and as the funds were inadequate to this large scale of expenditure, the empress made an immediate donation of £2000, to be renewed as often as circumstances might require. The annual income of the society, was now calculated at £10,659, and its annual sale of books, maps, almanacks, memoirs, &c. nearly 80,000 rubles.

The scientific expeditions were to enquire into the quality of earth and waters; the most successful mode of cultivating the barren spots of land; the diseases of men and cattle, together with methods of cure; the breeding of cattle, more especially sheep; the management of bees and silkworms; the properties of minerals, plants, and every species of botany, of which they were to bring collections illustrative of the science, according to the most approved system, so as to form a complete "Rossica Flora." Besides these, they were also to investigate the most proper places for fishing, hunting, &c.; to rectify the longitude and latitude of places, and to make geographical, astronomical, and meteorological observations; to trace the course of rivers; make exact charts; observe the customs, dress, manners, language, religion, history, traditions, and antiquity of different nations, with which they were to combine every other species of information that might tend to enlighten the institution, and discover the internal state of their native empire. The existence of such a society proves, that learning had not vanished from the North; and the number of excellent publications which have since dawned upon the world, evince that the hopes inspired by the wide perambulations of the society were not disappointed. In these Pallas, Gmelin, Stolberg, Guldenstaedt, and others, have immortalized their names.

The academy is at present composed of a president, director, fifteen professors, and four adjuncts. The professors receive an annual stipend of from £200 to £600: the adjuncts are pensioned. The meetings are twice a-week, and the public assemblies are held thrice a-year. Belonging to this society, and immediately contiguous, is a fine library, containing upwards of 36,000 curious volumes and manuscripts: also a museum, rich in native productions, and containing a choice cabinet of coins, antiquities, &c. The various branches of natural history have their corresponding apartments into which they are scientifically distributed. The motto of the society is Paulatim, and their device a tree, bearing unripe fruit. Their transactions were first published in 1728, entitled, “Commentarii Aca