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BR en ’> TRAVELS
pious the number of academicians, the more the chance and pro-
bability is increafed of their admitting improper perfons for their
affociates. _ Weak and ignorant men, once received, are as proud
(and generally more fo) of the title of academicians as men who,
by their talents and abilities, have rifen to that honour; and
while they contribute nothing to the ftock of knowledge, they
perplex and confound, by the capricioufnefs of their votes, the beft
Jaid plans for its enlargement. The number of one hundred is
much too great for a country in which literature and fcience have
made but a very hmited progrefs. If there were only fifty aGing
members, and fifty honorary, that is members without votes in the
affairs of the academy, there would be lefs room for intrigue and
faction, their proceedings would be more philofophical, and their
induftry receive a happier direction. At prefent a confiderable
portion of their fellows confifts of young men without a fufficient’
acquaintance with literature and fcience for fupporting thename’
of academicians. For the acquirement of this title nothing more’
is requifite, than to be rich and to make prefents to the academy:
Thus I know that’ gentlemen have been chofen whofe only pre-
tenfion was that of -being called a banker, or infpetor of the
mines. I was acquainted with fome young men, the ‘fons of
members, not deficient in literature, but abounding alfo in wealth,
who were elected merely forthe merits of their fathers. Others
have come under, my obfervation, who, having made a voyage to.
Ratavia, and fent home fome birds and other productions of that
teh ifland,
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