THE French Academy is not only interesting because of its illustrious founder, and of the many celebrated men whose genius has rendered it glorious, but it is also most interesting as the only institution in France which has come down to us unchanged from the olden days. The discussion which has for some weeks back been carried on in the English press regarding the institution of an Academy of English Letters - a discussion as idle in its origin as it has been barren in its results-makes it worth our while to bestow some attention upon the constitution and working of the model which a small section of literary busybodies propose for our imitation.

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At the time of its foundation, two centuries and a half ago, the feudal system was still in vigour in France; the old race governed and the old laws prevailed. A hundred and fifty years after wards the great Revolution swept like a hurricane across the land, burying beneath the ruins which it caused not only the ancient royal line and the aristocracy, but the very ideas and modes of thought which had existed until From the chaos a new France arose; but the ancient institutions had passed away for ever, or had changed in accordance with the spirit of the times.

then.

The French Academy alonealthough, as we shall see further

on, obliged for a moment to bow before the storm - remained unhurt, retaining all its pristine vigour; and it still continues the same as at its foundation, having the same constitution, the same statutes and laws, even the same number of members, which has never been increased - the forty Immortals.

Although from the very beginning the society has been frequently attacked-although its enemies have often been numerous and violent-yet never have so many dangers threatened as at the present moment. Truly, as the century draws to its close the democratic spirit waxes stronger, and the prominent idea seems to be to destroy. This is especially the case in France, where an incredible rage seems to exist to sweep away every vestige of old things. The French Academy has not escaped, but is attacked on every side; even several literary men, who ought to be amongst its defenders, are to be found in the enemies' camp, disdaining, as they say, its favours-or perhaps, as the other side pretends, not having been considered worthy to receive them. Is the Academy destined to disappear?—or will it, as Macaulay says of a still more venerable institution, rise like Noah's Ark above the waters of the deluge; and, as it has remained unshaken amid all the political changes of the last century, is it

destined still to triumph, and to hold, as it has ever done, the foremost place in the history of French literature?

In any case its present position is interesting; for although, as we have said, its authority is disputed and its pretensions ridiculed by many, yet, on the other hand, never have the Academy's prizes been so eagerly sought, and never have so many competitors come forward to strive for the vacant chair which will give them a place beneath the celebrated dome.

Although the French Academy was only established by royal charter in 1635, yet its origin may be placed some five or six years earlier, and may be attributed as much to chance as to design. The beginnings of the celebrated society were very modest: the real spirit of the Academy took its rise in the humble little room of Malherbe, the only furniture of which was a few straw-bottomed chairs ! There in that humble chamber the literary men of Paris were accustomed to meet to discuss subjects of mutual interest; to hear the opinions of the master, himself poet and critic; and especially to judge the new works which might be produced by any member of the little circle: and there not only the ideas, but also the language and style, were subjected to the severest criticismproving that from the very beginning the French literary genius aimed at perfection of form, and that, as has ever been apparent in their literature, it is not so much the idea that is sought as the

language in which that idea is clothed.

In 1629, after the death of Malherbe, the members of the little coterie found it difficult to meet, living, as they did, in different parts of Paris, and at great distances from each other; so they agreed to assemble once a-week at the house of one of their number, a M. Conrart, who lived in a central position, "in order to discuss literary subjects, and especially to unite their efforts to aid the advancement and promote the purity of the French language."

This little society consisted at first of only nine persons. Besides Conrart there was M. Chapelain,1 a high authority, as he was in correspondence with most of the learned men of Europe, and was consulted both by his own countrymen and foreigners as an oracle. The other members were Godeau, De Malleville, the brothers Habert, the younger of whom is best known as Abbé de Cerisy, M. Giry, M. de Sérizay, &c. Such was the nucleus from which sprang the French Academy. For some years they continued their meetings without attracting much attention; but in 1634 Cardinal Richelieu, the allpowerful Minister of Louis XIII., was informed of these assemblies by his favourite, M. de Bois-Robert, who kept him en courant of all that was going on in Paris, and who was a personal friend of Maynard, one of the members.

What impulse moved Richelieu that he determined to take the little society under his protection? Was it merely the desire of an ambitious man to be first in every

thing? Or was it that he also aspired to literary fame, as we read that he occupied the short intervals of leisure left by his political schemes, and the signing of deathwarrants, in the composition of poetry? Or had the great Cardinal, as is not unusual with men of genius, a sudden inspiration, and did he foresee that the little assembly was destined to develop into a great institution, and that his name being linked with it I would be another title to transmit it to posterity?

However this may be, the Cardinal commissioned De Bois-Robert to offer them his protection, and to demand if they would not like their little society to be regularly incorporated by royal charter, and that he would undertake to procure the letters-patent from the king.

The first effect of this message was to cause a panic among the members. What! the great, the terrible Cardinal to be mixed up with their affairs? Then farewell to the liberty and good-feeling which had hitherto prevailed; and they almost decided to refuse the offer, when Chapelain, who, from this time, seems to have taken a very prominent part in the affairs of the new society, spoke strongly on the imprudence of refusing the Cardinal's offer, and thus making an enemy of so powerful a man. "The Cardinal has offered," cried he; "his protection may help us, his enmity would surely destroy ‚1-we must accept." The other members submitted to his judgment, and it was agreed that a

us,

letter should be written asking in the name of the society for the Cardinal's favour and protection.

This letter was written by M. de Sérizay in March 1634, he being at that time director of the Society, and a friend of M. de Bois-Robert.

The Cardinal returned a most gracious answer, promising that the letters-patent should be prepared, and advising them in the meantime to add to their numbers as they should think proper; to draw up among themselves a code of statutes by which the society should be governed, and finally to choose a name.

Many new members were at once elected; Bois - Robert was naturally one of the first chosen.

The choice of a name was an important business. Many highsounding titles were suggested, but the society had the good sense to reject them, and to choose the simple one 2 of The French Academy (L'Académie française), by which name the society has ever been known. The members set zealously to work to prepare the laws by which the society was to be governed: three members were specially chosen for this work, but all were invited to give in writing their ideas and suggestions, which were afterwards put into proper form, and a code containing fifty statutes was drawn up. of the articles were insignificant, but some were of the highest importance, especially the one which established the perfect equality of all the members: this in itself was an immense concession at a time

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when the differences of class were so strongly marked. Within the sacred precincts of the Academy all were equal, and the scarcely known author took the same rank as the great prelates, the powerful ministers, the highest dukes, or even the princes of royal bloodas when, for instance, the great Condé became a member, or in our own day the Duc d'Aumale. It is related that when Colbert, the celebrated Minister of Louis XIV., was elected, some of his academic brethren addressed him as Monseigneur (my Lord). "Here I am only monsieur, like all the others," replied Colbert.1

It was also decreed that, for the better government of the body, three officers should be chosen from among themselves-a director, a chancellor, and a secretary.2 The two first were chosen by lot, and only continued in power three months. The secretary was permanent for life, and elected by vote. These officers still continue, but all three are now elected by vote.

The code being prepared, was sent to Richelieu for his approbation. He agreed to all, with the exception of one article, and this exception is to his credit, for it decreed that "all the members, present and future, should revere the virtue and memory of their great protector." As the Cardinal did not believe in gratitude by law, he struck out the article.

In these regulations it was declared that the Cardinal Richelieu was the founder and protector of the French Academy, and on the seal of the institution on one side

was the head of Richelieu, with the date of the foundation; on the other, a laurel wreath, surrounded by the motto à l'Immortalité (Immortality),—hence the epithet of Immortals so often given to the members of the Academy, or the Academicians, as they were henceforth called.

By letters-patent given by the King, Louis XIII., in the month of January 1635, was established under the name of French Academy (Académie française) the institution founded by Richelieu, and the number of members limited to forty, which number has never been exceeded.

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The statutes drawn up by the Academy, and ratified by royal charter, contained, as we have said, fifty articles. Besides securing the complete equality of the Academicians, full liberty was given to the society in the choice of its members; but another article modified in a great degree this latter privilege, for it ordained that "no one could become an Academician if he had not first obtained the approbation of the protector.' Richelieu being protector of the Academy until his death, did not hesitate to avail himself of this article, and the decisive influence which he had in the elections is not doubtful. Later on, when, as we shall see, the king himself became protector of the Academy, the royal veto could hinder an election, but things rarely went so far. The Academy was careful not to choose any one positively obnoxious; and the king on his side refrained from encroaching too much on the

liberties of the society. Louis XIV., we are told, withdrew his objections to a candidate when he was informed that he had been unanimously elected by the Academy; a somewhat similar fact is also recorded during the protectorate of Louis XV.1

In these days the office of protector is no longer heard of. Nevertheless the Academy recognises to a certain degree the authority of the chief of the nation, whether he be Emperor or President. When an election takes place, it is communicated to the public with the formula: "This election has been submitted to the approval of the chief of the State." 2

It is customary also that, after every reception, the new Academician should be presented to the Sovereign or President by the director and secretary of the Academy, and should offer a copy of his speech.

At the present time this is a simple form of very little consequence, as the Academicians have no personal animosity towards such or such a President; but the situation was much more delicate and embarrassing during the Second Empire, when Villemain, the director of the Academy, was obliged, according to the ancient tradition, to go to the Tuileries and present to the Emperor the newly elected, amongst whom were Lacordaire, De Broglie, Prévost-Paradol, and Jules Favre! Although the Academy elects its own members, it never offers its favours; all those who desire to belong to the illustrious society must ask for admission. This rule has prevailed almost from the beginning. It appears that in the very early days a place was offered to some one whom the Academy

1 Mesnard.

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2 Fabre.

wished to honour, and who, no doubt for political reasons, refused it!

This was felt to be such an indignity that it was resolved never to run the risk of another. At first, however, a simple letter to the secretary asking for admission was all that was necessary. After some time the affair became more complicated, and each candidate was obliged, as is the case at the present day, to pay what are called "the visits"; that is, it is necessary to pay a visit to every Academician in turn, and to ask for his vote: forty visits!— thirty-nine rather, for of course there must be at least one place

vacant.

This has been a stumbling-block in the way of many whose talents well entitled them to a place beneath the famous dome. As one Frenchman says, "The Academy's doors are too low, and one has to stoop too much to be able to enter without knocking one's head against the wall."

But it is time to speak of the object for which the Academy was created. In the royal charter it is distinctly stated that the aim and object of the institution, its principal function, was "to work with all possible care and diligence for the advancement of the French language, to purify it from all the dross which might alloy it, to establish a certain use of words-in short, to render it eloquent, and capable of treating of the arts and sciences."

This may appear to us but a modest aim, but at that time when the language was not thoroughly settled it was quite otherwise, and Richelieu himself assuredly regarded it as one of the most im'portant services that the society could render.