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 and enlarg'd that Monarchy so much, did often refresh himself by directing, and taking an Account of their Progress. And indeed in his own Life he found so great Success of this Institution, that he saw the French Tongue abundantly purified, and beginning to take place in the Western World, almost as much as the Greek did of old, when it was the Language of Merchants, Soldiers, Courtiers, and Travellers. But I shall say no more of this Academy, that I may not deprive my Reader of the Delight of perusing their own History, written by Monsieur de Pelisson; which is so masculine, so chastly, and so unaffectedly done, that I can hardly forbear envying the French Nation this Honour; that while the English Royal Society has so much out-gone their Illustrious Academy, in the Greatness of its Undertaking, it should be so far short of them in the Abilities of its Historian. I have only this to alledge in my Excuse; that as they undertook the Advancement of the Elegance of Speech, so it became their History to have some Resemblance to their Enterprize: Whereas the Intention of ours being not the Artifice of Words, but a bare Knowledge of Things; my Fault may be esteem'd the less, that I have written of Philosophers without any Ornament of Eloquence.

I hope now it will not be thought a vain Digression, if I step a little aside, to recommend the forming of such an Assembly to the Gentlemen of our Nation. I know indeed, that the English Genius is not so airy and discursive, as that of some of our Neighbours, but that we generally love to have Reason set out in plain undeceiving Expressions; as much as they to have it deliver'd with Colour and Beauty. And