Part 45 (1/2)

Though, in all these societies, you may meet with a great number of estimable men, many of whose names may be found in the major part of them, yet that which holds the first rank in the public esteem, as well from the respectability of the members of whom it is composed, as from the proofs of talents which are necessary in order to be admitted into it, is the

SOCIeTe PHILOTECHNIQUE.

Indeed, almost all its members are men whose works hove rendered them celebrated throughout Europe. Hitherto, with the exception of the National Inst.i.tute, this is the only society to which the government has granted the honour of receiving it as a body, or by deputation, on solemn occasions; and by that alone, it has _nationalized_, at least tacitly, its inst.i.tution. It is also the only one which, to the present moment, has preserved the right of holding its public and private sittings in the _Louvre_, since that palace has been ordered to be wholly evacuated. A report has been spread that the hall of the _ci-devant_ French Academy is destined for it; but as yet nothing is determined in this respect.

Its number is confined to sixty resident members, and twenty free a.s.sociates or veterans. It is necessary to have been ten years among the resident members, in order to have a right to be admitted into the number of the twenty free a.s.sociates, who enjoy prerogatives, without being bound to take a part in the labours of the society.

This favour, however, may be granted to those who are for a time called from Paris by public functions, such as emba.s.sies, prefectures, &c.

This society meets on the 2nd, 12th and 22nd of every month at seven o'clock in the evening. Its various committees have their particular days for a.s.sembling. Its officers consist of a President, a Vice-President, a general and perpetual Secretary, a temporary Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Keeper of the records.

It holds its public sittings at noon on the last Sunday of the second month of every _trimestre_, or quarter of the republican year, namely, Brumaire, Pluviose, Floreal, and Thermidor.

It is composed of men of science, literati, and artists; but, resembling a family rather than a society, its principles of friends.h.i.+p admit of no cla.s.ses. On the 19th of every month, it celebrates its foundation by an entertainment, at which its members have the liberty of introducing their friends.

It reckons among its members, in the Sciences, LACePeDE, FOURCROY, CUVIER, GEOFFROY, ROTROU, RUEL, LE CLERC, GAUTHEROT, GINGEMBRE, &c.

In Literature, BOUFFLERS, LEGOUVe, ANDRIEUX, JOSEPH LAVALLeE, MARIUS ARNAUD, SICARD, GUILLARD, GUICHARD, FRANcOIS DE NEUFCHaTEAU, MARGOURIT, RENAUD DE ST. JEAN-D'ANGELY, AMAURY and ALEXANDRE DUVAL, SAY, DESPReS, MARSOLIER, BROUSSE, DES FAUCHERETS, PIGAULT LE BRUN, POUGENS, FRAMERY, COLIN D'HARLEVILLE, LA CHABEAUSSIeRE, &c.

In the Arts, viz. Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, Declamation, and Dancing, REGNAULT, VALENCIENNES, SILVESTRE the Father, BARBIER the elder, BARTHELEMY, SAUVAGE, LETHIERS, PAJOU, CHAUDET, NORRY, LEGRAND, BIENAIMe, DECOTTE, director of the medals, FOUBERT, honorary administrator of the Central Museum, LA RIVE the tragedian, GOSSEC, MARTINI, LE SUEUR, GAVAUX, KALKBRUMER, ADRIEN the elder, GARDEL, &c.

The general and perpetual Secretary is JOSEPH LAVALLeE.

SOCIeTe, LIBRE DES. SCIENCES, LETTRES, ET ARTS.

It is composed of the junction of the old _Museum of Paris_ and of the Society called that of the _Nine Sisters_. It is divided into cla.s.ses, is unlimited in the number of its members, admits a.s.sociated correspondents and foreigners, holds its private sittings at the _Oratoire_ in the _Rue St. Honore_, every Thursday, and its public ones at six o'clock in the evening on the 9th of the first months of the _trimestre_; namely, Vendemiaire, Nivose, Germinal, and Messidor.

Its officers consist of a President, taken alternately from the three cla.s.ses, of two temporary Secretaries, a Treasurer, and a Keeper of the records.

This Society is modelled a little too much after the Inst.i.tute, and it is easy to see that the former aims at rivaling the latter. This _esprit de corps_, which cannot well be perceived but by nice observers, has this advantage; it inspires a sort of emulation. But the society having neglected to limit the number of its members, and having thereby deprived itself of the means of appearing difficult as to admission, it thence results that its labours are not equally stamped with the impression of real talent; and if, in fact, it be ambitious, that is a great obstacle to its views.

ATHENeE (_ci-devant_ LYCeE) DES ARTS.[1]

In imitation of our Royal Society, it comprises not only the sciences, literature, and the arts, but also arts and trades, mechanics, inventions, &c. Its members are not idle, and they are a useful body, as they excite emulation by medals, civic crowns, premiums, and rewards. Their number is considerable and unlimited; a condition which is an evil in the last-mentioned society, and a good in this, whose nature is not so much to s.h.i.+ne as to encourage industry.

It was for a while in disrepute, because DESAUDRAY, the director who founded it, exercised over it a tyrannic sway; it has succeeded in getting rid of him, and, since then, several persons of merit, who had before kept aloof, aspire to the honour of being admitted into it.

For some time past it has adopted a custom, too obsequious and absurd, of choosing none but ministers for its Presidents. By this, it exposes its liberty and its opinion, and gives itself chains, the weight of which it will feel some day, when too late to shake them off.

It holds its general sittings at the _Oratoire_ every Monday, when it hears the reports of its numerous committees, who have their particular days for meeting. Its public sittings are held at the same place, but at no fixed periods.

Its officers consist of a President, a Vice-President, two Secretaries, three Conservators, a Treasurer, and a Keeper of the records.

It has a.s.sociated correspondents throughout Europe.

SOCIeTe PHILOMATIQUE.

It is wholly devoted to natural, physical, and mathematical sciences.

It a.s.sembles on Fridays, in the _Rue d'Anjou_, _Faubourg St.

Germain_. It has no public sittings; but is merely a private meeting of men of learning, who publish once a month a _bulletin_ very important to the sciences, and to be commended, besides, for its composition, perspicuity, and conciseness. This publication is of a 4to size, consists of a single sheet of print, and has for its t.i.tle _Bulletin des Sciences par la Societe Philomatique_.