t is well known
was never half so witty upon any other Subject, as upon that of
Religion. Another Law of theirs that gives me Offence, is, The Law by
which they are oblig'd to judge of no-body's Works but their own. For
perhaps our Academy may not be in a Humour to write any Thing these
Hundred Years, except a Trifle now and then, as an _Examiner_,
a _Conduct_, a _John Bull_, or so. All which Works are allowable,
because the _French_ Statute says, _Political Matters may be treated of
conformably to the Authority of the State_.

There was one Rule more among the _French_ Academicians, that will never
do in _England_ which is their forbidding the Academy's Certificate to
be printed before the Writings of the Members, and allowing 'em only to
put, _Par un tel de l'Academie Francoise_; As if one should say, _By
such a Person of the +British+ Academy_. This would make mad Work here:
Every little _Grubstreet_ Scribler would presently be publishing his
Trash, with the stolen Title of _My Lord such a one, or Brigadier such a
one, of the +British+ Academy._ And how should we be able to distinguish
the Right from the Wrong, unless their License be printed before in
Form, like a Privilege Royal, _To our Trusty and Well-beloved +Abel
Roper+, of +London+, Bookseller_.

Having just mention'd _Abel_, it puts me in Mind of a certain Officer
belonging to the _French_ Academy, call'd a Library-Keeper. This was
given to one _Camusat_, the most Eminent Bookseller then in _Paris_: And
I presume no body will say that Trusty _Abel_ is not the fittest Man in
_England_ for that Office: He being supposed not only to have printed,
but even to have father'd some considerable Works of the most Elegant of
all our Academicians.

There's nothing else very remarkable in the Laws of the _French
Academy_, except their forbidding any Member to write in their Defence,
which it is probable will be thought worth observing here. For if our
Society should pretend to answer every impertinent Thing that will be
written against them, they would be finely set to Work. If therefore
they should happen to be daily pelted at, the shortest way will be to
despise their Opponents, and to consider themselves as Persons above the
Reach of Malice; incorporated under a glorious Protector for some good
End or other; and in daily Expectation of having a Charter and an Act of
Parliament to back them; and of being made Wits by the Laws of the Land.

I cannot conclude without