New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-22
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE.

tuTc, science ana ART i'll JnS country, Has DccH ~
ready announced in our columns. We under
stand that the plan was first suggested by
few gentlemen in this city, who are Interested
in the cause of good learning. and after ma
ture thought and consultation, circular was
issued to several prominent friends OF science
and letters, in different parts OF the United
States, soliciting their cOuntenance and coopera-
ton in the enterprise. The proposal was met
with cordial sympathysOn all sides. In their re-
plies to the circular many of our most eminent
scientific and professional men expressed their
warm approval of the plan, and their desire TO
be enrolled on the list of members. nucleus
has thus been formed for the establishment OF
n new American organization, with broader intel
lectual purposes, and aiming at higher point
of utility, than previous bodies OF similar
character in our own country and in Europe
The main feature of the proposed association
is the variety of intellectual interests which 1t
seeks to combine in unitary center. Learned
societies have usually been devoted to the cul-
tiyation of an exclusive speciality, or to
limited selection of branches III layorte ue
nortmcnts of science and letters. The Royal
Society of London, which has had noble
career of more than two centuries, was insti-
tutcd for the promotion of the physical and
mathematical sciences, and their practical APP
plications to the purposes OF life The cele-
brated French Academy was originally founded
by Cardinal RiChclieu, with the specific pur-
pose of furnishing an authoritative standard OF
the natl onal language, although in its present
form of the Institute of France it comprises
five acad emics devoted respectively to French
phology. rhetoric, and poetry to history
and cthnology; to the physical sciences to the
fine arts; and To the moral and political
sciences. The small number to which the
members of the Institute of France are limited,
and the traditional prestige with which 1t Is
surrounded, render it an object of intense am
btion among the cultyators of learning in
France and of corresponding envy and Jeal-
ousy on the part of those who fail of admission
to its ranks
In like manner the associations for the promo
ton of learning in the United States have
generally been established in the interest Of
special branches of intellectual activity. The
American Academy Of Arts and Sciences in
Boston, the Philosophical Society in Philadel-
phia. and the excellent Historical, Geogmphi-
cal, Oriental, and chronological Societies in va
rious cities, TO say nothing of innumemble
OtlclS WHOSE mines VIC no Hut just nov Adii
to mind, have combined limited circle of
scientific and literary interests. They have all
doubtless accomplished great good in their
respective departments. They have formed
efficient element in the progress of American
culture. We respect them not only for what they
have been, but for what they now are. No
lover of letters would desire to discourage their
valuable labors But it strikes us with not a
little force, that if they have done well,
larger combination might also do well in diff
fcrcnt sphere, and with more comprehensive
methods.
The new National Institute which has been
recently announced is of less exclusive char
acter with more liberal conditions of member
ship, and embracing wider range of interests.
1t comprises at least eight different academies,
namely: /. Philosophy aud Moral Science. 2.
Political Economy and Law. 3. Commerce and
Finance A. The Natural Sciences. .. The
Medical Sciences. 6. Letters. 7. The Fine
Arts 8. The Physical, Mathematical, and Me-
chanica Sciences. This number may be en-
larged by the addition of two, making maxi
mum of ten academies The members of any
academy are allowed to attend the meetings
of all the other academies, and, on invitation
debates The same person is also eligible
to membership in all the different
academies. Provision Is made for the
election of Fellows, as a mark of honorable
distinction, not exceeding one in ten of the
members of the several academies and persons
who have rendered some marked services to
the cause of learning may be elected rs
Honorary Members. A class of Founders is
contemplated, with valuable privileges, con-
sisting of persons who shall have contributed
not less than one thousand dollars TO the funds
of the Institute 1t is proposed to issue q
monthly publication of Proceedings" contain
ing reports of the acts of each academy, with
abstracts Of memoirs read. and of the debates;
and an annual volume of Transactions" consist
ing of memoirs read before the academies, and
accepted by the Council for publication.
We do not perceive any great fault to be found
with this modest programme. The Institute
makes no loud flourish of trumpets at the outset,
and that certainly is not a bad sign. The plan
looks to us like business, and we trust we shall
be able to follow its development with
friendly eye. Nobody it seems to us, can call
in question the advantage of a more intimate
union and understanding among the men of
learning and study III this country. 81 call
"that virtue" said a great French moralist,
though in another sense, (which creates social
:" ties, instead of destroying them.n The mere
tie Of contact and sympathy among the cult
vators of the different branches of thought
and research, proposed by the new Institute, is
worthy of encouragement, though no adj
mirable Crichtons, ho monsters of genius
and erudition, may be found among
its members. If men of science find genial
stimnlns To Innntnl ncIinn In thn cnnnnnnv nf