Note 95 — Chapter XVII · THE DICTATORSHIP OF RICHELIEU
Reading edition
[Richelieu formally created the ever afterward famous Académie Française in the year 1635. Its membership was (and is) limited to forty,—the “forty immortals.” Its object was to control the French language, and regulate the literary taste of the people. Its influence has been extraordinary; but the wisdom of attempting to dam up the stream of so limpid a medium as language may be questioned. Membership in the Academy continues to be the highest honour that can be offered a French man of letters. See below, chapter xxi.]