Note 10 — Chapter II · 1844—1849
R. L. Devonshire translation
Institut de France. Name given collectively to the five following societies—
1. Académie Française, founded by Richelieu in 1635 in order to polish and maintain the purity of the French language. It is composed of forty Life members, and publishes from time to time a dictionary which is looked upon as a standard test of correct French.
2. Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, founded by Colbert in 1663.
3. Académie des Sciences, also founded by Colbert in 1666. It has published most valuable reports ever since 1699.
4. Académie des Beaux-Arts, which includes the Academies of Painting, of Sculpture, of Music, and of Architecture.
5. Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
It was in 1795 that these ancient academies, which had been suppressed two years before by the Revolution, were reorganized and combined together to form the Institut de France. [Trans.]