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ON THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF
LITERATURE。
（June 1823）
This is the age of societies。 There is scarcely one Englishman in ten
who has not belonged to some association for distributing books； or for
prosecuting them； for sending invalids to the hospital； or beggars to the
treadmill； for giving plate to the rich； or blankets to the poor。 To be the
most absurd institution among so many institutions is no small distinction；
it seems； however； to belong indisputably to the Royal Society of
Literature。 At the first establishment of that ridiculous academy； every
sensible man predicted that； in spite of regal patronage and episcopal
management； it would do nothing； or do harm。 And it will scarcely be
denied that those expectations have hitherto been fulfilled。
I do not attack the founders of the association。 Their characters are
respectable； their motives； I am willing to believe； were laudable。 But I
feel； and it is the duty of every literary man to feel； a strong jealousy of
their proceedings。 Their society can be innocent only while it continues to
be despicable。 Should they ever possess the power to encourage merit；
they must also possess the power to depress it。 Which power will be
more frequently exercised； let every one who has studied literary history；
let every one who has studied human nature； declare。
Envy and faction insinuate themselves into all communities。 They
often disturb the peace； and pervert the decisions； of benevolent and
scientific associations。 But it is in literary academies that they exert the
most extensive and pernicious influence。 In the first place； the principles
of literary criticism； though equally fixed with those on which the chemist
and the surgeon proceed； are by no means equally recognised。 Men are
rarely able to assign a reason for their approbation or dislike on questions
of taste； and therefore they willingly submit to any guide who boldly
asserts his claim to superior discernment。 It is more difficult to ascertain
and establish the merits of a poem than the powers of a machine or the
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benefits of a new remedy。 Hence it is in literature； that quackery is most
easily puffed； and excellence most easily decried。
In some degree this argument applies to academies of the fine arts； and
it is fully confirmed by all that I have ever heard of that institution which
annually disfigures the walls of Somerset House with an acre of spoiled
canvas。 But a literary tribunal is incomparably more dangerous。 Other
societies； at least； have no tendency to call forth any opinions on those
subjects which most agitate and inflame the minds of men。 The sceptic
and the zealot； the revolutionist and the placeman； meet on common
ground in a gallery of paintings or a laboratory of science。 They can
praise or censure without reference to the differences which exist between
them。 In a literary body this can never be the case。 Literature is； and
always must be； inseparably blended with politics and theology； it is the
great engine which moves the feelings of a people on the most momentous
questions。 It is； therefore； impossible that any society can be formed so
impartial as to consider the literary character of an individual abstracted
from the opinions which his writings inculcate。 It is not to be hoped；
perhaps it is not to be wished； that the feelings of the man should be so
completely forgotten in the duties of the academician。 The consequences
are evident。 The honours and censures of this Star Chamber of the
Muses will be awarded according to the prejudices of the particular sect or
faction which may at the time predominate。 Whigs would canvass
against a Southey； Tories against a Byron。 Those who might at first
protest against such conduct as unjust would soon adopt it on the plea of
retaliation； and the general good of literature； for which the society was
professedly instituted； would be forgotten in the stronger claims of
political and religious partiality。
Yet even this is not the worst。 Should the institution ever acquire any
influence； it will afford most pernicious facilities to every malignant
coward who may desire to blast a reputation which he envies。 It will
furnish a secure ambuscade； behind which the Maroons of literature may
take a certain and deadly aim。 The editorial WE has often been fatal to
rising genius； though all the world knows that it is only a form of speech；
very often employed by a single needy blockhead。 The academic WE
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would have a far greater and more ruinous influence。 Numbers； while
they increase the effect； would diminish the shame； of injustice。 The
advantages of an open and those of an anonymous attack would be
combined； and the authority of avowal would be united to the security of
concealment。 The serpents in Virgil； after they had destroyed Laocoon；
found an asylum from the vengeance of the enraged people behind the
shield of the statue of Minerva。 And； in the same manner； everything that
is grovelling and venomous； everything that can hiss； and everything that
can sting； would take sanctuary in the recesses of this new temple of
wisdom。
The French academy was； of all such associations； the most widely
and the most justly celebrated。 It was founded by the greatest of
ministers： it was patronised by successive kings； it numbered in its lists
most of the eminent French writers。 Yet what benefit has literature
derived from its labours？ What is its history but an uninterrupted record
of servile compliancesof paltry artificesof deadly quarrelsof
perfidious friendships？ Whether governed by the Court； by the Sorbonne；
or by the Philosophers； it was always equally powerful for evil； and
equally impotent for good。 I might speak of the attacks by which it
attempted to depress the rising fame of Corneille； I might speak of the
reluctance with which it gave its tardy confirmation to the applauses
which the whole civilised world had bestowed on the genius of Voltaire。
I might prove by overwhelming evidence that； to the latest period of its
existence； even under the superintendence of the all…accomplished
D'Alembert； it continued to be a scene of the fiercest animosities and the
basest intrigues。 I might cite Piron's epigrams； and Marmontel's memoirs；
and Montesquieu's letters。 But I hasten on to another topic。
One of the modes by which our Society proposes to encourage merit is
the distribution of prizes。 The munificence of the king has enabled it to
offer an annual premium of a hundred guineas for the best essay in prose；
and another of fifty guineas for the best poem； which may be transmitted
to it。 This is very laughable。 In the first place the judges may err。
Those imperfections of human intellect to which； as the articles of the
Church tell us； even general councils are subject； may possibly be found
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even in the Royal Society of Literature。 The French academy； as I have
already said； was the most illustrious assembly of the kind； and numbered
among its associates men much more distinguished than ever will
assemble at Mr Hatchard's to rummage the box of the English Society。
Yet this famous body gave a