In 1783 an institution on the model of the Academie frarncaise was established at St. Petersburg, for the cultivation of the national language, but it was soon amalgamated with the imperial academy. The Academie imperiale des beaux arts of St. Petersburg was founded in 1765 by Catharine II., who endowed it richly. It now sends out pupils to Germany and Italy for education in the fine arts, and supports them during their studies. Mr. Albert Bierstadt, chosen in 1871, was the first American honorary member of this academy.

XI. British and Irish Academies. In Britain proper, the term society or association is the designation in use for bodies of learned men united in pursuit of some common object. They will be found enumerated under the head of Societies. The word academy in Britain is reserved for institutions devoted to the cultivation of the fine arts. In Ireland the continental name has been adopted. The royal Irish academy, founded in 1782, at Dublin, has published transactions from time to time since 1788. The present royal academy of arts in London originated in a society of painters, who obtained a charter in 1765, under the title of the "Incorporated Society of Artists of Great Britain." This society took a new form in 1768, and became the royal academy of arts. It consists of 40 artists, bearing the title of royal academicians, of 18 associates, 6 associate engravers, and 3 or 4 honorary members. There is an annual exhibition of paintings, sculptures, and designs, open to all artists. This exhibition is so well frequented that the royal academy draws almost all its funds from the money paid by the public for tickets of entry.

The Edinburgh royal academy of painting was founded in 1754. A similar institution, called the royal Hibernian academy, was established in Dublin about 1832. An academy of ancient music was established in London so early as the year 1710; but a disagreement among its members finally broke it up. Soon afterward the royal academy of music was formed for the performance of operas composed by Handel. Another disagreement broke this up in 1729. The present royal academy of music was established in 1822. It is of great utility as a school of vocal and instrumental music.

XII. Turkish Empire. The academy established in 1851 at Constantinople is still feeble. That founded at Alexandria in 1859 has published memoirs and bulletins since 1862.

XIII. The principal Australian academy is located at Victoria.

XIV. Asia. There are learned associations in all the important British colonies of Asia, and an academy at Batavia (Java), devoted to sciences.

XV. American Academies. In America, as in Britain, the term academy is not generally used for learned societies. The American academy of arts and sciences, at Boston, founded in 1780, has published several volumes of transactions. The Connecticut academy of arts and sciences was founded in 1799. The academy of natural science, at Philadelphia, founded in 1818, is a flourishing institution, and has splendid collections of fossils, stuffed animals, birds, and Dr. Morton's collection of skulls, the finest on the American continent. The national academy of sciences was incorporated by congress March 3, 1863. It is provided that " the academy shall consist of not more than 50 ordinary members, shall have power to make its own organization, including its constitution, by-laws, and rules and regulations; to provide for the election of foreign and domestic members, the division into classes, and all other matters needful or useful in such institution, and to report the same to congress." Fifty members were named in the original act, a majority of whom met for organization in New York, April 22, 1863. The academy receives no support from the government, and, being destitute of funds beyond a legacy left by the late Alexander Dallas Bache, is not in condition to publish its proceedings; hence the public hear very little of its activity.

The Pennsylvania academy of fine arts, established in 1807, holds annual exhibitions at Philadelphia. The national academy of design, at New York, was founded in 1828, chiefly by the exertions of Mr. S. F. B. Morse, its first president. It is composed exclusively of artists, has one of the most conspicuous buildings in the city, maintains a flourishing school of design, and has annual exhibitions. The medical academy of New York is in a flourishing condition; its meetings are well attended, and attract much public interest. New York, following the Parisian example, called her principal opera house the academy of music. This spacious building, erected by an incorporated society, and capable of containing 4,500 persons, was opened in the autumn of 1854; it was burned in 1807, and replaced by one of considerably smaller dimensions. Philadelphia followed with a similar construction for similar purposes; it was inaugurated as the American academy of music in the winter of 1856-'7. Other opera houses with the same designation have since been erected in Brooklyn, Chicago (burned in 1871), and other cities.

XVI. At Rio Janeiro and in other South American capitals are also academies of learning and of fine arts.