Richmond Enquirer

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF LANGUAGE AND BELLES LETTRES.

We have more than once taken occasion to call the attention of our readers to the objects of the Society recently instituted in New York, and composed of some of the most distinguished literary characters of our country, under the title which stands at the head of this column. Having recently received some additional information of the views of this association, we present them to our readers, or to such as feel an interest in the cultivation and improvement of the national literature.

Among other details of the plan, we understand that arrangements are making in a practical way to facilitate the literary intercourse of our countrymen. Agencies are established in most of the large towns of the U. S. to receive copies of such works as may be presented, and to transmit them from place to place, under systematic regulations for that purpose. Thro' agencies thus established, for instance, an author in Louisiana may deposit 5 copies of a work at New Orleans. These shall be sent to New York, opened, and distributed according to his written request ; say one for the Society's Library, and one each to Albany, Bowdoin College, London, and St. Petersburg. The agency at New York will interchange the transactions of all the literary and scientific societies in the United States, and distribute to the different colleges and schools such works as may be presented for their use.

They will in like manner receive, for American societies, books from foreign countries, and forward them to different states, according to the circumstances, and transmit any works in return to their agencies abroad.

They will procure, as far as practicable, a list of new publications, discoveries and inventions, showing the general progress of knowledge in the various parts of the world. In addition to the ordinary publication of the Academy, "a synopsis will be prepared monthly, and transmitted to the principal American editors, who have liberally proffered the aid of their gazettes to extend this information. The most respectable proprietors of post coaches, steam boats and packets, are also very cordial in tendering their aid in this work."

Under such a system, great numbers of authors, publishers, and learned associations, will, in addition to the laudable desire for the spread of knowledge, find it for their interest to present a copy of their works to this institution for the purpose of making them generally known in the United States. If there are any who think such an arrangement not calculated to promote their individual convenience, it at least will do them no injury : for it takes no advantage from them which they would otherwise possess.

The plan of this association is essentially different from that of any other. It is designed for a nation, young in institutions, rich in resources, with a character imperfectly formed, and a vast territory partially explored, rising to greatness and presenting a state of most interesting development, physical, moral, civil and religious. This Society is not the institution of any section, sect, or party. Instead of being directed particularly to the benefit of its members, its prime objects are to advance the literary and moral interests of their country on the broadest national principles. Many of the distinguished men engaged in this undertaking are among the most zealous supporters of other respectable societies. This more extensive and general association, instead of being detrimental to others, will be the common bond to unite them all, to extend the knowledge of their merits, and give increased facility and effect to their proceedings.

Circular letters, we are informed, are to be addressed to the principal citizens in each state, proposing questions on the various branches of information necessary to a proper understanding of the present situation of our country and the progress of physical, moral, and intellectual improvement. The same plan will be extended to other countries, as far as the circumstances will properly admit. From the result of the whole, selections will be made of such parts as may be deemed proper for publication, and the remainder placed on file in convenient order for reference, and which, together with the library of the Society, are to be open to the public, under such rules as may be necessary for their preservation.

The public, we understand, are soon to be furnished with the particulars of this plan, with the names of the agents, from the proper source.