ESSAYS ON LITERATURE: PHILOSOPHY: ART: HISTORY. VOLTAIRE'S SPEECH ON HIS RECEPTION INTO THE FRENCH ACADEMY, WITH NOTES. GENTLEMEN: Delivered on May 9, 1746. Your founder transfused into your establishment all the greatness and dignity of his own soul, by ordaining that you should always be free and equal. And indeed he acted wisely in raising above dependence those who were above all selfish and interested views, and who, as generous as himself, did letters the honor which they so well deserve, namely, that of studying them for their own sake.1 It was 1 The French Academy is the oldest establishment of that kind in France. It was at first composed of some men of letters, who met together for the sake of mutual conversation. It is not divided into honorary and pensionary members. Its privileges are merely honorary, such as that enjoyed by the commensals of the palace, of not being |