On Wednesday was announced the formation, on the model of
the French Academy, of an Academic Committee of the Royal Society of Literature. The objects of this body are to include the maintenance of the purity of the English language, the making of Awards of Merit to particular literary works, and the delivery by its members of "Discourses of Reception." It is to be hoped that the Committee will profit by the lessons of other academic bodies in England, and avoid the corrupting influences of administrative art. It is to consist of not more than forty co-opted members, of whom only twenty-nine have so far been chosen. It would perhaps be invidious to select from this list of " Immortals " any names for individual comment. There will doubtless be much discussion upon them, and much speculation as to the filling of the eleien vacancies. We will content ourselves with suggesting that the Secretary of State for India might be suitably balanced by the Leader of the Opposition, and that the Committee could hardly be considered complete until it included Mr. Rudyard Kipling. May we finally inquire if any decision has been made as to whether women should be eligible ? In our opinion, they should be included. We tender the new venture, or rather new development, our best wishes for its success.
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