The Great End and Business of the _French_ Academy, was to correct and refine their Language, as may be seen at large in the History of that Academy, written by Monsieur _Pelisson_: And we have already a Proposal, publish'd the 17th of _May_ 1712, _for Correcting, Improving, and Ascertaining the +English+ Tongue, in a Letter to the most Honourable +Robert+ Earl of +Oxford+ and +Mortimer+, Lord High Treasurer of +Great Britain+: By +Jonathan Swift+, D.D._
_Louis_, King of France, by Letters Patents, in the Year 1635, having mention'd the Great Things done for the Glory and Embellishment of _France_, by his dearly belov'd Cousin the Cardinal _Richlieu_, His Principal Minister of State, gives that Minister Power and Authority to call himself the Chief, and the Protector of the _French_ Academy: And doubtless the Scheme of this _British_ Academy is form'd with a View no less Glorious; That the Great and Memorable Actions of this _Minister_; the mighty Things perfom'd for the Allies and the Common Cause; the vast Successes against the Enemy; and, above all, the Restoring of Credit, and Paying the Publick Debts, may be fairly transmitted to Posterity.
That this is the chief Design of our _new Erected Society_, is plainly insinuated by the Author of the Letter before mentioned; for which the Reader may please to see his own Words: _If Things go on_, says he, _at the present Rate_, (that is, if our Language be not corrected, improved, and ascertain'd,) _all I can promise your Lordship, is, That about Two hundred Years hence some painful Compiler, who will be at the Trouble of studying old Language, may inform the World, that in the Reign of +Queen ANNE+, +ROBERT Earl of OXFORD, a very Wise and Excellent Man+, was made +High Treasurer+, and saved his Countrey._ [Mark those last Words, pray, as you go along.] _Thus much he may be able to pick out, and willing to transfer into his New History; but the rest of your Character which I, or any other Writer, may value our selves by drawing: And the Particular Account of the +great+ Things, done under your Ministry, for which you are already so Celebrated in +most+ Parts of +Europe+, will probably be dropt._ So far that Author: But I cannot help differing with him in one Particular: For I am firmly of Opinion, that altho our Language should happen not to be _improved_ or _ascertain'd_, yet the _great Things_ done by that _very Wise and Excellent Man_, will not so easily be forgotten; nor the _rest_ of his Character be _dropt_, for which he is already _so celebrated in most Parts of +Europe+_.