The purpose of the French Academy itself was not different from that of the precieuses.  Richelieu, realizing that every great talent accepted the discipline of these women, sought to use this power for his own ends by interesting the world of letters in the accomplishment of his plans for a general political unity.  Thus, when the first period of preciosite had reached its highest point and was beginning to decline, and other smaller and envious social groups were forming about Paris and causing a conflict of ideas, Richelieu conceived the scheme of joining all in a union, with strong ideals and with a language as dignified as the Latin and the Greek.  The result was the formation of the French Academy.  From this time begins the decline of the authority of woman; for while she still exerted a powerful influence, it was no longer absolute.  After the decline of the Hotel de Rambouillet, feminine influence became more general, expending itself in petty rivalries, gossip, intrigues, and partaking of the nature of that court life which was filled by the young king with parties, feasts, collations, walks, carousals, boating, concerts, ballets, and masquerades—­a mode of living that gave rise to a new standard of politeness, which was freer and looser than that of preciosite.

As the power of the young king became stronger, his favor became the goal of all men of letters.  Although woman still to some extent controlled the destinies of those who were struggling for recognition and reputation, her influence was of a secondary nature, that of the king being supreme.  Woman seemed to be overcoming the influence of woman—­Mme. de Montespan replaced Mlle. de La Valliere, and she was in turn replaced by Mme. de Maintenon.

The degeneration of the king was accompanied by that of literature, society, and morals.  The characteristic inclination of the day was eagerly to seek and grasp that which was new, and the noble, forceful, and dignified style of language of the previous period was replaced by one of much lighter description; many female writers directed their efforts entirely toward amusing, pleasing, and gaining applause.

In the beginning of the eighteenth century, with Mme. de Lambert as its leader, there was a renascence of the preciosite of the Hotel de Rambouillet, women protesting against the prevalent grossness and indecency of manners.  The salon of Mme. de Lambert was the great antechamber to the Academy, election to which was generally gained through her.  A new aristocracy was forming, a new society arose; from about 1720 to 1750, libertinism and atheism, licentiousness and intrigue, crept into the salons.