Viewing page 78 of 205

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
THE ORIGINAL CHARTER
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE
LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Passed April 20, 1818

Whereas, The members of the Lyceum of Natural History have petitioned for an act of incorporation, and the Legislature, impressed with the importance of the study of Natural History, as connected with the wants, the comforts and the happiness of mankind, and conceiving it their duty to encourage all laudable attempts to promote the progress of science in this State-therefore,
1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly, That Samuel L. Mitchill, Casper W. Eddy, Frederick C. Schaeffer, Nathaniel Paulding, William Cooper, Benjamin P. Kissam, John Torrey, William Cumberland, D'Jurco V. Knevels, James Clements and James Pierce, and such other persons as now are, and may from time to time become members, shall be, and hereby are constituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of Lyceum of Natural History in the City of New York, and that by that name they shall have perpetual succession, and shall be persons capable of suing and being sued, pleaded and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all courts and places whatsoever; and may have a common seal with the power to alter the same from time to time; and shall be capable of purchasing, taking, holding, and enjoying to them and their successors, any real estate in fee simple or otherwise, and any goods, chattels, and personal estate, and of selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of said real or personal estate or any part thereof at their will and pleasure: Provided always, that the clear annual value or income of such real or personal estate shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars: Provided, however, that the funds of the said Corporation shall be used and appropriated to the promotion of the objects stated in the preamble to this act, and those only.
2. And be it further enacted, That the said Society shall from time to time, forever hereafter, have power to make, constitute, ordain, and establish such bylaws and regulations as they shall judge proper, for the election of their officers; for prescribing their respective functions, and the mode of discharging the same; for the admission of new members; for the government of the officers and members thereof; for collecting annual contributions from the members towards the funds thereof; for regulating the times and places of the meeting of the said Society; for suspending or

3