286 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



'* In order to give a general basis for the equal distribution of mem- 

 bers, and prevent the collision of claims too remote for comparative 

 measurement, a proposition is offered for limiting the number of mem- 

 bers in the several departments of learning. It is not, however, pro- 

 posed to render this limitation so minute and special in its character, 

 as to embarrass the action of the Academy, and clog the freedom of 

 selection by an unyielding chain of details. But it is thought, that, if a 

 classified list of all the members is constantly kept, in which they are 

 arranged under the special sciences to which they are devoted, it will 

 prove to be a judicious restraint in the choice of candidates, and an 

 effectual safeguard against their unequal distribution in the different 

 departments. 



" The views of the committee are definitely embodied in the following 

 proposed additions to Chapter VII. of the Statutes, the title of which 

 shall be, ' Of Fellows and Foreign Honorary Members.' It will be 

 observed that no provision is made for limiting the number of Fellows 

 resident in Massachusetts, because it is already provided by the 

 charter that this number shall not be less than forty, nor exceed two 

 hundred. 



"'2a. Fellows residing out of the State of Massachusetts shall be 

 known and distinguished as Associate Fellows. Associate Fellows 

 shall not be liable to the payment of any fees or annual dues, and shall 

 not vote at meetings of the Academy, but on removing within the 

 State, shall be admitted to the privileges, and subject to the obligations, 

 of Resident Fellows.' 



" ' 2 i. The nomination and election of Associate Fellows shall take 

 place in the manner and under the conditions prescribed in the first 

 article, for Resident Fellows ; and moreover, each nomination shall be 

 publicly read and referred to the Council designated in the third article, 

 at a statute meeting previous to that of the election ; and a written ap- 

 proval, authorized at a meeting of said Council by a vote of a majority 

 of its members then present, signed by at least seven of said Council- 

 lors, and read at the time of the election, shall be requisite to entitle 

 the candidate to be balloted for. The Council may, in like manner, 

 originate nominations of Associate Fellows, which must be read at a 

 statute meeting previous to that of the election, and exposed upon the 

 nomination list during the interval.' 



" ' 4. The number of Foreign Honorary Members shall not exceed 

 seventy-Jive, and they shall be chosen from among those most eminent 



