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 peti- 

 tioned 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. IVIitchill, 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 cor- 

 porate 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, pleading 

 and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and 

 being defended, in all courts and places whatsoever; and may have a com- 

 mon seal, with 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: Pro- 

 vided 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 estab- 



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