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 — there- 

 fore, 



Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York repre- 

 sented in Senate and Assembly , That Samuel L. Mitchill, Casper 

 W. Eddy, Frederick C. Schaeffer, Nathaniel Paulding, William 

 Cooper, Benjamin P. Kissam, John Torrey, William Cumber- 

 land, 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, pleading and being impleaded, 

 answering and being answered unto, defending and being de- 

 fended, in all courts and places whatsoever ; and may have a 

 common seal, with power to alter the same from time to time ; 

 and shall be capable of purchasing, taking, holding and enjoy- 

 ing to them and their successors, any real estate in fee simple 



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