20 



as may be necessary for answering the valuable purposes which the 

 said Society had originally in view: 



Wherefore, in order to encourage the said Society in the prosecution 

 and advancement of all useful branches of knowledge, for the benefit 

 of their country, and of mankind; be it enacted, and it is hereby en- 

 acted, by the re[)iesentatives of the freemen of the Commonwealth of 

 Pennsylvania in general assembly met, and by the authority of the 

 same, that the members of the said American Philosophical Society 

 heretofore voluntarily associated for promoting useful knowledge, and 

 such other persons as have been duly elected members and officers of 

 the same, agreeably to the Fundamental Laws and Regulations of the 

 said Society, comprised in twelve sections, prefixed to their volume 

 of transactions, published in Philadelphia by William and Thomas 

 Bradford, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 

 seventy-one; and who shall in all respects conform themselves to the 

 said laws and regulations, and such other laws, regulations and ordi- 

 nances, as shall hereafter be duly made and enacted by the said So- 

 ciety, according to the tenor hereof, be, and for ever hereafter shall 

 be, one body corporate and politic in deed, by the name and style of 

 The American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for pro- 

 moting Useful Knowledge, and by the same name they are hereby 

 constituted and confirmed one body corporate and politic, to have 

 perpetual succession, and by the same name they and their successors 

 are hereby declared and made able and capable in law, to have, hold, 

 receive, and enjoy lands, tenements, rents, franchises, hereditaments, 

 gifts and bequests of what nature soever, in fee simple, or for term of 

 life, lives, years, or otherwise, and also to give, grant, let, sell, alien, 

 or assign the same lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels, 

 and premises, according to the nature of the respective gifts, grants, and 

 bequests, made to them the said Society, and of their estate therein. 



Provided, That the amount of the clear yearly value of such real 

 estate do not exceed the value of ten thousand bushels of good mer- 

 chantable wheat. 



And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the said 

 Society be, and shall be for ever hereafter, able and capable in law 

 to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered 

 unto, defend and be defended, in all or any of the courts or other 

 places, and before any judges, justices, and other person and persons, 

 in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes and matters, 

 of what nature or kind soever, within this Commonwealth: and that 

 it shall and m;iy be lawful to and for iho said Society, for ever here- 



