ACT OF INCORPORATION BY CONGRESS. 



Statute I. Chap. CXXV— An Act to incorporate the Columbian Institute, 

 for the promotion of Arts and Sciences. (Approved April 20, 1818.) 



Be it enacted, &c., That Edward Cutbush, Andrew Hunter, Thomas Law, 

 Joseph Anderson, Robert Brent, Overton Carr, Nathaniel Cutting, Elias B. 

 Caldwell, John Law, Roger C. Weightman. William Thornton, Josiah Meigs, 

 James H. Blake, Samuel H. Smith, and others, composing the association in 

 the District of Columbia, denominated the Columbian Institute for the pro- 

 motion of Arts and Sciences, and their successors, duly elected, in the manner 

 hereinafter mentioned, be, and they are hereby, constituted and declared to be 

 a body politic and corporate, by the name and title of the Columbian Institute 

 for the promotion of Arts and Sciences. 



Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all and singular the goods, chattels, 

 and effects, heretofore given, granted, or devised, to the said Columbian In- 

 stitute for the promotion of Arts and Sciences, or to any person or persons 

 for the use thereof, or that may have been purchased for, or on account of, 

 the same, be, and the said goods, chattels, and effects, are hereby, vested in 

 and confirmed to the said corporation hereby created ; and the said corpora- 

 tion are hereby authorized and empowered to take and receive any sum or 

 sums of money, or any goods, chattels, or effects, of any kind or nature what- 

 soever, which shall or may hereafter be given, granted, or bequeathed, unto 

 the said corporation, by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, 

 capable of making such gift or bequest: Provided aliaays, That such money, 

 goods, chattels, or effects, be laid out or disposed of, for the use and benefit 

 of the said corporation, according to the intention of the donors. 



Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation, hereby created, 

 shall have full power and authority to fill all vacancies which may happen in 

 their number; to make, ordain, establish, and execute, such by-laws and 

 ordinances as may be deemed useful to the institution, and the same to alter, 

 amend, and abrogate, at pleasure ; to make, have, and use, a common seal, and 

 the same to break, alter, and renew, at will ; to appoint such officers as may be 

 required for the management of the concerns of said corporation, and to 

 assign them their duties ; and, generally, to provide for the transaction of all 

 business appertaining to the said corporation : Provided, That no by-law, rule, 

 or ordinance, of the said corporation, shall be made repugnant to the laws 

 of the District of Columbia. 



Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation may procure, by 

 purchase or otherwise, a suitable building for the sittings of the said institu- 

 tion, and for the preservation and safe-keeping of a library and museum ; and, 

 also, a tract or parcel of land, for a botanic garden, not exceeding five acres : 

 Provided, That the amount of real and personal property to be held by the 

 said corporation shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars. 



Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That there shall be an annual meeting of 

 the members of the said corporation, at such time and place as the proper 

 officers of the said corporation may appoint, of which due notice shall be given, 

 in one or more of the newspapers published in the District of Columbia ; at 

 which time and place the members present shall elect or choose, by ballot, the 

 officers of the institution, to serve for one year ensuing their election, and until 

 others shall be elected and consent to serve in their places. 



Sec. 6. And be it further enacted. That the .said corporation shall not be 

 engaged in any banking or commercial operations ; and the continuance of this 

 charter shall be limited to twenty years from and after the passage of this 

 act, unless sooner revoked by Congress. 



71 



