CHARTER 



OF THE 



LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



GrEOEGE THE THIED, by the Grace of God, of the Fnited 

 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, 

 To all to whom these Presents shall come, greeting. Wheeeas Object of the 

 several of Our loving Subjects are desirous of forming a Society for ^'"^ ^' 

 the Cultivation of the Science of Natural History in all its Branches, 

 and more especially of the Natural History of Great Britain and 

 Ireland, and, having subscribed considerable Sums of Money for that 

 Purpose, have humbly besought Us to grant unto them, and such 

 other Persons as shall be approved and elected, as hereinafter is 

 mentioned, Our Eoyal Charter of Incorporation for the Purposes 

 aforesaid ; Know te, that We, being desirous to promote every 

 Kind of Improvement in the Arts and Sciences, have, of Our especial Incorpora- 

 Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, given and granted, ^^''"• 

 and We do hereby give and gi-ant, that Our right trusty and right 

 well beloved Cousin and Counsellor, George Earl of Dartmouth, 

 Our trusty and weU beloved James Edward Smith Doctor of 

 Physick, Thomas Marsham Esquire, Alexander MacLeay Esquire, 

 Jonas Dryander Esquire, The Eeverend Samuel Goodenough Doc- 

 tor of Laws, Aylmer Bourlce Lambert Esquire, Michard Anthony 

 Salisbury Esquire, William George Maton Doctor of Physick, 

 Thomas Furly Forster Esquire, Charles Hatchett Esquire, William 

 Lewis Esquire, The Eeverend Thomas Bachett Clerk, John Sym- 

 mons Esquire, and Thomas Young Doctor of Physick, and such 

 others as shall, from Time to Time, be appointed and elected, in 

 the Manner hereinafter directed, and their Successors, be and shaU; 

 for ever hereafter continue and be, by virtue of these " Presents,' 

 one Body Politic and Corporate, by the Name of " The Linnean Same"*^ 



