Xi Co A By gk ok. 
bours and inveftigations, to the great credit of America, 
have extended their reputation fo far, that men of the frit 
eminence in the republic of letters in the moft civilized 
nations in Europe, have done honour to their publications, 
and defired to be enrolled among their members. Aud 
whereas the Society, after having been long interrupted 
in their laudable purfuits by the calamities of war, and 
the diftrefles of our country, have found means to revive 
their defign, in hopes of being able to -proiecute the fame 
with their former fuccefs, and being further encouraged 
therein by the public, for which purpofe they have pray- 
ed us, The Reprefentatives of the Freemen of the Common= 
wealth of Pennfylvania, that they may be created one 
body politic and corporate forever, with fuch powers, pri- 
vileges, and immunities, as may be neceflary for anfwer- 
ing the valuable purpofes which the faid Society had ori- 
ginally in view. ) 
Wherefore, in order to encourage the faid Society in the 
profecution and advancement of all ufeful branches of 
knowledge, for the benefit of their country, and of man+ 
kind ; Be it enacted, and it 1s hereby enacted, by the Re= 
prefentatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penn- 
Sylvania in General Affembly met, and by the authority of 
the fame, That the members of the faid American Philo- 
fophical Society heretofore voluntarily aflociated for pro- 
moting ufeful knowledge, and fuch other perfons as have 
been duly elected members and officers of the fame agree~ 
ably to the fundamental laws and regulations of the faid 
Society, comprifed in twelve fetions, prefixed to their 
volume of Tranfaétions, publifhed in Philadelphia by //7/- 
liam and Thomas Bradford, in the year of our Lord one 
thoufand feven hundred and feventy-one ; and who fhall 
in all refpects conform themfelves to the faid laws and re- 
culations, and fuch other laws, regulations and ordinan— 
ces, as fhall hereafter be duly made and enacted by the 
faid Society, according to the tenor hereof, be, and for- 
ever 
