( xi ) 
An ACT for Incorporating the American Philofophical 
Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting ufeful 
Knowledge. 
HEREAS the cultivation of ufeful knowledge, 
and the advancement of the liberal arts and 
{ciences in any country, have the moft dire&t tendency to- 
wards the improvement of agriculture, the enlargement of 
trade, the eafe and comfort of life, the ornament of foci- 
ety, and the increafe and happinefs of mankind. And 
whereas this country of North-America, which the good- 
nefs of Providence hath given us to inherit, from the vaft- 
nefs of its extent, the variety of its climate, the fertility 
of its foil, the yet unexplored treafures of its bowels, the 
multitude of its rivers, lakes, bays, inlets, and other con- 
veniencies of navigation, offers to thefe United States one 
of the richeft fubjects of cultivation, ever prefented to any 
people upon earth. And whereas the experience of ages 
fhews that improvements of a public nature, are beft car- 
ried on by focieties of liberal and ingenious men, uniting 
their labours, without regard to nation, fect or party, in 
one grand purfuit, alike interefting to all, whereby mu- 
tual prejudices are worn off, a humane and philofophical 
fpirit is cherifhed, and youth are ftimulated to a laudable 
diligence and emulation in the purfuit of wifdom. And 
whereas, upon thefe principles, divers public fpirited gen- 
tlemen in Pennfylvania, and other American ftates, did 
heretofore unite themfelves, under certain regulations, 
into one voluntary fociety, by the name of “ The Ameri- 
¢ can Philofophical Society, held at Philadelphia for pro- 
¢ moting ufeful Knowledge,” and by their fuccefsful la~ 
b 2 bours 
