2 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
to make ; and it would often be a point of delicacy, not to give 
him the trouble that such examinations would require. 
TuEse considerations induced the Society to apply for a 
new charter, under which its collections should remain in its 
own possession, so as to be at all times accessible to its Mem- 
bers. 
As the interest of the two bodies just mentioned, might be 
somewhat affected by these alterations, the first step taken 
was to give them information of the intentions of the Society, 
and to request their concurrence in a measure of such mani- 
fest justice and utility, The Faculty of Advocates readily as- 
sented to this proposal; and the University, though at first in 
doubt whether it were not bound in duty to resist the al- 
teration, on more mature deliberation, resolved to withdraw 
all opposition. 
As it was not meant that the new charter should have any 
retrospect, the Huttonian Collection, with a great number of 
other articles, the property of the Society, still remain in the 
University Museum. The foundation of a new collection, in 
the Society’s apartments, has been laid, by a cabinet presented 
by Mr Array, containing specimens of the rocks round Edin- © 
burgh ; a collection by Colonel Imr1z, illustrating the section 
of the Grampians which he has given in the 5th volume of the 
Transactions of the Society; and a collection of specimens 
from Sir Greorce Mackenzir, illustrating the Mineralogy 
of Iceland. 
Tur New Charter, which follows, hardly differs in any thing 
from that contained in the first volume of the Transactions of 
the Society, except in what respects the two restrictions that 
have just been mentioned. 
‘CARTA 
