388 PROCEEDINGS OF [1845. 



CHARTER OF INCORPORATION. 



AN ACT to incorporate a Sociply in the District of Columbia, by the name of the 

 National Institute for the Promotion of Science. 

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 of Atnericri in Congress assembled, Titut Peter Force, Francis Markoe, Jr., Gar- 

 rett R. B.irry, William .1. Stone, Daniel Webster, Waller Forward, John C. Spen- 

 cer, Abel P. Upshur, Charles A. Wickliffe, Huirh S. Legare, John Q. Adams, 

 William C. Preston, John J. Abert, Joseph G. Totten, Aaron O. Dayton, Lewis 

 W^arrington, and all others now members of the Society in the District of Colum- 

 bia known by the nanie of "The National Institution for the Promotion of 

 Science," and their successors and associates, duly elected in the manner provided 

 for in their constitution, hereinafter mentioned, as it now exists, or as it may be 

 hereafter altered and amended by the Society herein and hereby incorporated, shall 

 be, and they are hereby, incorporated, constituted, and declared to be a body politic 

 and corporate, by the name of " The National Institute for the Promotion of 

 Science." 



Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That all and singular Ike poods, chattels, 

 property, and effects, heretofore given, granted, devised, or bequeathed to the said 

 Society, or that may have been purchased for its use, or which are, or may be held 

 in trust for it, shall be, and l!ie same are hereby, vested in and confirmed to the said 

 corporation hereby created ; and the said corporation is hereby authorized and em- 

 powered to take or receive any sum or sums of money, or any goods, chattels, pro- 

 perly, or effects of any kind or nature whatsoever, which shall or may hereafter be 

 given, granted, devised or bequeathed to the said corporation, or in trust for the 

 said corporation, by any person or persons, body politic or corporate, capable of 

 making such gift, bequest, or devise: Provided always, That such money, goods, 

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

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



Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That all obligation-s, agreements, and con. 

 tracts, heretofore entered into, by or with the said Society, or any of its duly 

 authorized agents, shall be as valid and obligatory upon the respective parties, and 

 upon the corporation hereby created, as if the said Society had been incorporated 

 and existed as a corporation at the time and limes of entering into such obligations, 

 agreements, and contracts. And the said corporation shall bo liable, to all persons 

 and bodies politic and corporate, for all goods, chattels, and effects, heretofore spe- 

 cially deposited with the said Society for safe keeping or exhibition, or which may 

 be hereafter so deposited with the said corporation, according to the terms of the 

 deposit. And all the property of the said corporation, at the lime of the expira- 

 tion or dissolution of its charter, shall belong to and devolve upon the United 

 States; and the President of the United States for the time being shall appoint a 

 person or persons to take possession of, and keep and preserve the same, unless and 

 until Congress shall otherwise dispose of the same. 



Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That the constitution heretofore adopted by 

 the said Society, and as it now exists, and as it may hereafter, from time to lime, 

 be altered and amended in the manner therein provided for, shall be valid and bind- 

 ing upon the members of the said corporation. 



Sec. 5. And be it further enacted. That the corporation hereby created shall 

 have power to sue and be sued in its corporate name ; and to appear, prosecute, and 

 defend, to final judgment and execution, in all courts in the District of Columbia 

 and elsewhere ; to have and use a. common seal, and the same to break, alter, and 

 renew, at will ; to elect, according to their said constitution and by-laws, as the 

 same may from time to time exist, all such officers as they may deem necessary and 

 proper, and ascertain their duties and compensation ; to make, from time to time, 

 by-laws and regulations (not inconsistent with the laws of tho United States in 

 force in tho District of Columbia) for their government, and for the due and orderly 

 conducting of their affairs, and the management of their property, and to enforce 

 the same by penalties not exceeding twenty dollars for any one offence, to bo reco- 

 vered before a justice of the peace, in the same manner as other small debts are 

 recovered : Provided, That it shall not be lawful for the corporation to deal or 

 trade in the manner of a bank, nor to issue any note in the nature of a bank 

 note. 



