78 



having been long interrupted in their laudable pursuits by the 

 calamities of war, and the distresses of our country, have found 

 means to revive their design, in hopes of being able to prose- 

 cute the same with their former success, and being further en- 

 couraged therein by the public, for which purpose they have 

 prayed us, the representatives of the freemen of the Common- 

 wealth of Pennsylvania, that they may be created one body 

 politic and corporate forever, with such powers, privileges, 

 and immunities as may be necessary for answering the 

 valuable purposes which the said Society had originally in 

 view : 



Wherefore, in order to encourage the said Society in the 

 prosecution and advancement of all useful branches of knowl- 

 edge, for the benefit of their country, and of mankind ; be it 

 enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the 

 freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in general 

 assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That the 

 members of the said American Philosophical Society hereto- 

 fore voluntarily associated for promoting useful knowledge, 

 and such other persons as have been duly elected members and 

 officers of the same, agreeably to the Fundamental Laws and 

 Eegulations of the said Society, comprised in twelve sections, 

 prefixed to their volume of Transactions, published in Phila- 

 delphia by William and Thomas Bradford, in the year of our 

 Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one ; and who 

 shall in all respects conform themselves to the said laws and 

 regulations, and such other laws, regulations, and ordinances 

 as shall hereafter be duly made and enacted by the said 

 Society, according to the tenor hereof, be, and forever here- 

 after shall be, one body corporate and politic in deed, by the 

 name and style of The American Philosophical Society, held 

 at Philadelphia, for promoting Useful Knowledge, and by the 

 same name they are hereby constituted and confirmed one 

 body corporate and politic, to have perpetual succession, and 

 by the same name they and their successors are hereby de- 

 clared and made able and capable in law, to have, hold, 

 receive, and enjoy lands, tenements, rents, franchises, heredita- 



