A Note on the History of the Statutes of the Society. Ill 



Ann 1776 Cap ' XIV " Of tlie Books and Papers of the Society," 

 differs somewhat from the corresponding Cap. XYI, "Of 

 the Books of the Society," in the Statutes of 1752. The copy of 

 Statutes, the List of Benefactors, and the Register of Fellows is 

 omitted from the Charter Book.* The Statute concerning the Register 

 Books, containing- accounts of observations, experiments, &c., and the 

 Statute concerning the Book of Letters, are omitted. 

 Ann 17^6 ^ new ^tute (Sec. V) is introduced, to the effect that 

 the original copy of every paper read at the Society shall 

 be considered as the property of the Society ; and another (Sec. VI) 

 provides for the care of the papers read. And, lastly, a new Statute 

 (Sec. VII) introduces, for the first time, into the Statutes regulations 

 concerning the use of the Library. The Library is to be open 

 Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Fellows may, 

 Tjy leave of the Society or of the Council, take out four volumes 

 for six weeks. If these are printed books, the Fellow gives merely 

 his note ; if MSS., a bond of 50 for each. 



THE STATUTES FKOM 1776 TO 1847. 

 The Statutes 0/1819. 



The next edition appears to be that of 1819 ; it is, however, merely 

 a reprint of that of 1776, with the additions of Cap. I, Sec. 9, as to 

 Foreign Members, and Cap. XI, Sec. 6, as to the conduct of ordinary 

 meetings, mentioned above (p. 108 and p. 110). 



The Statutes of 1823. 



Foreign Members ^ n ^ e nex ^ edition that of 1823 several impor- 

 limited to fifty, tant changes are introduced. The number of 



selected by Council. Foreign Members is limited to fifty ; and " they 

 are to be put in nomination as candidates at a meeting of the Council," 

 instead of the previous complex procedure. The regulations for the 

 election of the Council and officers are much simplified, but not mate- 

 rially altered. 



Foreig-n A new Statute, Cap. IX, Sec. 4, institutes a new office, that 

 Secretary, of the " Secretary for Foreign Correspondence." Since 

 1719 the proceeds of the bequest of Mr. Robert Keck had been 

 " bestowed on some one of the Fellows " appointed " to carry 011 a 

 foreign correspondence," but the Fellow performing these duties was 



* The Charter Book never did contain, as provided by tlie Statute, the Register 

 of Fellows, but only their signatures. The Society possesses, however, a volume 

 now called "The Register," which contains the names, with dates of election, of 

 all the Fellows from the foundation of the Society up to the year 1875. Since that 

 date the Register is continued in a second volume. 



