358 



Dr. Franklin Bache, the President, gave notice that at the 

 next meeting he should deliver an address on the affairs of the 

 Society. 



Mr. Lea read an extract of a letter from Dr. R. W. Gibbes, 

 of Columbia, S. C. in relation to an original letter from Tho- 

 mas Penn to Sir William Johnston, dated February 18, 1768, 

 which letter was presented to the Society. 



The Treasurer presented his Annual Report, which was 

 read and referred to the Committee of Finance. 



The Committee of Publication presented their Annual Re- 

 port, which was read. 



The Society proceeded to vote upon the proposed amend- 

 ment to its Laws, read at last meeting, to wit: Add to Chap. 

 VII. of the Laws, as Article 7, the following: " The ex-Pre- 

 sidents of the Society shall be members of the Board of Offi- 

 cers and Council:" which was adopted by a vote of more than 

 three-fourths of the qualified members present. 



Stated Meeting, December 16. 



Present, twenty-eight members. 



Dr. Franklin Bache, President, in the Chair. 



Letters were read: — 



From the Horticultural Society, London, dated Regent 

 street, 18th October, 1853; from the Linnean Society, dated 

 Soho square, London, Nov. 8, 1853; from the Society of An- 

 tiquaries, dated Somerset House, London, 18th Nov. 1853; 

 from the Royal Asiatic Society, dated London, 19th Nov. 

 1853, — severally acknowledging the receipt of the Transac- 

 tions of this Society, Vol. X. Part 2, and of No. 48 of the 

 Proceedings: — 



From the Corporation of Harvard College, dated Cambridge, 

 Nov. 2, 1853, acknowledging the receipt of No. 49 of the 

 Proceedings: — 



From his Excellency John F. Crampton, her Britannic Ma- 

 jesty's Minister at Washington, dated December 14, 1853, an- 

 nouncing a donation, on the part of the British Government, 

 for the Library of the Society: and — 



