"2 HISTORT of the SOClEtr. 



to make ; and it would often be a point of delicacy, not to give 

 him the trouble that such examinations would require. 



These 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 Allan, containing specimens of the rocks round Edin- 

 burgh; a collection by Colonel Imrie, 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 George Mackenzie, illustrating the Mineralogy 

 of Iceland. 



The 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 



