25 



Histoid the Institute * 



As the Albany Institute is composed in part of two in- 

 corporated Societies, it may be proper to preface its history 

 with a brief account of them. 



The " Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts 

 and Manufactures," was formed in February, 1791, at the 

 city of New-York, the (then) seat of government of this 

 state, and incorporated in 1793. Of this body, Robert R„ 

 Livingston was the first President, and continued so until 

 the year 1804, when its act of incorporation expired by its 

 own limitation. It was then re-incorporated under the title 

 of the « Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts," by the 

 act of the Legislature of the state of New-York, which 

 forms the first article in this Appendix. Of the labors of 

 this Society, it would be improper to say more than that 

 four octavo volumes, composed of communications read at 

 its different sessions, have been published ; that it is ac- 

 knowledged to have exerted a most beneficial influence 

 upon the agriculture of the state- — and that it was for five 

 years the organ of the state, in distributing premiums for 

 improvements in domestic manufactures. 



The " Albany Lyceum of Natural History," was formed 

 and incorporated in 1823, for the promotion of the objects 

 mentioned in its title, under the presidency of Stephen Van 

 Rensselaer. Confining its labours to the advancement and 

 extension of the knowledge of the natural sciences, and 

 more particularly of the natural productions of our own 

 state, it succeeded in forming a Museum, embracing respec- 

 table collections in the various branches, especially mine- 

 ralogy, geology and oryctology. 



Circumstances, on which it is not necessary to dwell, in- 

 duced a majority of the members of both Societies to believe 

 that the objects for which they had been incorporated, would 

 be more certainly attained by a union : and accordingly in 

 May, 1824, this was effected by articles of union mutually 

 agreed to, the details of which will be found in the act of 

 incorporation, subsequently passed, and which forms the 

 third article of this Appendix. 



On the 5th of May, 1824, the Institute was organized by 

 the election of the following persons as officers : 



