8 
Charter of the Royal Microscopical Society. 
instrument of investigation, has been greatly promoted and 
fostered by this Society : 
And whereas the same Society has, in aid of its objects, 
acquired a considerable and important Library of Scientific 
Works, a large collection of Microscopic objects, and several 
valuable Microscopes, to which frSsh accessions are con- 
stantly being made; and the said Society has hitherto been 
supported by donations and annual and other subscriptions 
and contributions to its funds, and has therefrom purchased 
and is possessed of a considerable amount of stock in the 
public funds : 
And whereas, in order to secure the property of the said 
Society, to extend its operations, and to give it a more per- 
manent establishment among the scientific institutions of our 
kingdom, we have been besought to grant to James Glaisher, 
Fellow of the Royal Society, the present President of the 
said Society, and to those who now are or shall hereafter 
become members of the said Society, our Royal Charter of 
Incorporation for the purposes aforesaid : 
Now know ye that We, being desirous of encouraging a 
design so laudable and salutary, of our especial grace, certain 
knowledge, and mere motion, have willed, granted, and de- 
clared, and do by these presents, for us, our heirs and suc- 
cessors, will, grant, and declare, that the said J ames Glaisher, 
and such other of our loving subjects as now are members 
of the said Society, or shall from time to time be elected 
Fellows thereof, according to such regulations or bye-laws as 
shall be hereafter framed or enacted, and their successors, 
shall for ever hereafter be by virtue of these presents one 
body politic and corporate, by the name of “ The Micro- 
scopical Society of London and for the purposes aforesaid, 
and by the name aforesaid, shall have perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with full power and authority to alter, 
vary, break, and renew the same at their discretion, and by 
the same name to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, 
answer and be answered, unto and in every court of us, our 
heirs and successors, and be for ever able and capable in the 
law to purchase, receive, possess, hold and enjoy, to them 
and their successors, any goods and chattels whatsoever, and 
also to be able and capable in the law (notwithstanding the 
Statute of Mortmain) to take, purchase, hold, and enjoy to 
them and their successors a hall or house, and any such 
messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments whatsoever as 
may be necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes 
of the Society, the yearly value of which, including the site 
of the said hall or house, shall not exceed in the whole the 
