PREFACE. 
This Society was founded in 1812, by a few gentlemen anxious to 
promote the cultivation of useful knowledge, to encourage habits 
of research, and to afford opportunities to persons of various 
pursuits to communicate with each other, by the reading of essays 
on literary and scientific subjects, and discussing the same. 
The land and buildings of the Institution are vested in seven 
Trustees "for the delivery of lectures, and for discussions on the 
" different subjects of science, literature, and the fine arts; for 
"the formation and use of a library, collection of apparatus, and 
" museum, and for other the uses of the Society," subject to the 
laws and regulations made by the members. The Trustees (who 
must be members) are elected by scrutiny, and vacancies in their 
number (when reduced to three) are to be filled up at the annual 
meeting of the Society, or at any meeting convened for that 
purpose. 
In 1851, an amalgamation took place between the Plymouth 
Institution and the Devon and Cornwall Natural History Society ; 
it being considered that their objects, being nearly identical, could 
be better obtained by union and co-operation. 
The following laws were revised at the Annual Meeting of the 
Lecturing Members, April 6th, 1882. 
