company.

Power to hold lands, &c.

len, Joseph Peters, Richard Peters, Thomas Clay, Phineas Bond, Israel Pemberton, jun., Robert Greenway, William Crosthwaite, William Callender, George Emlen, jun., Isaiah Warner, Tench Francis, James Bingham, Charles Meredith, Samuel McCall, Hugh Davy, Amos Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker, Joseph Hatton, Andrew Hamilton, Thomas Bond, and William Peters, and such other persons as shall hereafter be admitted, or become members of The Library Company of Philadelphia, according to the laws and constitutions of the said company, hereafter to be made, be, and for ever hereafter shall be, by virtue of these presents, one body corporate and politic Name of the in deed, by the name of The Library Company of Philadelphia; and them by the name of The Library Company of Philadelphia, one body politic and corporate in deed and in name, we do for us, our heirs and successors, fully create, constitute and confirm by these presents; and that by the name of The Library Company of Philadelphia, they shall have perpetual succession; and that they, by the name of The Library Company of Philadelphia, be, and at all times hereafter shall be, persons able and capable in law, to have, hold, receive, and enjoy lands, tenements, rents, liberties, franchises, and hereditaments, in fee-simple, or for term of life, lives, years, or otherwise; and also goods, chattels, and other things, of what nature, kind or quality soever. And also to give, grant, let, sell, or assign, the same lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, and chattels; and to do and execute all other things about the same, by the name aforesaid: And also, that they and their successors, by the name of The Library Company of Philadelphia, be, and shall be, for ever hereafter, persons able and capable in law, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all or any of the courts, or other places, and before any judges, justices and other persons whatsoever, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes and matters whatsoever, and of what nature or kind soever. And that it shall and may be lawful to, and for the said Library Company of Philadelphia, and their successors, for To have a ever hereafter, to have one common seal for their use, in their affairs; and the same at their will and pleasure to change and alter. And for the well governing and ordering the affairs of the said company, we do, for us, our heirs, and successors, further grant, That it shall and may be lawful for the said company, and their successors, to assemmake laws. ble and meet together on the first Monday in May, in every year, and at such other times as there shall be occasion, at their library, or some other convenient place, due and public notice being given at least twenty days before the times of such meetings; not only of the day, hour and place, of such meeting, but of the cause thereof, and of the matters to be transacted at such meeting. And that they, the said company, or one fourth part of them at least, being so met, in person, or by proxy duly constituted in writing, shall have full power and authority from time to time, to make, constitute, and establish such laws, statutes, orders and constitutions, as shall appear to them, or the major part of them, to be good and useful, honest and necessary, according to the best of their judgment and discretion, for the government, regulation, and direction of the Library Company, and every member thereof; and for the appointing and regulating the election or nomination of Directors, Treasurer, Librarian, Secretary,

Power to sue, &c.

common

seal.

Power to meet and

Quorum.

made, to be

and such, and so many other officers as they shall think fit; and for limiting and appointing their trust and authority; and for the admitting new members; and to do all things concerning the government, estate, goods, lands, revenues, as also all the business and affairs of the said company. All which laws, statutes, orders, and constitu- Laws so tions, so to be made as aforesaid, shall be binding on every member, binding. and be from time to time inviolably observed, according to the tenor and effect of them, provided that they be not repugnant or contrary to the laws of England, or this government. Provided always, That for the increase and preservation of the said library, every member of the said company shall and do pay into the hands of the said company's Treasurer, for the time being, the sum of ten shillings, on the first Monday in May, in every year for ever; and those who neglect so to do, shall pay such greater sum or sums in lieu thereof, at such times, within twelve months then next following, as by the laws of the said company shall be appointed: And that in Forfeiture default of these payments, every delinquent shall forfeit his share in on default. the books and estate of the said company, and be no longer a member. In testimony whereof, we have caused the Great Seal of our said province to be hereunto affixed. WITNESS GEORGE THOMAS, Esq. lieutenant-governor, and commander-in-chief of the said province and counties, at Philadelphia, the twenty-fifth day of March, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our sovereign lord king GEORGE the second, and in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and forty-two, by virtue of certain powers and authorities to him for this purpose (inter alia) granted by the said proprietaries. GEORGE THOMAS.

An act to authorize the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia to increase the annual payment of the Members of the said Company.

WHEREAS, by the charter of the said company, the annual payments directed to be made by its respective members appear limited to the sum of ten shillings, which, from the depreciation of money since the year one thousand seven hundred and forty-two, when the said charter was granted, has become inadequate to the purposes originally intended: And whereas, the stockholders in the said company, at a general meeting on the sixteenth of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five, instructed the Directors to petition the Legislature to pass a law authorizing the said Directors to increase the said payments to two dollars, and it appears reasonable that the prayer of the said petitioners should be granted.

Section 1. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the Directors of the Library Company, for the time being, be, and they are hereby, authorized to increase the annual payments hereafter to be made by the members of the said company,

to the sum of two dollars from each member of the said company any thing in the charter thereof to the contrary in any wise notwith standing.

GEORGE LATIMER,

Speaker of the House of Representatives. ROBERT HARE, Speaker of the Senate.

Approved, April the thirteenth, 1795.

THOMAS MIFFLIN,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

An Act to amend the Charter of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, it has been represented by the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia, and appears to the Legislature that the members of said Company are desirous their Charter may be altered so as to vest in themselves the power to enlarge the amount of their annual payments:

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, it shall and may be lawful for the members or stockholders in the Library Company of Philadelphia, at their general meetings, to fix, alter or enlarge the annual payments thereafter to be made, from time to time, as they shall deem just and reasonable; and also, if they think fit, to authorize the Directors, for the time being, so to fix, alter, or enlarge the same, any thing in their charter or by-laws to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding: Provided always nevertheless, That the same shall, at no time, be fixed at less than two, or more than five dollars per annum, exclusive of accustomed penalties or forfeitures for delay or neglect of payment. JOHN LAPORTE,

Speaker of the House of Representatives. WM. G. HAWKINS, Speaker of the Senate. Approved the seventh day of April, Anno Domini, eighteen hundred and thirty-two.

GEO. WOLF.

Secretary's Office, Harrisburg, April 9, 1832.

[L. s.] This is to certify, That the within is a true copy of the original law, on file and of record in this office.

Witness my hand and seal.

SAMUEL MCKEAN.

BY-LAW S.

A Law directing the manner of admitting new members.

admitted,

IT IS ENACTED by the Library Company of Philadelphia, That no person who shall hereafter become possessed of a share in the books. and effects of the said company, shall be thereby entitled to a vote in any of their affairs, or be deemed a member, without first being None to be approved of by the Directors for the time being; nor shall any per- without beson, other than the heirs, executors, or assigns of a member of the said company, be entitled to a share in the books, estate and effects of the said company, without paying into the hands of the said company's Treasurer, so much money as in the judgment of the said. Directors a share shall then be worth.

ing first ap

proved, &c.

give a certi

And it is further enacted, That upon approbation of the Directors, and payment of the said money, the party paying it, shall receive of the Treasurer a certificate under his hand, and the seal of Treasurer to the company, containing the name of the person and the sum paid, ficate. the time when, and the account or use for which he paid it: of all which a record shall be made in the records of the said company. Which certificate shall entitle the person therein mentioned, to a share in the company's books, estate and effects, and to be deemed a member.

Record to

be made.

A Law for preserving a just equality among the members, and to prevent the inconveniences that may arise by any persons holding more than one share.

share to an

ber, &c.

IT IS ENACTED, for the preservation of a just equality among the members of the Library Company, That no person being a member, No member and holding a share in the library, &c. shall grant, sell, or convey to shall sell his any other member, or accept of a grant, bargain, sale, or other con- other memveyance or assurance from any other member, of any share or shares in the books, estate, and effects of the said company; on penalty of Penalty. forfeiting to the company such share or shares, so purchased, sold, granted, or conveyed.

to have more

AND if any member, as executor or administrator of another, or No member by any other means, come to have in his hands a plurality of shares, than one he shall not thereby be entitled to more than one vote at elections, vote, &c. or on any other occasion, nor have a right to take out more books at one time than any other member.

A Law for regulating elections of officers, and declaring their trust and duty.

For the better preservation of order and government among the Library Company of Philadelphia, and in the use, application and

C

meet on the

in May.

Treasurer

and ten Di

chosen.

management of the moneys, library and effects of the said company, Members to IT IS ENACTED, That the members of the said company shall, in perfirst Monday Son, or by proxy, annually attend at the place of election in the city of Philadelphia, on the first Monday of the month of May, in every year; and that as many as so meet, and appear to be duly qualified, shall proceed to the choice of a person of the company, to be the rectors to be company's Treasurer, and ten other persons of the company, to be Directors for the year next ensuing, and so from year to year. The place of election to be agreed on by the Directors of the current year, and notified by their Secretary, twenty days at least before the The choice election, by printed advertisements. The electors to choose by written tickets, each containing the names of the ten persons voted Directors, and the name of the person voted Treasurer; and those who shall thereupon appear to have a majority of votes, shall be the company's Treasurer, and the Directors, respectively, for the year ensuDirectors to ing. That the said Directors shall, and are hereby required and cretary, who empowered, to nominate some fit person of the company to be their shall collect Secretary for the year ensuing, who shall preside and collect the

to be made

by written tickets.

appoint a Se

the votes,

&c.

Electors to appoint assistants to the Secre. tary, &c.

Director refusing to act,

may nomi

nate another.

votes at the election aforesaid, and shall faithfully enter, in a book to be kept for that purpose, the names of the said electors, and the number of the names of the candidates, according to the tickets.

THAT it shall and may be lawful to and for the electors aforesaid, when so met, to appoint persons to assist the Secretary in gathering the votes, and entering and numbering the names of the electors and persons voted for, and other service appertaining to the election, and to appoint and direct any method and rule in proceeding to and making the said election, so as they appoint or direct nothing to prejudice the right of any member, or infringe the charter or laws of the company.

THAT if any person elected Director, shall refuse to act, or shall &c. the rest happen to die or depart this province, so as to be absent for the space of two months, in any of the first ten months of the year for which he shall be elected Director; or if within the same year, or term of his office, he shall be confined by sickness, or otherwise rendered incapable of executing the office of a Director, according to the true meaning hereof, the rest of the Directors, as often as occasion shall require, in any of the cases aforesaid, shall proceed in their duty and office without him; or, if they think fit, they shall nominate some other suitable person to supply his place of a Director, until the then next ensuing election.

Treasurer neglecting

his duty, &c. may be dis

placed, &c.

THAT if any person so elected Treasurer, shall absent himself from his said office for the space of thirty days, or shall otherwise be rendered incapable, or neglect his office or duty of Treasurer, in the judgment of the Directors for the time being, it shall and may be lawful for the Directors to displace him from any longer continuance in his said office: and the Directors causing their Secretary to make a minute for the purpose, containing their reasons for displacing him, he shall thereupon, and from thenceforth cease to be the Treasurer aforesaid; and shall, upon notice thereof, adjust and settle with the Directors, and pay and deliver the company's money and effects in his hands, to such person as the Directors shall order and appoint: and in that case, and so often, and also if the Treasurer shall depart this life, the person who at the last election had the greatest number