ABSTRACT OF THE RULES.

PROPERTY.

1. THE possession of a Share, subject to an Annual Subscription of Two Pounds, constitutes a Proprietor, on his signing his assent to the Rules. two hundred and twenty.

The number is

2. The Dean and Chapter of Exeter are special Proprietors, by the payment of Four Subscriptions Annually, and Two Pounds on the election of any new Member into their body: but each Member is considered as a Proprietor only while resident in Exeter; and not more than Four vote.

3. The Property is vested in Six Trustees, appointed by the Proprietors at a General Meeting; and when reduced to Three, the vacancies are supplied at the next General Meeting.

4. Proprietors have equal rights in the Institution.— Shares may be transferred, or bequeathed as personal property; the new Proprietor signing his assent to the Rules. Each person becoming a Proprietor pays on admission, by Transfer, Five Pounds, by Succession, Two Pounds.

5. The mode of transferring Shares is regulated by the Committee; and no person is considered a Proprietor, either by Transfer, or as Legatee or Representative of a deceased Proprietor, until his title has been admitted by the Committee.

6. The Executors or Administrators of a Proprietor, who has not bequeathed his Share, are to nominate a Successor, subject to the approval of the Committee: In the event of a neglect to nominate within twelve months, the Committee may declare the Share unappropriated, and order its Sale, for the benefit of the Society.

SUBSCRIPTIONS.

7. Each Proprietor pays the Subscription of Two Pounds annually, on the twenty-fourth of June. If a Proprietor neglect to pay his Subscription within three months from that date, (having been reminded by letter from the Librarian, or Secretary) he is deprived of any use of the Institution until it be discharged; and if he omit to pay his Subscription for two years, Notice having been given him at least six months before the expiration of the second year, he forfeits his Share for the benefit of the Society.

8. Any resident Inmate with a Proprietor may have access to the rooms, paying on admission One Pound, and One Pound as an Annual Subscription. No Annual Subscriber can be admitted, without a Certificate of Residence from the Proprietor with whom he is an Inmate, delivered to the Librarian. The future Annual Subscription to become payable on the twenty-fourth of June. Any articled

Clerk, or indentured Apprentice of a Proprietor, may have access to read in the Library, and to the Museum; paying Two Pounds annually, producing a Certificate of Articles, or Indenture, and a letter of Recommendation from the Proprietor to whom he is a Pupil :—the Proprietor being answerable for all injury to books, or specimens. And the Committee retaining the power, in case of Misconduct, of suspending the Subscriber from admission.

9. All Officers stationed in Exeter, either belonging to the Military Staff, or singly detached on Duty from their Regiments, are admissible to the Institution with all the privileges of Proprietors, except as to the management of the Institution, or having any share in its Property; paying an Annual Subscription of Three Guineas; provided they be recommended in writing, by two Proprietors who are responsible for any books lost or damaged by such Subscribers, and also for any fines incurred for the detention of books in the same manner as for books delivered to themselves. The Subscription payable at the time of admission to be reckoned annually from that period, and not to be for less than one year.

10. All Money is paid to the Treasurer, whose Accounts are audited by the Committee at the Meeting preceding the Annual Meeting, to which they are submitted.

GENERAL MEETINGS.

11. An Annual Meeting of Proprietors is held on the Thursday of each Summer Assize week, at twelve o'clock, of which fourteen days Notice is given in the ReadingRoom, and by Advertisement in the Public Papers. At

this Meeting, the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and other Members of the Committee for the ensuing year are elected by Ballot. Each Proprietor delivers to the Chairman a List of persons whom he may think eligible to the several Offices, who are appointed according to the Majority of Votes. Absent Proprietors may vote by sending a sealed List, addressed to the Chairman of the Annual Meeting. In the event of an Equality of votes at any Election, either at the Annual General Meeting, or at a Meeting of the Committee, the determination is made by Lot, to be drawn by the Chairman at a Meeting of the Committee.

12. A General Meeting may be called by a majority of the Committee present, or by any Fifteen Proprietors, giving fourteen days notice, and specifying the object. All questions are decided by a majority. Any additional means of promoting the purposes of the Institution may be adopted, if approved by a majority. a majority. But no alteration can be made in the amount of the Annual Subscription without the consent of three-fourths of the Proprietors present at the Annual Meeting. Nor can any Rule be repealed but at the Annual Meeting; three weeks notice having been given to the Secretary, or Librarian, by not less than Ten Proprietors. The proposed repeal to be inserted in the summons for calling the Meeting.

13. No Proprietors, except Ladies, vote by Proxy, the Proxy to be a Proprietor; nor are any entitled to more than one Vote, whatever number of Shares they may hold.

COMMITTEES.

14. A President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer,