To page 48.-Stackhouse's New History of the Bible 6 vols. 8vo. To page 101.-Practice and Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty; by John E. Hall, Esq. Gift of the Author. AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE MEMBERS OF THE Library-company of Baltimore. WHEREAS the establishment of public libraries, under judicious regulations, cannot fail to promote the diffusion of useful knowledge, and the interests of virtue, and to grow greatly beneficial to society, and whereas this General Assembly is desirous to aid and encourage every undertaking, tending to produce these effects, and whereas sundry persons in the city of Baltimore and its vicinity, have formed themselves into a company, and established a library therein, therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the aforesaid persons, and such other persons, as they may hereafter admit into their company, agreeably to such rules and by-laws, as they may establish, for the beneficial and orderly management of their institution, shall be, and they, and their successors and assigns, are hereby declared to be one community, corporation, and body politic, for ever hereafter, by the name and style of THE LIBRARY-COMPANY OF BALTIMORE; and by that name, they shall be, and are hereby made, able and capable in law to have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy, and retain, to them and their successors, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, pensions, and other hereditaments, in fee simple, or for a term of years, life, lives, or otherwise; and also goods, chattels, and effects, of what nature, kind, or quality soever; and the same to grant, demise, alien, or dispose of, and, by the name aforesaid, to do and execute all other things touching the same; provided, that the clear yearly value of the real estate of said corporation, exclusive of any house, which they may hereafter possess, for the keeping of the books, maps, and other B effects of the company, exceed not the sum of one thousand dollars. And be it enacted, That the said company, and their successors, by the aforesaid name, shall be, forever hereafter, able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered, defend and be defended, in any courts of record, or any other place whatsoever; and also to make, have, and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure; and also to assemble and meet, at such times and places, as they may agree upon, and publicly notify; and by a majority of the voices of those attending, to ordain, establish, and put in execution such bylaws, ordinances, and regulations, as to them shall seem necessary and convenient, for the government of the company; the same not being contrary to the laws of this state, or of the United States; and generally to do and execute all such acts, matters, and things, as to them shall or may appertain to do. And be it enacted, That until there shall be, under this act, an election of officers, necessary to the ends of the insti tution, those now acting, or who may be hereafter appointed to act, under any existing regulations of the company, shall continue so to do, according to the provisions heretofore made; and such regulations shall, till lawfully altered, be deemed as valid and obligatory, as if made since the passing of this act. (TRUE COPY) WM. HARWOOD, Clerk. OF THE LIBRARY-COMPANY OF BALTIMORE. ARTICLE I. THERE shall be no definite number of shares; but every person may be entitled to a share, who shall be regu larly admitted a member of the Company. The price of a share shall be Thirty five Dollars; and every member shall annually contribute Four Dollars, for every share, which he may lawfully possess; with such exception, as is hereinafter specified. ARTICLE II. The books and other effects of the Company, shall be their joint property; and every member shall be at liberty to transfer his share by sale, bequest, or gift, or in any other way, in which other property may be alienated: But in every case of transfer, except by will or descent, the person, in whose favour it is intended to be made, shall be first approved of by a Board of Directors; and all transfers shall be made, according to some mode, prescribed by the Directors. ARTICLE III. The Directors may admit any person to hold a plurality of shares in the Library which shall entitle him to a proportionate use of the books, but not to more than one vote, or any other extraordinary privilege. ARTICLE V. There shall be a stated meeting of the Company, on the fourth Monday in April, in every year; at which time, the members present shall proceed to elect, from among the Com !! pany, twelve Directors. The Directors shall choose, out of their own body, a President: and shall also appoint, either from among themselves, or the Company, a Secretary and Treasurer: And the President and Secretary of the Direc tors shall be President and Secretary, at all general meetings of the Company. These shall continue in office, for one year, or until the next election. The place of election shall be determined by the Directors for the time being, and publicly advertised, for twenty days at least, before the election; which shall be made by ballot: And those having a majority of votes, shall be deemed duly elected. ARTICLE V. It shall be the duty of the President, at all general meetings of the Company, to keep order, and to do all other things, generally appertaining to the office of a President. The Secretary shall collect the ballots at elections, shall keep in a book, provided for the purpose, a fair transcript of the proceedings of the Company, and shall, from time to time, give public notice of all stated and special meetings of the Company; which special meetings shall be called by the President, whenever the Board of Directors, or twenty members of the Company, shall signify their desire, to this effect. The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Company, in books proper for the purpose: He shall keep their monies, subject to the order of the Directors; and shall be ready, whenever called upon, with a warning of ten days, to give a regular statement of his accounts to the Directors. He shall be removable, at the pleasure of the Directors; and shall, on entrance upon office, and as often as the Directors may require, give such security, for the faithful discharge of his duties, as they may deem adequate. The Board of Directors shall meet once a month, and shall have the choice and direction of a Librarian, and of all other officers, not chosen by the Company, who may be necessary to the ends of this institution; whom they may supersede, as often as they think proper. They shall have the disposal of all monies belonging to the company, shall provide a proper depository for the books, and shall make all such regulations, as may be necessary to the useful and economical circulation of the books. They shall elect new members, shall settle the accounts of the Company's Treasurer, shall fix all salaries and compensations, which may be created or made, and order the |