English Tongue; which Person shall in Fact be, and shall be stiled, the Rector of the Academy.

The Trustees may contract with the Rector for the Term of Five Years, or less, at their discretion, for the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds a Year.

The Rector shall be obliged, without the assistance of any Usher, to teach twenty Scholars, the Latin and Greek Languages, and at the same time, according to the best of his Capacity, to instruct them in History, Geography, Logick, Rhetorick, and the English Tongue; and Twenty-five Scholars more for every Usher provided for him, who shall be entirely subject to his Direction.

The Rector shall upon all Occasions, consistent with his Duty in the Latin School, assist the English Master, in improving the Youth under his Care, and superintend the Instruction of all the Scholars in the other Branches of Learning, taught within the Academy, and see that the Masters in each Art and Science perform their Duties.

The Trustees, shall, with all convenient Speed, contract with any Person that offers, who they shall judge most capable, of teaching the English Tongue grammatically, and as a Language, History, Geogra phy, Chronology, Logick and Oratory, which Person shall be stiled the ENGLISH MASTER.

The Trustees may contract with the English Master for the Term of Five Years, or less, at their Discretion, for the sum of One Hundred Pounds a Year.

The English Master shall be obliged without the assistance of any Usher, to teach Forty Scholars the English Tongue grammatically, and as a Language; and at the same Time, according to the best of his Capacity, to instruct them in History, Geography, Chronology, Logick, and Oratory; and Sixty Scholars more for every Usher provided for him.

The Ushers for the Latin and Greek School, shall be admitted, and at Pleasure removed, by the Trustees and the Rector, or a Majority of them.

The Ushers for the English School shall be admitted, and at Pleasure removed, by the Trustees and the English Master, or a Majority of them.

The Trustees shall contract with the Usher, to pay him what they shall judge proportionable to his Capacity and Merit.

NEITHER the Rector, nor English Master shall be removed, unless disabled by Sickness, or other natural Infirmity, or for gross voluntary Neglect of Duty, continued after two Admonitions from the Trustees, or for committing infamous Crimes; and such Removal be voted by three Fourths of the Trustees; after which their Salaries respectively shall cease.

The Trustees shall, with all convenient Speed, endeavor to engage Persous capable of teaching the French, Spanish, and German Lan

guages, Writing, Arithmetick, the several Branches of the Mathematicks, Natural and Mechanic Philosophy, and Drawing; who shall give their Attendance, as soon as a sufficient Number of Scholars shall offer to be instructed in those Parts of Learning; and be paid such Salaries and Rewards, as the Trustees shall from Time to Time be able to allow. EACH Scholar shall pay such Sum or Sums, quarterly, according to the particular Branches of Learning they shall desire to be taught, as the Trustees shall from Time to Time settle and appoint.

No Scholar shall be admitted, or taught within the Academy, without the Consent of the major Part of the Trustees in Writing, signed with their Names.

IN Case of the Disability of the Rector, or any Master established on the Foundation, by receiving a certain Salary, through Sickness, or any other natural Infirmity, whereby he may be reduced to Poverty, the Trustees shall have Power to contribute to his Support, in Proportion to his Distress and Merit, and the stock in their Hands.

FOR the Security of the Trustees, in contracting with the Rector, Masters and Ushers; to enable them to provide and fit up convenient Schools; furnish them with Books of general Use, that may be too expensive for each Scholar; Maps, Draughts, and other Things, generally necessary, for the Improvement of the Youth; and to bear the incumbent Charges that will unavoidably attend this Undertaking, especially in the Beginning; the Donations of all Persons inclined to encourage it, are to be cheerfully and thankfully accepted.

THE Academy shall be open'd with all convenient Speed, by accepting the first good Master that offers, either for teaching the Latin and Greek, or English, under the Terms above proposed.

ALL Rules for the Attendance and Duty of the Masters, the Conduct of the Youth, and the facilitating their Progress in Learning and Virtue, shall be framed by the Masters, in Conjunction with the Trustees.

IF the Scholars shall hereafter grow very numerous, and the Funds be sufficient, the trustees may at their Discretion, augment the Salaries of the Rector or Masters.

THE Trustees, to increase their Stock, may let their money out at interest.

IN general, the Trustees shall have Power to dispose of all Money, received by them, as they shall think best for the Advantage, Promotion, and even Enlargement of this Design.

THE Trustees may hereafter add to or change any of these Constitutions, except that hereby declared to be invariable.

ALL Trustees, Rectors, Masters, Ushers, Clerks, and other Ministers, hereafter to be elected or appointed, for carrying this Undertaking into Execution, shall, before they be admitted to the Exercise of their respective Trusts or Duties, sign these Constitutions, or some others to be hereafter framed by the Trustees in their Stead, in Testimony of their then approving of, and resolving to observe them.

UPON the Death or Absence as aforesaid of any Trustee, the remaining Trustees shall not have Authority to exercise any of the Powers reposed in them, until they have chosen a new Trustee in his Place, and such new Trustee shall have signed the established Constitutions, which if he shall refuse to do, they shall proceed to elect another; and so toties quoties, until the Person elected shall sign the Constitution. WHEN the Fund is sufficient to bear the Charge, which it is hoped thro' the Bounty and Charity of well disposed Persons, will soon come to pass, poor Children shall be admitted, and taught gratis, what shall be thought suitable to their Capacities and Circumstances.

IT is hoped and expected, that the Trustees will make it their Pleasure, and in some Degree their business, to visit the Academy often, to encourage and countenance the Youth, countenance and assist the Masters, and by all Means in their Power, advance the Usefulness and Reputation of the Design; that they will look on the Students as, in some Measure, their own Children, treat them with Familiarity and Affection; and when they have behaved well, gone thro' their Studies, and are to enter the World, they shall zealously unite, and make all the Interest that can be made, to promote and establish them, whether in Business, Offices, Marriages, or any other Thing for their Advantage, preferable to all other Persons whatsoever, even of equal Merit.

THE Trustees shall in a Body visit the Academy once a Year extraordinary, to view and hear the performances and Lectures of the Scholars, in such Modes, as their respective Masters shall think proper, and shall have Power, out of their Stock, to make presents to the most meritorious Scholars, according to their several deserts.

N. B. The above Constitutions were signed on the 13th of November, 1749; and are to be carried into Execution as early as may be in the ensuing Year, a considerable Sum being already subscribed for that Purpose by a few Hands; who hope, from the known Publick Spirit of the People of Pennsylvania, that such further Sums as are necessary to be subscribed for perfecting this useful Design, will not be wanting.

III.

CHARTER to Thomas Laurence and others, to be trustees of the Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania. THOMAS PENN and Richard Penn, true and absolute proprietors and governors in chief of the province of Pennsylvania and counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, To all persons to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas the well being of a society depends on the education of their youth, as well as, in great measure, the eternal welfare of every individual, by impressing on their tender minds principles of morality and religion, instructing them in the several duties they owe to the society in which they live, and one towards another, giving them the knowledge of languages, and other parts of useful learning necessary thereto, in order to render them serviceable in the several public stations to which they may be called. And whereas, it hath been represented to us by Thomas Lawrence, William Allen, John Inglis, Tench Francis, William Masters, Lloyd Zachary, Samuel M'Call, junior, Joseph Turner, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Leech, William Shippen, Robert Strettell, Philip Syng, Charles Willing, Phineas Bond, Richard Peters, Abraham Taylor, Thomas Bond, Joshua Maddox, William Plumstead, Thomas White, William Coleman, Isaac Norris, and Thomas Cadwalader, of our city of Philadelphia, gentlemen, that for the erecting, establishing, and maintaining an academy within our said city as well to instruct youth for reward, as poor children whose indigent and helpless circumstances demand the, charity of the opulent part of mankind, several benevolent and charitable persons have generously paid, and by subscriptions promised hereafter to pay into their hands as trustees, for the use of the said academy, divers sums of money, which sums already paid, they, the said trustees, have expended in the purchase of lands well situated, and a building commodious for the uses aforesaid, within our said city in maintaining an academy there as well for the instruction of poor children on charity, as others whose circumstances have enabled them to pay for their learning, for some time past, and in furnishing the said academy with books, maps, mathematical instruments, and other necessaries of general use therein, according to the intentions of the donors. And whereas, the said trustees to facilitate the progress of so good a work, and to perfect and perpetuate the same, have humbly besought us to incorporate them and their successors.

Now know ye, That we favouring such pious, useful, generous, and charitable designs, hoping through the favour of Almighty God, this academy may prove a nursery of virtue and wisdom, and that it will produce men of dispositions and capacities beneficial to mankind in the various occupations of life; but more particularly suited to the infant state of North America in general, and for other causes and considera

tions us hereto specially moving, have granted, ordained, declared, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents we do, for us, our heirs, and successors grant, ordain, declare, constitute, and appoint, That the said Thomas Lawrence, William Allen, John Inglis, Tench Francis, William Masters, Lloyd Zachary, Samuel M'Call, junior, Joseph Turner, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Leech, William Shippen, Robert Strettel, Philip Syng, Charles Willing, Phineas Bond, Richard Peters, Abraham Taylor, Thomas Bond, Joshua Maddox, William Plumstead, Thomas White, William Coleman, Isaac Norris, and Thomas Cadwalader and such others, as shall be from time to time chosen, nominated, or elected in their place and stead, shall be one community, corporation, and body politic, to have continuance for ever, by the name of The Trustees of the Academy and Charitable School in the province of Pennsylvania, and that by the same name, they shall have perpetual succession, and that they and their successors by that name, shall be capable in law to purchase, have, take, receive, and enjoy to them and their successors in fee and in perpetuity, or for any other or lesser estate or estates, any manors, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, pensions, or other hereditaments within the said province of Pennsylvania, or three lower counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, confirmation, or device of any person or persons, bodies politick or corporate, capable to make the same. And further, that they may take and receive any sum or sums of money, or any kind, manner, or portion of goods or chattels that shall to them be given, granted or bequeathed by any person or persons, bodies politick or corporate, capable to make a gift, grant, or bequest thereof; and therewith to erect, set up, maintain, and support an academy or any other kind of seminary of learning in any place within the said province of Pennsylvania, where they shall judge the same to be most necessary and convenient for the instruction, improvement, and education of youth in any kind of literature, erudition, arts, and sciences, which they shall think fitting and proper to be taught. And we do hereby grant and ordain, That the said trustees and their successors by the name aforesaid, shall be able in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any court or courts, before any judge, judges, or justices within the said province of Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, and elsewhere; in all and all manner of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands of whatsoever kind, nature, or form they be; and all and every other matters and things therein to do in as full, ample, and effectual a manner, as any other person or persons, bodies politick or corporate within that part of the Kingdom of Great Britain called England, or within the said province of Pennsylvania, or three lower counties in the like cases may or can do. And we do hereby give and grant unto the said trustees and their successors, full power and authority to make, have, and use a common seal with such stamp and inscription as they shall think proper; and the same to change,