And appoint a pre

ad principal of any

every college in this state once a year, by them felves or by their committées; and yearly to report the ftate of the fame to the legiflature; and to make fach bye-laws and ordinances, not inconfiftent with the conftitution and laws of the ftate, as they may judge most expedient for the accomplishment of the truft hereby repofed in them. And in cafe the trustees of the faid colleges, or any of them, fhall leave the office of prefident of fident of any college, the college, or the truftees of any academy, shall leave the acadamy, in cafe of office or place of principal of the academy vacant, for the vacancy for one year. fpace of one year, it fhall, in all fuch cafes, be lawful for the regents, unless a reasonable cause shall be affigned for fuch delay, to their fatisfaction, to fill up fuch vacancies; and the perfons by them appointed shall continue in office during the pleasure of the regents, and fhall respectively be received by the college or academy to which they may be appointed, and fhall have all the powers, and exactly the fame falary, emoluments and privileges, as his next immediate predeceffor in office enjoyed, if any predeceffor he had; if not, then fuch falary as the regents fhall direct, to be paid by the trustees, who fhall, out of the funds or effate of their college or academy, be compellable by the faid prefident or principal to pay the fame.

IV. And be it further ended by the authority aforesaid, Regents may confer That the faid regents fhall have the right of conferring, by degrees. diplomas under their common feal, on any perfon or perfons whom they may think worthy thereof, all fuch degree or degrees, above or beyond thofe of bachelor or mafter of arts, as are known to and ufually. granted by any univerfity or college in Europe.

V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the faid regents, from time to time, to apply fuch part of their eftate and funds, in fuch manner as they may think moft conducive to the promotion of literature, and the advancement of useful knowledge within this flate. Provided always, That where grants fhall be made to them for certain ufes and purposes therein exprefied and declared, the fame fhall not be applied, either in the whole or in part, to any other uses.

rually at the aflem

VI. And be it further enabled by the authority aforesaid, Regents to meet an- That the regents hall annually meet on the fecond Thurf bly chamber. day next after the fenate and affembly, at the annual feffion of the legiflature, fhall have formed a quorum refpectively, and at the affembly-chamber, immediately after the aflembly fhall have adjourned. That the faid regents, at fuch meetings, and all others, may adjourn from time to time, not exceeding ten days at any one time.

be incorrated by the regents.

VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, How colleges may That any citizen or citizens, or bodies corporate, within this ftate, being minded to found a college at any place within the fame, he or they fhall, in writing, make known to the regents, the place where, the plan on which, and the funds with which it is intended to found and provide for the fame, and who are propofed for the firft truftees; and in cafe the regents fhall approve thereof, then they fhall declare their approbation, by an inftrument under their common feal, and allow a convenient time for completing the fame. And if at the expiration of the faid time, it shall appear to the fatisfaction of the regents, that the faid plan and propofitions are fully executed, then they fhall, by act under their common feal, declare, that the faid college, to be named as the founders fhall fignify, and with fuch truftees, not exceeding twentyfour, nor less than ten, as they fhall name, fhall forthwith become incorpor

ated, and fhall have perpetual fucceffion, and enjoy all the corporate rights and privileges enjoyed by Columbia college, herein after mentioned.

the college in the city

firmed.

VIII. And be it further enalled by the authority aforefaid, Former charter to That the charter heretofore granted to the governors of of New-York, con- the college of the province of New-York, in the city of New-York, in America, dated the thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-four, fhall be, and hereby is fully and abfolutely ratified and confirmed, in all ref pects, except that the college thereby eftablished, fhall be henceforth called Columbia college: That the ftile of the faid corporation fhall be, The truftees of Columbia college, in the city of New-York; and that no perfons fhall be trustees of the fame, in virtue of any offices, characters or defcriptions whatever; excepting alfo fuch claufes thereof as require the taking of oaths, and fubfcribing the declaration therein mentioned; and which render a perfon ineligible to the office of prefident of the college, on account of his religious tenets, and prescribe a form of public prayer to be used in the faid college; and alfo excepting the claufe thereof which provides, that the bye-laws and ordinances to be made in pursuance thereof, fhould not be repugnant to the laws and ftatutes of that part of the kingdom of Great-Britain, called England; except alfo, that in all cafes where fifteen governors are required to conftitute a quorum for the dispatch of bufinefs, thirteen truftees fhall be fufficient. Provided always, That the bye-laws and ordinances to be made by the trustees of the faid Columbia college, fhall not be contrary to the constitution and laws of this state.

IX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That James Duane, Samuel Provoft, John H. Livingston, Richard Varick, Alexander Hamilton, John Mafon, James Wilfon, John Gano, Brockholft Livingfton, Robert Harper, John Daniel Grofs, Johann Chriftoff Kunze, Walter Livingfton, Lewis A. Scott, Jofeph Delaplaine, Leonard Lifpenard, Abraham Beach, John Lawrance, John Rutherford, Morgan Lewis, John Cochran, Gerfhom Seixas, Charles M'Knight, Thomas Jones, Malachi Treat, Samuel Bard, Nicholas Romein, Benjamin Kiffam, and Ebenezer Crossby, fhall be, and they are hereby conftituted and declared to be the prefent truftees of Columbia college, in the city of New-York, and that when by the death or refignation, or removal of any of the faid trustees, the number of thofe truftees fhall be reduced to twenty-four, then and from thenceforth the faid twenty-four trufees fhall be, and they hereby are declared and conftituted trustees of the faid Columbia college, in perpetual fucceffion, according to the true intent and meaning of the faid charter; and all vacancies thereafter fhall be fupplied in the manner thereby directed.

and estates of the col

trustees.

X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, The power, rights That all and fingular the power, authority, rights, privileges, lege vefted in the franchifes and immunities, fo heretofore granted to, and vefled in the faid governors of the college of the province of New-York, in the city of New-York, in America, by the faid charter, excepting as before excepted, fhall be, and the fame hereby are granted to and vested in the trustees of Columbia college, in the city of New-York, and their fucceffors forever, as fully and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as if the fame were herein particularly specified and exprefled; and all and fingu lar the lands, tenements, hereditaments and real eftate, goods, chattels, rents, annuities monies, books and other property, whereof the faid governors of the college of the province of New-York, in the city of New-York, in Ame

rica, were feifed, poffeffed or entitled, under and in virtue of the faid charter, or with which the regents of the faid univerfity were invefted, under or by virtue of the faid acts, for the ufe or benefit of the faid Columbia college, fhall be, and the fame hereby are granted to and vefted in the faid trustees of Columbia college, in the city of New-York, and their fucceffors forever, for the fole ufe and benefit of the faid college; and it fhall and may be lawful to and for the faid truftees, and their fucceffors, to grant, bargain, fell, demife, improve and difpofe of the fame, as to them shall feem meet. Provided always, That the lands given and granted to the governors of the college of the province of New-York, in the city of New-York, in America, by the corporation, heretofore ftiled, The rector and inhabitants of the city of New York, in communion of the church of England, as by law established, on part whereof the faid college is erected, fhall not be granted for any greater eftate, or in any other manner, than is limited by the faid charter.

XI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, Senior truftee to That when any special meeting of the trustees of the faid call special meetings. college, fhall be deemed neceflary, it shall and may be lawful to and for the fenior truflee of the faid college, then in the city of NewYork, and taking upon himself the exercife of the office (which feniority fhall be determined according to the order in which the faid trustees are named in this act, and shall be elected hereafter) and he is hereby authorised and required, on application for that purpofe in writing, under the hands of any five or more of the faid truftees, to appoint a time for fuch special meeting, in fome convenient place within the faid city, and to caufe due notice thereof to be given in the manner directed by the faid charter.

Founders of academies

XII. And whereas academies for the inftruction of youth in the languages, and other branches of useful learning, have been erected and inftituted in different parts of this ftate, by the free and liberal benefactions of corporations, as well as individuals; and the regents of the univerfity having reprefented, that the appointment and incorporation of trustees for each of the faid academies, with competent powers to manage the funds already appropriated, and the donations which may be made to fuch academies, and to fuperintend the morals and education of the scholars, and the conduct of the principal, mafters and teachers, would greatly conduce to their fecurity and profperity; Therefore, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, may apply to the re- That upon the application of the founders and benefactors gents to be incorporate of any academy, now or hereafter to be erected or established within any of the cities or counties of this ftate, or as many of them as fhall have contributed more than one half in value of the real and perfonal property and eftate, collected or appropriated for the ufe and benefit thereof, by an inftrument in writing, under their hands and feals, to the regents of the univerfity, expreffing their requeft, that fuch academy fhould be incorporated, and be fubject to the vifitation of the regents, nominating in fuch inftrument the trustees, not more than twenty-four or less than twelve, for fuch academy, and specifying the name by which the faid trustees fhall be called and diftinguifhed; and whenever any fuch request shall be made to the faid regents, they fhall, in every fuch cafe (if they conceive fuch academy calculated for the promotion of literature) by an inftrument under their common feal, fignify their approbation of the incorporation of the truf tees of fuch academy, named by the founders thereof, by the name menHoned in and by their faid requeft in writing; which faid request in writing,

and inftrument of approbation by the faid regents, fhall be recorded in the fecretary's office of the state.

XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the truftees fo conftituted, fhall be the first trustees for the academy for which they fhall be appointed, and immediately after recording the faid requeft in writing, and inftrument of approbation, fhall be legally invefted with all the real and perfonal eftate appertaining to fuch academy, or in any wife given or granted for the ufe thereof; and the said trustees, from the time of their appointment as aforefaid, and their fucceffors forever thereafter, fhall be a body corporate and politic, in deed, fact and name, known and distinguished by the name and file to be expreffed in the faid inftrument; and by that name fhall have perpetual fucceffion, and be capable in the law to fue and be fued, and defend and be defended, in all courts, and in all caufes, plaints, controverfies, matters and things whatsoever; and by the fame name and ftile, they and their fucceffors fhall lawfully hold, ufe and enjoy the lands, tenements and hereditaments, in any wife appertaining to the academy for which they fhall be conftituted trustees, and fhall and may lawfully have, take, acquire, purchafe and enjoy lands, tenements and hereditaments, and ufe and improve fuch goods and chattels, in fuch manner as they fhall judge Annual revenue of to be most beneficial for fuch academy: Provided, That academies not to ex the annual revenue or income arifing from the real and perfonal eftate of any fuch academy, fhall not exceed the value of four thousand bushels of wheat; any law, ufage or cuftom to the contrary notwithstanding.

ceed 4000 bushels of

wheat.

XIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That it fhall and may be lawful to and for fuch trustees, and their fucceffors forever, to have and ufe a common feal, and the fame to alter, break and make a-new at their pleasure. And as often as any three or more of the faid trustees fhall think fit, and fignify their requeft, the fenior trustee actually exercifing his office, and refiding within three miles of fuch academy, fhall call a meeting of the faid trustees, at fuch convenient time and place as he fhall appoint, not lefs than eight nor more than twelve days from the time of fuch request, of which previous notice in writing fhall be affixed on the door of the academy, and of the church neareft thereto, within two days after fuch appointment; and at every fuch meeting the fenior truftee fhall prefide; fuch feniority in all cafes to be determined according to the order of their nomination in the faid inftrument, or according to the priority of election after all the first trustees shall become extinct: And the major part of fuch truftees fhall always be a fufficient quorum to proceed on bufinefs, and shall have full power and authority to adjourn from time to time, not exceeding feven days at any one time, as the duties of their truft may require. And it fhall and may be lawful to and for fuch quorum of the faid truflees, when aflembled and met in manner aforefaid, or the major part of them, from time to time, to appoint a treasurer and clerk, principal, mafters, tutors, teachers and other neceflary officers; to afcertain their respective falaries, and to remove and displace any of them at their pleafure; and to make bye-laws for the admiffion, education, government and difcipline of the fcholars or ftudents, and the establishment of the price or terms of tuition; for fecuring, revifing and paying out and difpofing of the revenues, and in general for conducting and managing the eftate, bufinefs and affairs of the faid academy, and every matter and thing relating thereto, in fuch manner as they fhall judge to be moft conduoive to its intereft and profperity, and the end of their truft.

Vacancies of trustees how to be filled up.

XV. And in order to preferve the fucceffion of trufees for the faid academies refpectively; Be it further enaded by the authority aforefaid, That whenever a vacancy fhall happen in any corporation of trustees, by the death, refignation or refufal to act of any trustee, it fhall and may be lawful to and for the trustees of fuch academy, and they are hereby authorised and required, at any legal meeting of the truftees, to elect and choose a fit perfon to fill up and fupply fuch

vacancy.

XVI. And for the greater encouragement of fuch academies, and to render them more useful and refpectable; Be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the regents of the university fhall be vifitors of fuch academies, and the chancellor, vice-chancellor, or a committee of the regents, fhall, as often as they fee proper, vifit fuch academies, to enquire into the ftate and progress of literature therein.

any academy, how ad

XVII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Scholars educated in That when any scholar who fhall be educated at any of mitted into colleges. the faid academies, on due examination by the prefident and profeflors of Columbia college, or any other college, fubject to the vifitation of the faid regents, fhall be found competent, in the judgment of the faid prefident and profeffors, to enter into the fophimore, junior or fenior claffes, of fuch colleges refpectively, fuch fcholar fhall be entitled to an admiffion into fuch of the faid claffes for which he shall be fo adjudged competent, and fhall be admitted accordingly, at any one of the quarterly examinations of fuch refpective claffes.

What trustees of

XVIII. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the academies to do to authority aforefaid, That to entitle the fcholars of any fuch entitle their fcholars academy to the privileges aforefaid, the trustees thereof to fuch admiflion. fhall lay before the regents of the faid university, from time time, the plan or fyftem propofed to be adopted, for the education of the ftudents in each of the faid academies refpectively, in order that the fame may be revised and examined by the faid regents, and by them be altered or amended, or approved and confirmed, as they fhall judge proper.

allow truflees to elect

college.

XIX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, When regents may That whenever it fhall appear to the faid regents, that the a prefident, and fuck ftate of literature in any academy is fo far advanced, and the academy to become a funds will admit thereof, that it may be expedient that a prefident be appointed for fuch academy; the faid regents fhall, in fuch cafe, fignify their approbation thereof, under their common feal, which being entered of record as aforefaid, fhall authorise the trustees of fuch academy to elect a prefident, who shall have, hold and enjoy all the powers that the prefident of any college recognized by this act, fhall or may lawfully have, hold and enjoy; and fuch academy thereafter, inftead of being called an academy, fhall be called and known by the fame name it was called while it was an academy, except that the word college fhall be ufed in all cafes, inftead of the word academy; and be fubject to the like rules, regulations, controul and vifitation of the regents, as other colleges mentioned in this act.

XX. And be it further enadled by the authority aforefaid, No prefilent or pro- That no prefident or profeffor fhall be ineligible for or by feffor ineligible for his religious tenets. reafon of any religious tenet or tenets that he may or shall profefs; or be compelled by any law or otherwife, to take any tefl oath whatsoever; and no profeffor or tutor of any college or academy recognized