have by their petition represented to the Legislature, that the act incorporating that society restrains them unnecessarily in the communication of the advantages of their establishment, by confining them to a certain description of poor children; and have also petitioned for a competent portion of the school-fund applicable to the city of New-York, in order to be the better enabled to proceed in the execution of their important duties; and whereas the said fund does not as yet amount to a sum sufficiently large to render an immediate distribution advisable; but as the Legislature are desirous of encouraging an institution, so laudable and useful, by granting the petition of the said Trustees in other respects: Therefore,

Be it enacted by the people of the state of NewYork, represented in senate and assembly, That the name of the said corporation shall be, and hereby is, changed, and that it shall, in future, be denominated "The Free-School Society of NewYork," and that its powers shall extend to all children, who are the proper objects of a gratuitous education.

An act respecting the Free-School Society of NewYork. In compliance with a memorial of the Trustees of the Free-School Society of New-York,

1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of NewYork, represented in senate and assembly, That no person shall hereafter become a member of the said society, unless he shall contribute the sum of fifty dollars to the funds, and be elected by a majority

of the Trustees; and that every member, hereafter admitted, shall have a right during his life to send one child to one of the schools of the said society. Provided that nothing herein contained, shall be deemed to affect the rights of the present members and benefactors of the said institution.

2. And be it further enacted, That at each first meeting of the said Trustees, after every annual election of Trustees, it shall be in their discretion to appoint, out of the members of the said corporation, an additional number of Trustees, not ex. ceeding five.

3. And be it further enacted, That out of the monies appropriated by the act, entitled "An act to lay a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating Inns and Taverns," to the payment of the contingent charges of the city of New-York, and which shall be first received by the commissioner of excise, after the first Tuesday of May next, there shall be paid by him to the said Trustees, the sum of four thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting suitable accommodations for the instruction of poor children. Passed the senate March 3, 1810. Passed the assembly March 24, 1810.

An act for the further encouragement of Free-Schools in the city of New-York. Passed March 30, 1811.

Whereas the Trustees of the "Free-School Society of New-York," have, by their memorial, solicited the aid of the Legislature in extending the benefits of their institution; therefore,

E

1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of New York, represented in senate and assembly, That out of the monies appropriated by the act, entitled "An act to lay a duty on strong liquors, and for regulating Inns and Taverns," to the payment of the contingent charges of the city of New-York, and which shall come into the treasury of the said city after the first Tuesday of May next, there shall be paid to the said Trustees the sum of four thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting another building for the instruction of poor children, and every year hereafter, until the pleasure of the Legislature shall otherwise determine, there shall be paid to the said Trustees, out of the proceeds of the said fund, in addition to the annual sums heretofore granted, the sum of five hundred dollars, for the purpose of promoting the benevolent objects of the said corporation.

2. And be it further enacted, That no misnomer of the said corporation in any deed, will, testament, gift, grant, demise, or other instrument of contract or conveyance, shall vitiate or defeat the same, provided the corporation shall be sufficiently described to ascertain the intention of the parties. State of New-York, Secretary's office.

I certify the preceding to be a true copy of an original act of the Legislature of this state, now on file in this office, at the city of Albany, the 4th day of April, 1811.

ANTHONY LAMB,

Dep. Secretary.

An act to provide for the election of an additional number of Trustees in the Free-School Society of NewYork, and for other purposes. Passed February 28, 1812.

In compliance with the request of the Trustees for the Free-School Society of New-York,

Be it enacted by the people of the state of NewYork, represented in senate and assembly, That it shall and may be lawful for the members of "The Free-School Society of New-York," to elect for ever hereafter, at every annual election of Trustees, six Trustees in addition to those heretofore authorized by law.

State of New-York,
Secretary's office.

I certify that the preceding is a true extract from an original act of the Legislature of this state, on file in this office.

Albany, March 30, 1812,

ANTHONY LAMB,

Dep. Secretary.

BY-LAWS

FOR

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE TRUSTEES.

I.

Be it ordained by the Trustees of "The Free-School Society of New-York," That every election of the Trustees of the said society shall be held at the Trustees' room in Chatham-street, on the first Monday in the fifth month, (May) in each year, and shall begin at 10 o'clock, and close at 12 o'clock of the same day.

11.

The secretary of the said society, for the time being, shall give at least three days public notice in two of the newspapers printed in the city of New-York, of every such election, and of the time and place the same is to be held.

III.

Every such election shall be held under the inspection of three of the Trustees of the said society, to be appointed by the said Trustees for that purpose; and the secretary of the society shall keep a poll-list at every such election, under the direction and view of the said inspectors; and they, or a major part of them, shall preside at such election, and conduct and direct the same in the manner herein prescribed.