GEORGE the Third, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas several of Our loving Subjects are desirous of forming a Society for the Improvement of Horti- Society. culture in all its branches, Ornamental as well as Useful, and a Object of the Incorpora tion. Corporate Nanie. having subscribed considerable sums of money for that pur- Know Ye, that We, being desirous to promote such Improvement, have, of Our especial Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, Given and Granted: And We do hereby give and grant, that Our Right Trusty and well beloved Cousin and Counsellor George, Earl of Dartmouth, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter; Our Right Trusty and well beloved Cousin and Counsellor Edward, Earl Powis; Our Right Reverend and well beloved Father in God Brownlow, Lord Bishop of Winchester; Our Right Trusty and well beloved John, Lord Selsey; Our Right Trusty and well beloved Counsellor Charles Greville; Our Right Trusty and well beloved Counsellor Sir Joseph Banks, Baronet, and Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Bath; Our Trusty and well beloved, William Townsend Aiton, John Elliot, Thomas Andrew Knight, Charles Miller, Richard Anthony Salisbury, and John Trevelyan, Esquires; and James Dickson, Thomas Hoy and William Smith, Gardeners; and such others as shall from time to time be appointed and elected in the manner herein after directed, and their Successors, be, and shall for ever hereafter continue and be, by virtue of these Presents, one Body Politic and Corporate, by the name of “The "HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON ;" and them and their Successors, for the purposes aforesaid, We do hereby constitute and declare to be one Body Politic and Corporate, and by the same name to have perpetual Succession, and for ever hereafter to be persons able and capable in the Law cessors, chase, &c. Land of the yearly value of £1000. be sued. and have power to purchase, receive, and possess, any Goods Power to purand Chattels whatsoever, and (notwithstanding the Statutes of Mortmain) to purchase, hold, and enjoy, to them and their Successors, any Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, whatsoever, not exceeding, at the time or times of purchasing such Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments respectively, the yearly value at a Rack Rent of One Thousand Pounds in the whole, without incurring the penalties or forfeitures of the Statutes of Mortmain, or any of them; and by the name aforesaid to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, To sue and answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in all Courts, and places whatsoever, of Us, Our Heirs, and Sucin all Actions, Suits, Causes, and Things, whatsoever; and to act and do, in all things relating to the said Corporation, in as ample manner and form as any other our Liege Subjects, being Persons able and capable in the Law, or any other Body Politic or Corporate, in Our said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, may or can act or do; And also to have and to use a Common Seal, and the same Common to change and alter from time to time as they shall think fit. And We do hereby declare and grant that there shall be an indefinite number of Fellows of the said Society; and that they the said George, Earl of Dartmouth; Edward, Earl Powis; Brownlow, Lord Bishop of Winchester; John, Lord Selsey; Charles Greville, Sir Joseph Banks, William Townsend Aiton, John Elliot, Thomas Andrew Knight, Charles Miller, Richard Anthony Salisbury, John Trevelyan, James Dickson, Thomas Hoy, and William Smith, shall be the first Fellows of the said Society, and that any five or more of them, all having been first duly summoned to attend the Meetings of the said Fellows, shall and may, on or before Seal. Number of finite. Fellows inde- Any five or more of them shall on or before the 1st |