BYE LAWS.

SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the Trustees of "The society for establishing a Free School in the city of New-York, for the education of such poor children, as do not belong to, or are not provided for by any religious society:"

"That every election of the Trustees of the said society, shall be held at such place, as the Trustees may fix on at a previous meeting; and shall begin at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and be continued until 1 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day.

2. "And be it further ordained, That the Secretary of the said society for the time being, shall at least give 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.

3. "That such election shall be held under in-. spection of three of the Trustees of the said society, to be appointed by the said Trustees for that purpose, of which notice shall be given by the Secretary as aforesaid. And further, that the Secretary shall keep a poll list at every such election, under the direction and view of the said inspectors, or the major part of them, and they or the major part of them shall preside at such election, and conduct, and direct the same in the manner here in prescribed.

4. That every member of the said society qualified to vote for Directors, shall at such election deliver his ballot to one of the inspectors, which ballot shall be a paper ticket, containing the names of as many persons for Trustees, as are then to be chosen, or so many of them as such elector shall think proper to vote for, severally written upon such paper ticket, and designating such of them, he votes for as President, Vice President, Treasurer

and Secretary; and the inspectors shall cause the name of the elector to be written down in the poll list, by the Secretary, and shall cause the ballot, without suffering the same to be inspected, to be deposited in a box to be provided for that purpose.

5. "That the said inspectors, or a majority of them, as soon as the poll is closed, shall proceed to canvass and estimate the said votes; and shall thereupon, make, and sign a certificate under their hands, and seals, who are the persons so elected as Trustees of the said society, for the ensuing year, and shall deliver the same to the Secretary, to be entered by him, in the records of the said society, and who shall forthwith give notice to the persons so elected as Trustees.

6. "That the three Trustees appointed as Inspectors, at the annual election of Trustees, shall prepare the annual report of the Trustees, to be made to the general meeting of the members of the Society, pursuant to the seventh section of the act for incorporating the said society; and shall, previous to such general meeting of the members, lay the same before the Trustees, to be approved and signed by them, or a major part of them.

7. "That the President for the time being, or in his absence, the Vice President, or in the absence of both of them, one of the Trustees to be nominated, and chosen as President pro tempore, shall preside at all meetings of the said society, and all meetings of the Trustees, shall regulate all debates, and preserve order and decorum, and in case an equal number of votes shall be given on the affirmative and negative of any question, the person so presiding shall have a casting vote. The President also, or in his absence the Vice President, shall, call a special meeting of all the members of the said society, when five Trustees of the said society

shall request it, and shall call a special meeting of the Trustees when he shall think it necessary.

8. "That the Secretary of the said society shall have the custody of the bye-laws, records, books and papers of the society. He shall, under the direction of the President, give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Trustees, or of the members of the society, and shall attend the same: He shall keep fair and accurate minutes of all the proceedings of the Trustees, and of the said society; and in case of his sickness, or necessary absence, his duties shall be performed by the Treasurer, or such other person as may be appointed for the time being.

9. "That the Treasurer, when he enters upon the duties of his office, shall give a bond for the faithful performance of the trust reposed in him, to the Society, in such sum, and with such security as the Trustees or a majority of them may from time to time require. He shall receive and keep in trust all sums of money, due and payable, and all donations of bequests of money made to the said Society, and the deeds and evidences of all real or personal property given, or bequeathed to the said Society he shall pay all such sums of money as the Trustees may authorize. He shall keep a true and faithful account of all monies received and paid by him, and once a year, or oftener whenever thereunto required by the Trustees, shall render a particular and correct statement of the same to the Trustees, who shall appoint two of their number to examine and audit his accounts.

10. "That the regular monthly meeting of the Trustees, shall be on the first sixth day (Friday) in every month, at such place as they may direct.

11. "That the Trustees shall once in every month visit such school or schools, as may be by

them established for the purpose of examining the

same.

12. “That the following RULES be adopted for the government of the school.

1. "School hours from the first of May to the first of November, shall be from 8 to 11 o'clock in the forenoon; and from 3 to 6 o'clock in the afternoon During the other six months from 9 to 12 o'clock in the forenoon, and from 2 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

2. "A punctual and regular attendance of the children, being of the first importance, the Teacher is requested to enjoin it upon them as an indispensible duty. When a child has been absent from school, the Teacher is to ascertain the cause. Should any be repeatedly absent without assigning a sufficient reason; the Teacher is desired to notify in writing, those who may have the care of such children. If no amendment then takes place, he is to report the case to the school committee.

3." As cleanliness not only promotes the comfort, but health of the children, it shall be the duty of the Teacher to take notice of every neglect in this particular, and to use such means as he may deem best calculated to insure an attention to it.

4. "As the mode of instruction adopted by this institution, renders the appointment of Monitors necessary, the Teacher is requested to select none for that station, but those who are distinguished for their exemplary deportment, and attention to their studies. The Monitors are to hold their office only during good behaviour. The children are ordered to respect and obey them.

Thirteen Trustees, composed chiefly of the persons with whom the plan of the Institution originated, were elected in the spring of 1805, agreeably

to the provision in the charter. They soon found that a task of magnitude remained for them to ac complish. This was to devise and adopt means for raising a fund adequate to the extensive object in view.

Deeply impressed with the importance of the trust committed to their charge, solicitous to discharge it to the satisfaction of their own minds, as well as to that of the public, and relying on the well known liberality of the citizens, the Trustees resolved on commencing a general application for contributions. Preparatory to this measure, the following address, with their names annexed to it, was circulate d through all the public papers.

TO THE PUBLIC.

Address of the Trustees of the "Society for establishing a Free School in the city of New-York, for the education of such poor children, as do not belong to, or are not provided for, by any religious society."

"WHILE the various religious and benevolent societies in this city, with a spirit of charity and zeal, which the precepts and example of the Divine Author of our religion could alone inspire, amply provide for the education of such poor children as belong to their respective associations, there still remains a large number living in total neglect of religious and moral instruction, and unacquainted with the common rudiments of learning, essentially requisite for the due management of the ordinary business of life. This neglect may be imputed either to the extreme indigence of the parents of such children, their intemperance and vice, or to a blind indifference to the best interests of their offspring. The consequences must be obvious to the