Chap. 844.—An ACT to incorporate the Newport News female seminary.

Approved March 5, 1806.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of: Virginia, That Mis-
tress Montague W. Harwood, and such other persons as may be here-
after associated with her, be, and they are hereby, created and incor-
porated and made a body politic and corporate under the name and
style of the Newport News female seminary, for the purpose of
keeping and conducting a boarding school of the above name for
girls, and of teaching and giving instruction to such girls or other
persons as may be committed to their care as pupils of said school
in the various studies and courses of instruction in ancient and
modern languages, music, mathematics, the fine arts, and all or any
matter or things usually prescribed in schools and colleges of the
highest grade, with the right and privilege to make and prescribe
such rules and regulations as from time to time may seem proper to
them, and to change and alter the same to enable them to conduct
the daily and yearly exercises and successfully to govern and gene-
rally promote and carry out the objects and plan of said seminary
as a school for girls and other persons.

2. The said seminary shall have perpeutal succession and a com-
mon seal, which it may alter or amend at its pleasure, and may in
its corporate name sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with,
purchase, hold and convey property, real and personal, and make
regulations for the government of all persons and things under its
authority, for the management of its estate, and the due and orderly
conducting of its affairs: provided that the said seminary shall not
at any time hold property exceeding in value the sum of seventy-five
thousand dollars.

3. The seminary may have public and other celebrations at such
times and places as to it may seem proper, and may prescribe the
924 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY.

number, course, and kind of studies to be pursued by its pupils tc
entitle the latter to certificates of distinction, or proficiency, or grad:
uation, respectively, and may confer and bestow upon its pupils an¢
graduates such diplomas and certificates or other evidence of grad
uation, distinction, or proficiency as said pupils may acquire in thei
various studies or employments, according to the regulations of said
seminary and the determination of its teachers, instructors, or othe!
officers, which said diplomas shall bear the seal of said seminary anc
the signatures of the instructors.

4. The officers of said seminary shall consist of a principal in
structor and such assistants in the school or academic department!
and in the domestic department as may be deemed requisite, to b
chosen in such manner as said corporation by its laws may pre.
Bcribe. )

5. The said corporation may make such rules, regulations, and by:
laws as are not inconsistent with the laws of the state of Virginis
and of the United States.

6. This act shall be in force from its passage.