without any other awe or ceremony than is thereto usually
appertaining, to the end that every man may be free, and that
what is proposed by one, may be argued or discoursed by the rest,
except the matter be of secrecy; in which case the provosts, or
some of them, shall take such as desire audience into one of the
withdrawing-rooms. And the provosts are to give their minds that
this academy be so governed, adorned, and preserved, as may be
most attractive to men of parts and good affections to the
commonwealth, for the excellency of the conversation.

"Furthermore, if any man, not being able or willing to come
in person, has any advice to give which he judges may be for the
good of the commonwealth, he may write his mind to the Academy of
the provosts, in a letter signed or not signed, which letter
shall be left with the doorkeeper of the Academy. Nor shall any
person delivering such a letter be seized, molested, or detained,
though it should prove to be a libel. But the letters so
delivered shall be presented to the provosts; and in case they be
so many that they cannot well be perused by the provosts
themselves, they shall distribute them as they please to be read
by the gentlemen of the Academy, who, finding anything in them
material, will find matter of discourse; or if they happen upon a
business that requires privacy, return it with a note upon it to
a provost. And the provosts by the secretaries attending shall
cause such notes out of discourses or letters to be taken as they
please, to the end that they may propose, as occasion serves,
what any two of them shall think fit out of their notes so taken
to their respective councils; to the end that not only the ear of
the commonwealth be open to all, but that men of such education
being in her eve, she may upon emergent elections or occasions be