82 MINUTES. [AprU 1, 



of Thomas JeffersoD, whicli, witli some accompanying memo- 

 randa also in tlieir possession, they have had framed for 

 better preservation. 



It is evidently the same as that contained in Yol. iv of 

 Eandolph's Memoirs ofJefferson^ and likewise from the same 

 plates as (previons to their completion) the proof copy in a 

 black frame now in the Librar}^, and identified as such by 

 Mr. Corbin, of the American Bank Kote Company, by marks 

 of the unfinished condition of one of the plates, absence of 

 notes "Dr. Franklin's handwriting" and "Mr. Adams' hand- 

 writing ' ' from margin , as well as by the texture of the 

 paper. 



This facsimile now framed for preservation has at com- 

 mencement the marks in ink ' 'Draft 'A' " ; the handwriting 

 of which is pronounced by Mr. F. J. Dreer to be that of John 

 Yaughan, an interesting letter from whom, as to the Jeffer- 

 son-Lee MS. is in Mr. Dreer' s collection at the Historical 

 Society's hall, also an alleged/ac-^zmtZe of the originally signed 

 document on quarto paper, otherwise closely resembling this 

 Draft A, but lithograph, said to be copied from MS. in De- 

 partment of State at Washington; none such is known there. 

 This framed facsimile has also the following in leadpencil, 

 "these leadpencil marginal entries make Draft B — this 

 Draft B is copy sent to Lee by Jefferson." 



Mr. Dreer also identifies the marginal notes as to hand- 

 writings of Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, as the facsimile of 

 Jefferson's handwriting, so that the latter must have anno- 

 tated the copy used in preparing Jefferson's Memoirs by 

 Randolph. 



He also finds in his diary of May 13, 1889, as follows: 

 " Met Major Frank Etting, Fred. D. Stone, Simon Gratz. 

 and Mr. Philip S. P. Connor, at the Philosophical Society 

 rooms to compare and determine who wrote, the interlined 

 and marginal notes on the proof copy of the Declaration of 

 Independence." This explains the attached note of F. M. E. 

 of the same date. 



A copy is also given of letters of Jefferson and R. H. Lee, 



