COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 283 



" The committee is pleased to find that no evidence of mold or other disinte- 

 grating agents can be discovered upon the parchment by careful microscopic 

 examination, nor any evidence that disintegration is now in progress. 



" The investigation has been facilitated by the photograph that was taken in 

 1883, two years after the previous examination by a committee of the Academy, 

 and we would suggest the desirability of taking another photograph of about the 

 same size, at the present time, and from time to time in the future, as an aid to 

 future investigation. 



" The committee does not consider it wise to apply any chemicals with a view to 

 restoring the original color of the ink, because such application could be but par- 

 tially successful, as a considerable percentage of the original ink was removed 

 in making the copy about 1820, and also because such application might result in 

 serious discoloration of the parchment ; nor does the committee consider it 

 necessary or advisable to apply any solution, such as collodion, paraffin, etc., with 

 a view to strengthening the parchment or making it moisture proof. 



" The committee is of the opinion that the present method of protecting the 

 instrument should be continued ; that it should be kept in the dark, and as dry 

 as possible, and never placed on exhibition. 



" Very respectfully, yours, 



" Charles F. Chandler, 



" Chairman of the Committee." '"^ 



Secretary Hay replied to this letter as follows : 



" Department of State, 



"Washington, April 27, 1903. 

 " Prof. C. F. Chandler, 



" Chairman Committee of the National Jeademy of Sciences 



to examine the present condition of the Declaration of Independence. 



" Sir : I have received your letter of April 24 instant, conveying the report of 

 the committee appointed by President Agassiz of the National Academy of 

 Sciences to confer with me respecting the present condition of the Declaration of 

 Independence, and I beg you to accept for yourself and your colleagues of the 

 committee — President Remsen, of the Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Bil- 

 lings, of the New York Public Library — my thanks for the promptness and thor- 

 oughness of the examination made by the committee, among the results of which is 

 the gratifying assurance that no evidence of mold or other disintegrating agents 

 were discovered upon the parchment under the microscope. I am gratified also to 

 learn that the present method of caring for the instrument meets the concurrence 

 of the committee. 



" The suggestions and recommendations made by yourself and your colleagues 

 will be attentively observed by the Department, and I have already caused your 



"'Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1903, pp. 13-15. 



