[ 4JI ] 
XXXIX. Some Obfervations on ancient Ms, with the Propofol of 
a nezv Method of recovering the Legibility of decayed IVri - * 
tings. By Charles Blagden, M. D. Sec. R. S. and F. A . S. 
Read June 28, 1787. 
JNa converfatlon fome time ago with my friend Thomas 
jL Astle, Efq. F. R. S. and A. S. relative to the legibility of 
ancient MSS. a queftion arofe, whether the inks in ufe 
eight or ten centuries ago, and which are often found to 
have preferved their colour remarkably well, were made of 
different materials from thofe employed in later times, of 
which many are already become fo pale as fcarcely to be 
read. With a view to the decifion of this queftion, Mr. 
Astle obligingly furnifhed me with feveral MSS. on parch- 
ment and vellum, from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries in- 
cluftvely ; fome of which were ftill very black, and others of 
different fhades of colour, from a deep yellowifh brown to a 
very pale yellow, in fome parts lo faint as to be fcarcely viftble. 
On all of thefe I made experiments with the chemical re-agents 
which appeared to me beft adapted to the purpofe; namely, 
alkalies both ftmple and phlogifticated, the mineral acids, and 
infufion of galls. 
It would be tedious and fuperfluous to enter into a de- 
tail of the particular experiments : as all of them, one in- 
Itance • only excepted, agreed in the general refult, to (hew, 
that the ink employed anciently, as far as the above-mentioned 
c MSS. 
