which　in　this　respect　is　so　ably　represented　in　part
  by　Dr。　Charles　A。　Crampton　of　Washington；　D。　C。
  Mr。　Swan　in　his　reports　to　the　legislature　of　his
  state　for　the　last　twelve　years；　deals　with　the　subject
  of　the　constitution　of　〃permanent　inks〃　so　thoroughly；
  and　with　it　affords　information　of　so　practical
  and　useful　a　character；　that　the　fullest　references　to
  them　prove　both　instructive　and　interesting。　In　his
  report　of　1891　he　remarks：
  〃Upon　commencing　an　examination　of　the　records
  in　various　places；　I　was　impressed　with　the
  great　importance　of　the　use　of　inks　which　should
  be　permanent；　and　the　necessity　of　an　investigation
  which　might　prevent　the　further　use　of　inks　that
  for　one　reason　or　another　were　unfit　for　use　upon
  records。　I　found　that；　as　a　rule；　the　inks　upon
  the　most　ancient　records　had　preserved　their　color；
  many　undoubtedly　being　blacker　than　when　used；
  but　that　the　later　records　lost　the　jet…black　appearance
  of　the　older。　This；　it　is　true；　is　not　wholly
  due　to　the　change　of　inks；　for　the　use　of　quills；
  the　soft　surface　of　the　old　paper；　the　absence　of
  blotting　paper　and　the　greater　time　spent　in　writing；
  were　all　conducive　to　a　heavier　deposit　of　ink；
  but　evidence　is　ample　that　in　comparatively　recent
  years　inks　of　poor　quality　came　in　use。　Proof　of
  this　is　given　by　an　examination　of　the　records　in
  the　state　house。　Up　to　about　1850　it　was　the　custom
  in　the　office　of　the　Secretary　of　the　Commonwealth
  to　use　for　engrossing　the　acts；　inks　made
  of　a　powder　which　was　mixed　in　the　office；　and
  until　that　time　the　acts　which　are　engrossed　upon
  parchment　show；　with　but　few　exceptions；　no　signs
  of　fading。　From　1850　for　several　years　the　writing
  in　many　cases　is　becoming　indistinct；　that　upon　an
  act　in　1851；　and　upon　two　in　1855；　having　nearly
  disappeared。　Since　1860；　acts　showing　different
  intensity　of　color　are　found；　but　whether　this　is
  their　original　color　or　not　cannot　be　determined。
  That　the　fading　can　be　attributed　to　the　parchment；
  as　some　claim；　is　disproved　by　the　fact　that
  of　the　signatures　upon　the　same　act　a　few　have
  faded　while　others　have　not。　Upon　an　act　approved
  January　4；　1845；　the　signature　of　the　President　of
  the　Senate　has　nearly　disappeared；　that　of　the
  Speaker　of　the　House　is　more　legible；　while　that　of
  the　Governor；　and　the　figure　4；　which　he　evidently
  inserted；　are　jet　black。
  〃The　indexes　in　the　volumes　of　archives　in　the
  office　of　the　secretary；　which　were　written　about
  1840；　were　evidently　made　with　a　different　ink　from
  that　used　for　engrossing；　and　faded　so　badly　that
  the　important　words　had　to　be　rewritten。
  〃In　the　office　of　the　State　Treasurer　the　records
  to　about　1867　are　very　black　and　distinct；　but　the
  ink　used　during　a　few　years　following　has　faded。
  〃The　records　of　births；　marriages　and　deaths；
  in　the　registration　volumes　in　the　secretary's　office；
  furnish　an　excellent　illustration　of　the　different
  qualities　of　the　inks　now　used。　These　records　are
  original　returns　made　by　the　city　and　town　clerks；
  and　from　1842　to　1889　show　instances　of　the　use
  of　inks　which　are　now　almost　illegible。　Here
  again　the　fault　cannot　be　attributed　to　the　paper；
  for　endorsements　made　in　the　secretary's　office
  upon　the　most　faded　returns　at　the　time　of　their
  receipt　are　as　black　as　when　made。
  〃The　volumes　of　copies　of　the　old　records　of
  Lexington；　made　in　1853；　have　faded　until　they
  are　quite　indistinct。
  〃Some　of　the　old　inks；　though　retaining　their
  black　color　have；　from　the　presence　of　acid　in　the
  ink　or　paper；　eaten　through　the　paper　as　thoroughly
  as　if　the　writing　had　been　done　with　a　sharp
  instrument。　In　part　of　one　old　volume　of　court
  records；　the　ink；　while　not　injuring　the　paper　or
  becoming　illegible　upon　the　face　of　the　leaves；　has
  gradually　become　legible　upon　the　reverse；　while
  the　heavy　paper　has　been　impervious　to　the　other
  inks　used。
  *　　　*　　　　*　　　　*　　　　*　　　　*
  To　ascertain　what　kind　of　inks　were　in　use　by
  the　town　clerks；　I　examined　the　registration　volumes
  before　referred　to；　and；　as　before　stated；
  found　many　poor　inks　in　use。　In　a　few　cases　blue
  inks　were　used；　and　in　two　violet；　which　is；　as　a
  rule；　if　not　always；　a　fugitive　color。　A　number　of
  the　returns　in　these　volumes　of　as　recent　date　as
  1875　were　almost　illegible；　and　three　made　in　1888
  were　nearly　as　indistinct。
  〃The　more　I　looked　into　the　subject；　the　more
  I　became　convinced　that　the　whole　subject　of　ink
  was　one　upon　which　the　persons　using　it　were
  comparatively　ignorant。　Consultation　with　experts
  satisfied　me　that　good　inks　were　being　injured　by
  improper　treatment；　that　the　custom　of　mixing
  inks　and　of　adding　water　to　them　was　unsafe；　and
  that　among　the　inks　reported　as　in　use　upon　the
  records　there　were　many　manufactured　for　commercial
  uses　which　should　not　be　used　upon　records；
  and　which　the　manufacturers　would　say　were
  not　intended　for　record　inks。　I　therefore　sent　to
  the　manufacturers　of　the　inks　reported　as　in　use
  by　the　recording　officers；　and　to　some　others；　the
  following　letter　and　inquiries：
  〃　'The　fading　of　much　of　the　ink　used　in　records
  of　comparatively　recent　date；　while　as　a　rule　the
  records　of　two　hundred　years　ago　are　as　legible　as
  when　written；　establishes　the　fact　that　for　permanent
  qualities　much　of　the　modern　ink　is　inferior　to　the
  ancient；　and　that　inks　are　used　that　are　unfit　for
  making　a　record　which　should　stand　for　all　time。
  〃　'I　am　led　to　believe　that　most　ink　in　manufacturers
  make　inks　which　are　good　for　commercial　and
  other　uses　where　there　is　no　desire　for　a　permanent
  record；　but　which　they　would　not　recommend　for
  use　where　the　important　object　was　the　permanency
  of　the　record。　One　of　the　dangers　to　which　our
  records　are　exposed　can　be　obviated　by　the　use　of
  proper　inks；　and　I　desire　to　obtain　the　opinion　of
  the　leading　manufacturers　on　the　subject；　that　I
  may　advise　the　recording　officers　of　the　State　what
  are；　and　what　are　not；　safe　inks　to　use　for　records。
  〃　'I　shall　esteem　it　a　favor；　therefore；　if　you　will
  answer　the　enclosed　questions；　and　return　them　at
  your　convenience。　Your　reply　will　be　treated　as
  confidential　as　far　as　names　are　concerned；　except
  in　the　answer　to　question　No。　5；　and　that　will　not
  be　printed　if　you　so　request。　Any　general　opinion
  which　will　aid　the　recording　officers　in　their　selection
  of　ink　or　paper　will　be　welcomed。
  〃　'1。　Do　you　consider　it　safe　to　use　for　a　permanent
  record　aniline　inks？
  〃　'2。　Do　you　consider　it　safe　to　use　for　a　record　logwood　inks？
  〃　'3。　Do　your　consider　nut…gall　and　iron　inks
  absolutely　safe　for　a　permanent　record？
  〃　'4。　Do　you　consider　carbon　ink　the　only　permanent　ink？
  〃　'5。　What　inks　of　your　manufacture　would　you
  advise　against　using　for　a　permanent　record？
  〃　'6。　Do　you　advise　generally　against　the　inks
  known　as　writing　fluids；　when　permanency　is　the
  first　requisition？
  〃　'7。　Do　you　manufacture　a　writing　fluid？
  〃　'8。　Do　you　consider　it　safe　to　add　water　to　ink
  intended　for　permanent　record；　which　has　grown
  thick　by　exposure　to　the　air？
  〃　'9。　Do　you　believe　that　the　obliteration　of　ink
  is　ever　due　to　the　chemicals　left　in　the　paper？
  （This　question　has　been　asked　of　the　paper　manufacturers
  also。）
  〃　'10。　Do　you　consider　it　safe　to　mix　inks　without
  knowing　to　what　chemical　group　the　inks　so　mixed　belong？'
  〃Replies　were　received　from　twenty…two
  manufacturers。　Several　of　the　inks　in　the　market；
  though　bearing　the　name　of　certain　persons；　were
  found　to　be　manufactured　for　them　by　manufacturers
  who　had　already　answered　the　questions。
  Their　replies　were；　therefore；　not　considered。
  〃To　the　first　question；　'Do　you　consider　it　safe
  to　use　for　a　permanent　record　aniline　inks！'　the
  unanimous　answer　was　decidedly　no。　Aniline
  black　is　absolutely　permanent；　but　as　it　is　not　yet
  known　how　to　render　it　soluble　in　water；　it　has　not
  been　much　used　in　ink。
  〃To　the　inquiry　in　regard　to　logwood　inks；
  nearly　all　answered　no；　and　most　of　those　who　did
  not　qualified　their　answers　to　such　an　extent　as　to
  imply　distrust。
  〃Upon　the　question　of　the　permanency　of　nut…gall　and
  iron　inks；　the　answers　were　more　varied；　one　answering
  no；　and　four　answering　directly　yes；　the　remaining
  answers　being　in　brief　that　such　inks　were　permanent
  if　properly　made。
  〃To　the　question；　'Do　you　consider　carbon　ink
  the　only　permanent　ink？'　the　answers　were　varied
  and　contradictory。　Most　of　the　manufacturers
  said　a　carbon　ink　could　not　be　permanent；　because
  carbon　was　insoluble；　and　some　said　that　no　chemical
  union　could　exist　between　carbon　and　the
  other　ingredients　in　ink。　Others　claimed　that　carbon
  was　the　one　permanent　color；　and　cited　the　old
  Indian　and　Chinese　inks　which　have　stood　for　centuries
  as　illustrations　of　its　permanency。　These
  statements　were　so　widely　di