On October 17, 1862, Charles M. Wetherill wrote Lincoln as follows:
``Having understood that Captain Diller is ready to have me detailed back to the Department of Agriculture, I desire to make the following statement. I have brought my chemical apparatus (which I value at $3000) to Washington by Captain Dillers directions. I have used it in the experiments without charge to the Government.
``I have placed this apparatus together with my scientific library (which I value at $2000) at the disposal of the Department of Agriculture to be used by me in the prosecution of researches in agricultural chemistry, until Congress shall provide for the Chemistry of the Department. As I place $5000 of my Capital at the disposal of the Government, without interest I think I should be made secure in its ownership. As soon as I am detailed back to the Dept. of Agriculture I lose possession of my apparatus unless said room is in the possession of the Commissioner. I have therefore respectfully to request that this laboratory tranfer be made or that I be otherwise made secure in my ownership before I am detailed back to my Department.'' (DLC-RTL).
Shortly afterwards, Wetherill was appointed chemist in the Department of Agriculture (New York Tribune, October 27, 1862), and the experiment was undertaken. On December 10, Diller submitted the following document to the president and received Lincoln's endorsement (dated December 15, as given above):
``The undersigned, Isaac R. Diller, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the State of Illinois, would respectfully represent; that I am the owner and possessor of a process of making an article of gunpowder entirely unknown and unused in the United States.
``I propose to place the art of manufacturing the said powder and every thing pertaining to the complete understanding of its composition, in the possession of the Government of the United States, on the condition, that as soon as the amount hereafter specified has been made, and the article being tested by said Government, and being found to possess the qualities and advantages claimed for it, then and in that case in consideration therefor, the said Government is to pay, or cause to be paid, to the undersigned, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).
``The said tests to be carried on and conducted by officers of the said Government, to be selected by the President, in the presence of the undersigned, and at as an early a day as possible, after a notification from the undersigned that the material is prepared.
``When the said tests are completed, if successful and satisfactory to the said Government, I will then place them in possession of the said art and mode of compounding the said article of gunpowder, whereupon the above sum is then to be paid, as above stipulated.
``I further propose to proceed immediately, upon the approval of these propositions, by the President of the United States, to prepare a sufficient quantity of the said article for the tests aforesaid, not exceeding one thousand pounds, the said Government agreeing to pay all charges and expenses incurred in the preparation of the said quantity, and the machinery necessary therefor.
``I propose to file full specifications of the advantages claimed for the new powder, in the office of Captain J. A. Dahlgren, chief of the Bureau of Ordnance in the Navy Department, within ten days from the date and approval of the above propositions by the President.
``I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant
ISAAC R. DILLER.''
``Specification of the advantages claimed for the `R.R.R. Gunpowder' made a part of this paper by direction of the President.
``1. It contains neither saltpetre nor sulphur. It bears no relation to gun-cotton. The ingredients can always be obtained in the United States.
``2. The manufacture of the powder is simple, requiring no complicated apparatus,