From The Silmarillion, Chapter 3, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor:
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In the beginning the Elder Children of Iluvatar were stronger and greater than they have since become; but not more fair, for though the beauty of the Quendi in the days of their youth was beyond all other beauty that Iluvatar has caused to be, it has not perished, but lives in the West, and sorrow and wisdom have enriched it.
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The phrase, "have since become" may arguably be thought of as Frodo and Bilbo having written these lines in The Red Book of Westmarch, which places it at the end of the Third Age. I think that is how Tolkien meant it, although it could also be argued that this is to be understood as weaker in the 20th and 21st centuries of our own era, which I don't agree with. Nevertheless, that still argues for a gradual weakening of the Eldar from their beginning.
[ March 09, 2002: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]