The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-11
The New Seal Of the CIV,
INTERESTING REPUisT acCOsfPaNYIgG
THE ORDINANCE OF ADOPTION

miitce, CHR. 4. III. Wynne, cbairman.) on
whose recommendation the new seal was
adopted. 1t is as follows:
In former report made by this COM
mltlce the different seals which had been
used by the city were described, and It was
demonstrated that there had necer been a
legally adopted seal used by the city. In
the designs of three seals therein described
there was an approach to uniformity mas
much US all of tlein had II figure represent
ing Justice rs the leading feature. aud two
OF them had the same motto, but the differ
Icnccs in the costumes and positions of the
figure and other features were sufficient 10
prevent their being identified rs the same /;
and even without these the different dates
OH them (ncitller of which referred to any
event connected with the history of the city,
would preclude The idea Of continuing the
same design. We therefore propo.e that
the seal of the city shall he changed entire
ly, retaining only the motto. and maxi
ing this applicable to the rest of the de-
sign. On the most beautiful and clasSi-
cal designs for seals and medals we find
la city represented by a female figure,
and we propose to have the seal
made after the sketch herewith presented, in
which, the genius of Richmond, as a female
dressed in classic costume and wearing Il
mural crown, is seated upon elevated ground
overlooking river. In her left hand she
holds bundle of the prominent staple OF
the State,-tobacco-whiIe her right hand,
stretched out, points to iron works, mining
and manufacturing operations, along the
banks OF the river. 10 these she points rs
it, i'll the language of the motto, freely trans
lated, she said: This Is TIE ROAD TO EMF
NENcE" In the eXurgc we propose to place
the words quoted in the ordinance offered,
in which tIrdy justice will be shown to the
enterprising gentleman whose career as an
officer Of the Colony of Virginia, as writer
of the purest English, and benetactor and
a patron Of every enterprise for the benefit of
Virginia, he has had no superior if, indeed,
an equaD among bis contemporaries or sue
cesSors. TO remove all doubt in regard to
the paternity OF the city we quote the fol-
lowing passage from the writings of "the
Honorable William Byrd, of Westover, in
Va. Esquire" us he wrote himself. LII his
account Of "A Journey to the Land OF
Eden," by which name he called his property
in North Carolina. including Il stretch Of iii-
Teen mics along tic fertile valleys of the Dan
river, after describing the features and quality
of the soil OF the country which bis lslrty
were exploring While cncamped near
the site of the town OF ClarkSvllle.
in this State, and after giving an az
count Of his operations during tile day OF
The 18th of September, 1888, he says: s. At
lei satisfying my curiosity [ returned the
way that came, and shot the S;tlnc stright
back again. and padded down the river
to the company. When we got home we
laid the foundation Of two large citics-orC
Mt Simcco'S. to be called Richmond; and the
other at the point of Appamattuck river, to
be named PcterSburgh. These Major Mayo
offered to lay out in lots without lee or re.
ward. The truth of it is, these two places
being tie uppermost landing of james and
-Appan,attuck rivers are naturally intended
for martS, wllele the traffic 0t the outer in
llhbitantS must centre. Thus we did not
build castles only. but also Citys IN the air.
According to promise Major Mayo laid
out the two cities, and in 1887 map OF
Rlcbmond WAS completed and til" lets offered
for sale by lottery. Subsequently the YES.
try for lIcnrico Parish, having asked Mr..
Byrd fOy an acre of land on the south side
OF Racon'S Brancb. on which to build y
church. he replied to their request in very
rolitc letter, in which. after stating his rc;!.
SONS for declining to grant this request, he
says: 81 should be very glad il YOU would
Please 10 think Richmond Il proper place.
will give them two of the best lots that are
not taken up. and besides give them any
pine timber they can find on that side
Shockoe creek, and wood for burning OF
bricks, into the bargain. hope the gentle
men of the NcStry will believe me a friend
OF the church when | make them the offer.
and that ! ;m both theirs, sir, and your
most humble servant, W. BYRD" .
Whereupon it Is therefore ordered that
the church. formerly agreed ~ he built on
the south side of BAcon'> branch be built OIL
lndiantown, at Ric. mond. after the same
uanner rs in the said former agreement
. This donation caused the present location OF
st. Johns church and the burial ground
which surrounds il, and which is lmllowed
by the dust OF so many worthy representa-
tlyes of the revolutionary and colonial
periods. Previous TO laying out this city hc
,. had erected and operated extensive iron
works upon what was then known as Broad
Rock island. the foundation and pioneer
establishment Of those now enlarged under
the Old Dominion Nail Works Company,
with the name of the location changed to
, Belle Isle. He also gave to the city Il largt
amount OF land OH the banks of the river he.
tween Twenty-second and Twenty-filti
streets for park OF pleasure ground.
The name OF no other man Is so Intimately
and honorably connected with the history OF
this CITY Us Mr.. Byrd'S, and yet, with the eX.
ception of the maine of one short and uninl'
portant street, his name has never been per-
petllated by any uct of the municipal authori.
ties of Il city which owes its origin to his
eDterprising sagacity. We propose to atone
for this neglect in some degree by making
the seal of the city perpetuatc his connection
with its origin by recommending the adop
ton OF the following ordinance:
An Ordnance to Establish the Seal of the
CITY Of Richmond. E. ...
/. BE 1t ordained, That from and after the
1st day of October, 1872, the seal Of the city
of Richmond shall be represented by de-
sign within a circle one and three-qlmrter
inches in diameter, within which shall be
represented Il sitting female figure clothed in
classic costume, wearing Il mural crown; in
her left hand Il bundle of tobacco leaves,
which rest upon her lap; at her feet u river
flowing to her lett, on the banks of which
are shown mining operations, iron works,
and u steanl-cngine, towards which her ex-
tended right hand is pointed; above her
head the motto "Sic Itur ad AStrd," aud in
the eXurge this inscription
Richmond Va.
Founded by William Byrd
| g.. a.. MDCCXXHVII. ts.- 7
=. From and after the date named III the
first section no other design or seal shall be
used for the city Of Richmond, and no paper
j., issued with municipal authority which re-
.auircs the seal of the city shall be valid uil-
Io.r fbp se,l dpscrihei in the first section