National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-16


would He Required fer Generations Yet
Unbors.
from the st. Louis Giobel
An interesting historical monograph has
just been issued In Washington, giving IN &C.
count Of the great or broad seal Of the Con-
federate States, which the writer claims to be
still In existence. In Harper's Monthly for
FEBRUARY, 1888, an attractive paper, entitled
THE Executive Department and Seal, was
published. The writer gave an account Of
the des'gn for the Confederate seal, and de-
clarcd hat 1t only reached Richmond by the
close Of the rebellion, and that 1t had never
been used or any Impression taken from 1t.
The monograph now published gives the his
tory Of the aforesaid seal. At the third ses-
sion Of tho First Congress Of the Confederate
States (uuder Its so-called permanent organi-
zation) the following resolution was passed
and approved:
for the Confederate States.
Resolved by the Congress Of The Confederate
States Of America, That the seal of the Con.
federatc States shall consist Of device repre-
senting an equestrian portrait OF Washington,
(after the statue which surmounts his monu'
meut In the Capitol square at Richmond,
surmounted with wreath composed Of the
federacy, COTTON, tobacco, sugar-canc, corn,
wheat and ricc,) and having around Its
margin the words: THE Confederate States
Of America, twcnty-second February, eigh-
teen hundred and sixty-two," with the follow
ing motto: "Deo Vindice."
Under date Of May 20, 1868, dispatch No.
%, Judah z. Benjamin directs Confederate
Commissioner Mason, then in London, to have
a seal engraved In accordance with the fore
going. The figure Of Washington was TO be
copied from that by Crawford, at Richmond,
the horse being made to appear as u on the
earth, and not on q pedestal. Mr.. Benjamin
suggests that twill not he possible to embrace
all the cereal products Of the South on the
wreath, and that, therefore, only cotton, rice,
and tobacco, being distinctiyely southern
products, should be retained. He adds: at
Ia not desired that the work be executed by
any but the best artist that can be found, and
the difference of expense between poor and
a fine specimen Of art In the engraving Is toe
small matter to be taken into consideration
in work that we fondly hope will be re.
quired for generations yet unborn"
Mr.. Mason, under date Of London, Febru-
a,y 10, isei, ss-itsa NJ panjamin that the
seal will require two months to finish IL; that
1t was being executed by Mr.. Wyon, chief
engraver State seals to tho Queen, and was
to be In silver, as are similar seals In Eng
land; the price to be eighty guineas, one half
10 Uc Dulu ihC DIottCur
to give the following:
THE official and pecunlary history Of the
seal ends with the following dispatch from
Mr.. Mason to Mr.. Benjamin, and Its appen-
dix-being the bill of the engraver, amount
ing to l22 pounds and 10 shillings, equal to
about 300 United States currency, at pres
ent (July, 1879 price Of gold. Other appen-
diccs, being directions for using the great
seal Of the Confederate States we omit, as
they relate to purely mechanical subject:
LONDON, July 9, lsSI.I
~ UPPEa SEYMOUR sTREET,
"Hor. j. r. B>gjIHlin, Secretary ~ State:
SIR: | have the pleasure to inform you
that send by Lieutenant Chapman, c. 8. A.,
who bears this, the seal of the Confederate
States, at last completed. II Is much admired
by all who have seen II here, and hope you
will approve 1t as fine work Of art.
This seal Is carefully put up In q separate
small box, and Lieutenant Chapman Ii
charged, under no circumstances, to run the
risk OF Its being captured. He takes the
route to Bermuda, via Halifax, to sail on Sat.
urday, 9th instant, and ship through Messrs.
Fraser, Trenholm Il Co., by the steamer that
takes him to Halifax, two boxes containing
the iron press, with full supply OF wax and
other materials for the use Of the seal. Al
though not expressly ordered, In the diff
Guilty Of obtaining these In the Confederacy at
present, at least of app-oved quality, have
thought 1t best to have them supplied here,
all which hope you will approve.
THE inclosed duplicate bin will furnish a
list Of those materials, with the prices. The
original have paid and retain.
~ have requested Lieutenant Chapman to
take charge Of the boxes at Bermuda, and to
see to their safe delivery. To relieve him OF
expenses on the route, have further re-
quested Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm h Co.,
here, II they can do SO, TO pay the freight all
the way to Bermuda, and to write to Major
Walker at Bermuda to pay the freight thence
to the Confederacy, should they not go In a
Government ship.
''Still 1t Is possible that some part Of this
may not be done, and ! have accordingly
told Lieutenant Chapman, should any eX-
penses In the transportation deyolve on him,
1t should be paid promptly at the Department
OF State, which oblige me by having attended
to.
u have the honor to be, etc..
(signed.) ~. NJ. MASON"
duplicate Account
j. NJ. Mason, ESQ.,:
To Joseph s. wyon,
Chief Engraver Of her Majesty's Seals, etc,
1911 Regent street, London, W.
1854. July 2.-Sllyer seal for the Con-
federate States OF
America, with ivory