The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-10-15

September IL, lSoZ.
NV Dear MIR. Brock, Was there ever 4
seal engraved and used in Virginia Ike
that described in the papers enclosed
Yours very truly,
CHARLES DEANE.
Mcdonald PaperS, Volume I. Page rs,
Criminal EntrY Book, Virginia, No. So
Warrant for the Virginia Sedt'
JAMES X. Q6s7.)
To our Right Trusty and Well-beloved
Francis Lord Howard az Efflnghan, our
Lieutenant and Goyernor-General OF our
COLONY and Dominion Of Virginia IN
America, and to the Governor and Com
mandcr-in-C Chief thereof for the time
being-Grceting Herewith you Will re-
ceiye a seal appointed by us for the use OF
our Colony and Dominion OF virginia,
the same being cngravcn with our
ROYAL Engies sitting la our Royal
Robes enthrOned, having on each SIDE
I.andskip. and upon the Canopy, when
l. supported by two Angels and Cheru-
bin overhead. this motto: In lEnJ DAT
Virginia Ouintum with our Royal Title in
the Circumference, and on the other SIDE
our ROYAL Coat OF Arms, with the Garter
Crown, supporters. and Mottos, WIN lhis
inscription in the Circumference: SIgllllln
Dominii Nostr: Virgin: America. Which
said seal we do hereby authorize and direct
TO be used in the sealing OF all Patents ana
Public Grants of Lands. and OF all Publlc
Acts and instruments which shall be made
and passed i'm our name and for our SER
vice within our said Colony and Dominion
or a. any other seal whatsoever appointed
for the use OF any OF our Plantations IN
America j. or hath been. And soc we bid
YOU heartily farewell. From our Court at
Whitehall this DIST day OF December, 1854,
IN the third year Il our reign.
By his Ma'ty's Command.
"a true cOpy.l
EDWARD MCDERNOT,
HENRY X. HAMILTON.
Pdqe 1919, Coi0niai Entry Book, Virgd. So
Mr. Brd'S Rect. for The Irga. Seal.
Received this 2lst day Of December,
1857, OF William Blahwayt, Esq, large
double seal Of silver and "A steel press pre-
pared for the Use Of his Ma'ty's Colony
& Dominion Of Virginia in America. being
engraycn on the one side with his olaty'S
Ettigies sitting in his Royal Robes en-
throned, having on each side Il LandSkip.
and upon the Canopy, which is supported
by two Angels and Il Cherubim overhead,
this Motto En- dat Virginia Quint,m, with
his Ma'ty's titles in the Circumference,
and on the other side with his Ma'ty's Coat
of Arms, with the Garter, Crown, sup
Dorteis and Motto and this inscription In
the Circumference, SigiIlun Dominii
Nostr: Virgin: III America. Which said
seal and Press | do hereby promise to de-
liver to his EX'cy Francis Lord Howard OF
Dillingham;, his Ma'ty's Lieut. 4 Cow.
General OF Virginia, or in his absence to
the Governor or Commander in CHIEF OF
that Colony for the time being, the danger
of the sea excepted. WIN. BYRD.
EDw'D McDEEMoT,
HENRY Il. HAMILTON.
RICHMOND, VA, September &c, 1882.
Charles Dcdne, Esq, LII. d., Cambridge,
Mass:
NV Dear Mr.. Deanc,-I am truly obliged
by your referring TO me the interesting
extract from the Mcdonald Abstracts from
the English Statc-Paper office for the State
OF Virginia, which have to admit have
never thoroughly examined. The informa-
ton presented is entirely novel to me.
You did not. therefore, send "cOals to
Newcastle" The papers sent afford conclu-
siye evidence i'm themselves that the seal
was engraved and delivered for use in the
colony. but the archives of Virginia do not
appear Ia furnish proofs that il was ever
used. a critical and comprehensive ac-
count Of the early seals Of Virginia would
be a curious and interesting addition to lis
history. but because Of the pillage to which
the state archives has been subjected,
the data upon which TO base such 4
contribution, fear, no longer ex-
lists la tins country. You are fami.
liar with the arms given III the frontis-
piece to Beyerlcy's History of Virginia as
those Of the Virginia Company. They APP
pear on the title-page Of every legislative
publication Of the colony to the era Of the
Revolution. although there is no printed
authority for such Use Of them. was fol
awhile at "A loss IN determining how the
custom originated, nor could Mr.. SainS-
bury. of the Public Record office, London
inform me. II has since occurred to me-
as il should have at once, that the authority
must have been derived from the Council
(the first executive body Of Virginia. by
the House Of Burgesscs when ttie last was
instituted as the inferior branch of tho
colonial legislature. The Virginia Com.
pany used, however, another seal (oval in
shape, measuring Is inches the longer
way), with the bust OF James H.
on the diverse, and the legend
" BRITANNICA FRANCIAE ET
HIBERNIAE SI0rLuM REGIS y MAGNAE'
The British arms on the reverse with th,
legend: "SuO > NIRGINIAE Pro Con
sIII0," and the initials 4" r." of which
cut Is given In the Chapter on the Earl,
Settlement Of Virginia contributed by m,
to the fourth volume Of the Memorial HIS
tory o. America, now being published by
Messrs. j. X. Osgood Il Co., Boston. An
example of this seal. corresponding i'm di
mansions and devices, but with the differ.
ing legend, "COLONIA VIRGiNIAE . Cox.
sILIO PRINA," Is I'm the collections Of the
Virginia Historical Society. IL is OF red
wax, between the leaves Of fooscap sheet
Of paper, and is affixed to patent for land
issued by Sir John Harvey, Governor, and
dated March 4th, 1858. DR.. Palmer in hi,
Introduction to the Calendar Of State ia
pers Of Vi'yinia Volume L., page xxxvi),
states that the small number Of documents
preserved In the archives Of the State
bearing impressions Of the Royal, Colo
NAL, and other official seals, is
limited TO the short period included be-
tween the time Of James III. and the latter
part Of Queen Anne's reign" and
that "the earliest Of these, dated 1856,
September LIST, is writ Of election for GER
tain members Of the House OF Burgesses,
issued ut Rosegil (the seat Of the WOrmeley
family, whom he was doubtless then visit
ing,] by the Governor, Lord Howard,
Baron Of Efiingham. The ini-
preston OF the Colonial Seal on this docu-
ment las with all others herein 1.-THE Cdien-
darl found is upon wafer. 1t displays a
sbieiI In the centre field nItaffe rins, fho