Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-21

prepare device for seal of the United
States of America."'
When Uncle Billy had finished his narra-
tive, the Squire said:
!, NOW let US answer the lads question
, about this seal''
"Yes," said Uncle Billy, 'sthe appoint
ment of that committee to devise a seal was
about the coolest thing of the day. Why,
the bantling was not then four hours old,
and nobody felt that it would live; yet they
proposed to prepare coat-of-arms, as heavy
IN weight OF sovereignty as was Saul's coat
Of mail in brass. Let me see, who compos-
ed the comm sep"
| Franklin, A-ams and Jefferson" said
the Squire, who spoke Of Franklin as Zone
supposed to know every thing" of John
Adams as "the plump Bostonian with a
bald head" though only forty years of age;
and of Jefferson as ''that tall bean-stalk,
the youngest of the three, who was only
two and-thirty years of age. But he had
world of book-wisdom under that wiry red
hair of his," said the Squire.
| Uncle Billy remembered hearing jefferson
talking with Morris about the seal few
days afterward, and showing Morris few
weeks later some sketches of device made
by West India Fronchman named Du Sim
itere. The Squire then remembered that
on one hot afternoon Franklin and Adams
came into Aitken's little back room with
the French artist, and, using the small table
there on which Pane wrote, examined sew
eral of his sketches.
"But they came to nothing" said the
Squire. "The subject was dropped for
while. The war grew hotter and hotter.
The members of the committee were engag-
ed at different posts of duty. Other COM
mittees were appointed. The subject was
briefly considered IN Congress from time to
time, and new but unsatisfactory devices were
presented. 1t was not until six years after
the adoption of the Declaration of Independ-
ence that Congress approved design for
the Great Seal Of the United States"
"Who did make the approved device of
the seal?" asked Uncle Billy, with about as
much eagerness as the young listener felt"
Was it not my friend Will Barton, DR..
Bsn's younger brother?"
"No, no, Billy ''ths Squire replied, rath-
or impatiently; che had nothing to do with
it until after the whole matter was placed
in Secretary Thomson's hands"
The Squire went on to say that at abont
the middle of June, 1882, Thomson showed
him and Arthur Lee and Elias Boudinot
an elaborate device by Barton. 1t was too
elaborate, but in it was device for the re-
verse of the seal which pleased them, which
was finally chosen for that position. At
the same time Thomson showed them a very
simple and appropriate device made by an
Eoglish nobleman, and which he had re-
ceived from John Adams, then in England.
They all agreed that it was the best device
yet offered. Thomson reported it to Con-
gress, and it was adopted. $50 you see"
said the Squire, eve are indebted for our
national coal. .of-arms-the device on our
O. LII - A.
country we were then at war with"
"What was the name of the English
man?" both Uncle Billy and my kinsman
asked, with much eagerness. After giving
minute description Of Barton's device, the
Squire said:
"Among others in England who held
friendly relations with John Adams was Sir
John Prestwich, baronet of the west of
England, who had been friend of the Amer
leans all through their long quarrel and
their struggle with the British Ministry and
the Crown. He was an accomplished anti
quarry. While Akams was conversing with
Sir John one day on the bright prospects of
the Americans, the former mentioned the
fact that his couutrymeu had not yet adopt
ed national coat -of-arms. The baronet sug-
gested that an escutcheon bearing thirteen
perpendicular bars or stripes, alternate
white and red, like those on the Amerisan
flag, with the chief blue and spangled with
thirteen stars, the number of the United
States, would make simple and appropri-
ale device. He further proposed, in order
to give it more consequence, to place this
estutcheon on the breast of a displayed
American eagle, with supporters emblem
attic of self-reliance. Adams was pleased
with Sir Johns suggestions, communicated
them to his friends in Congress, and the
design was approved and adopted. The
arms are described in heTaldicphrasesint the
Journals of Congress of Jnne 20, 1882.
Barton's device for the reverse side of a
pendent seal was adopted, with some modi-
fcations.
BENSON j. LOSING, LII. D.