Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-02-03
THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE.
An THtorestlns statement OF ITS history
from COinuinI Tunes to tho Present.


An Intorestlns statement OF ITS history
from Colonial Tunes to tho Present.
Editor Tho Gazette: notice in
the Every Evening January 2dth, q
References TO tho state seal which has
heou placed in tho Senate chamber and
which was designed al the Jackson 4
Sharp Co. There should be 20 difficulty
in obtaining correctly tho essential
features NJ this coal for in section lG,
chapter 81 Revised Cnde, a full do
sctiption is given.
The history of this seal is quite
interesting. About l7ji, in the 25th
year OF George H.. i, no act wa passed
reciting an act entitled IN act for
establishing a "Great Seal for this
Government, which should hars the
arms of the King OF Great Britain Ell.
gravsd thereon and tho word "Dela.
ware" inscribed around il. After the
executing of this seal it was discovered
that the naine Of the province was
spelled or rather lniaspeled "Dello-
ware y Tho act then goes on to pro.
vide for another zeal with the same
device. to wit, the arms of tho King Of
Great Britain and the words Counties
~ Delaware and figures "17jl"
around the same.
When the Revolutionary war broke
out, it VI course was undesirable and
inappropriate TO have the arms OF the
King of Great britain on the public
seal. and in order TO ouliterata the
same, We fini in the Minutes of
Council, published by the Legisla-
turs IN 1850, ut mage II, undur date Of
October Seth, l1TG, that committee
was appointed on the part OF the House
OF Assembly 10 confer with committee
of the Council about the device, and
making Of great seal, These com
nitieed 1t appears, we're instructed to
procure silver seal of the diameter of
three inches; that there be engraved
upon il " britannia" on the right side
on the left, Opposite to nor, Liberty"
lin the usual shapesl with laUel
proceeding from Britannia to
"Liberty;' in these words, GO to
Ainorica;" and that there be engraven
on tue top thu shape Of book. having
these words: THE lill of Rights I"
aud at the bottom another book with
these words thereon: "The system of
governments" and around the edge. in
| capital letters 1.-The Great Seal of the
Delaware Slate" with tho figures
"l776."
Afterwards Mr.. Sykes reported that
the committee had been unable to have
| the seal prepared, as they could find no
! person TO undertake the work, every
/ body being in other important business
4 for the safety Of the country; and
further, that they had consulted a
| gentleman skilled in heraldry, and after
doing so, reported that tine design
agreed upon was more suitable for a
medal than great seal'' Thereupon,
the resolution adopting it was re-
ssinded and the seal of New Castle
county adopted as the Great Seal "nro
| tempore.
On June 18th, 1777, Mr.. Mexican
was appointed on the part Of the
Houscaof Assembly, and Mr.. Sykes by
the Council to employ skilful work
man to have a great seal male, the de-
sign of which is givon and is identical
with the seal as described in the Re-
vised Code and now in use, except that
the supporters appear to he reversed 10
this seal, the soldiers being on the
right and the huRhandman TN the left,
This seal was made and used. and so
remained until 1888, when the Governor
and Secretary of State were authorized
to have a new seal made, the old one to
he broken up. WHY this was done does
not appear The title of the State had
been altered by tue Constitution of
1872 from "The Delaware State" 10
The State of Delaware, and this
may have suggested change In this
seal the supporters-the soldier and
husbandman-were left of altogether.
Thus the seal remained until 1Si7,
when another, tho present one, was
authorized and obtained. Ii will be
perceived that tho act does not spucify
whether ths handle of the hoe held BY
the husbandman shall he up or down |;
or whether the riileman has his hand
in his nocket. My opinion would be
against the last position. The first
Impression of the seal of 1S47 should
probably bu accepted as the correct
idea, and this could he obtained from
some early commission. X.
Wilmington, Jan, 25th, 1898.