The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08


was adopted, of which we have a copy.
In 1867, however, King George
III was pleased to supersede it by
one which is described in Volume VII
of the Colonial Records, page 523. 1t had
two faces. designed to make impressions
on both sides of cake of wax. in which
were the two ends of a ribbon passed
through slit in the instrument exc
cuted. On one side were the royal arms,
the garter. the Crown supporter. The
record states that around the circumfer-
ence was the inscription, "Georgius III,
Mag. Bri. FIR. ct Hib. Rex T. D. Brun. ct
Sun, Dux. S. r. l. ar. Thes. at Ell" On
the other side are the Royal Effgies
and Liberty introducing Plenty to the
King, with the motto, Qua sero tamen
respexit." The inscription around the
circumference was "Sigillum Provincea,
Nostrea, Carolinae Septen Frioralis. y
Liberty CLibertaS) had her pole and can
and Plenty (Copia) her Cornucopia).
There are errors in the first named le-
gend: IT D." should be IF. D.; Eat
Sun" should be let Lun, "at En- should
be Get El,'' and the whole in English is,
George III, by the Grace of God. King of
Great Britain, France and ireland, De-
fender of the Faith, Duke of Brunswick
and Luneburg, Arch Treasurer and Elec-
tor of the Holy Roman Empire. Bruins
wick-Luneburg was another name for
Hanover. The motto Qua sero tamen
reSpexit" may have an error: Qua" may
be intended for GUAM Or "Quamvis,"
and may mean that however, OF although
late, Plenty looks back to the King. as
representing the mother country for her
prosperity.
In the Constitutional Convention or
Congress. of 1776, William Hooper. Jo-
sept Hewes and Thomas Burke were ap-
pointed a committee to have Great Seal
of the free State of North Carolina made,
the design to be approved by the Gov
ernor, Richard Caswell. They never re-
ported.
In 177S William Tisdale was appoint ted
to cut and engrave a seal, under the di-
rection of the Governor, Richard Caswell
This was finished and was used until 1894.
In some features it resembled that in
use under Governor Tryon and Governor
Josiah Martin. | will describe it, using
my own instead of the language of her
aldry, because l have not made much
study of that science, and it is possible
that some Of you have not.
l premise by reminding you that. the
Cap of Liberty was a small red cap
placed on the heads of manumitted slaves
in old Rome. The pole is said by some to
be the rod of Praetor or Judge, who
touched with it the shoulder OF the
freedman. Others say it is spear de-
noting that the enfranchised can now
i1Cp no Of
nucopiae. usually Anglicized as cornuco-
pia, is said by some to be the horn of the
goat Amalthea, which fed the infant
Zeus, or Jupiter when he was hiding from
the voracious appetite of his father.
Another legend is that when Hercules
fought the River God, Achelous, the lat
ter changed himself into bull, where
upon the mighty hero tore off one of his
horns. In both cases the happy possessor
always found it overlooking with all good
things, and impossible to be emptied
The Goddess Of Agriculture, Ceres, is
represented sometimes as carrying
lamp, while searching for her daughter,
Persephone, or Proserpina, who was
stolen by Pluto. Sometimes she bears the
Cornucopia. The Romans had Goddess
called Copia, Or Abundance, who is also
represented with the Horn of Plenty.
You may take your choice between these
two, as the emblems will fit both The
seal of ITS bears two faces. The diverse
has either Minerva, the patroness of Sci
ence and the Arts, including the art of
War as enforcing peace, or Libertas, the
Goddess of Independence. She stands in
firm and martial attitude, with a strong
touch me-not expression. the right side
of her face in view. Her hair is so COMO
ed back as to give the impression of an
Indian Warrior. 1t appears to me to be
rough attempt to portray Minerva and
her crest. In her hand she holds. if she
is Minerva, a spear with broad head If
she is Libertas, it is the Liberty pole
and a very diminutive cap. Beneath is
the phrase, In Legubus Sslus, I'm Laws
There is Safety. Around the circumfer-
ence is The Great Sale of the State Of
North Carolina" The reverse is a coun-
try scene. There is tree much blast
ed, but with leaves to show that it is
living. Under it is a fat and horned COW
browsing on the grass. Near by stands
fatfooted, with feet wide enough apart
to emphasize that she is there to stay
plump and comely, Ceres or Plenty"
In her left hand. her arm extended at
full length, is a portentous ear of Indian
corn, the shucks not detached extending
at right angles, a regular Hyde County
ear, so long that Col. Saunders took it
for sword. Her right forearm is rest
ing on her bosom and holds what APP
pears to me to be torch: ii is not large
enough to be a cornucopia. At her feet
is the legend. in capital letters, INDIE
PENDENCE, MDCCLXXvI Around the
margin is 80 fortunatus minimum sua ST
bona nornt,'' which may be freely trans
lated. ooh very fortunate are those who
know what is good for Them or as Col
Saunders has it, Most fortunate are those
who know on which side their bread is
buttered''
The plan of having a heavy pendant to
instruments was found to be very cum
brous, and the rough and shifting habits
of our people caused the seal to be often
torn off. At the next change new plan
was adopted of impressing the die direct
ly On a large seal affixed TO the instru-
ment. II became necessary in the new
seal to have all the Inscriptions on one
side only. Liberty and Plenty must