The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-11-21

infrequently the bestowal of the honor
proved a matter of some difficulty to
a King who had reason to doubt the
loyalty Of persons about his court. In
deed, when Henry III once had to
travel into France to look after his in
terests there he could find no better
person to invest with the powers Of
the great seal than his wife, Queen
Eleanor, who not only carried on the
work and the traditions Of the Office,
but even dispensed justice in the High
Court of Chancery, sitting there her
self daily till domestic event Of per-
sonal interest to her and her lord
obliged her TO relinduish her judicial
duties fora short time.
But great Seals have had their adj
ventures, as did the sovereigns whose
pleasure and power they have repre-
sented. During the Civil War the
great seal Of England was hunted up
and down the country by both the
royalist forces and the Roundheads.
After some months Of fighting the
King was rejoiced at receiving from
the hands OF 10 faithful servant his
great seal for which the parliament,
which desired to promulgate several
instruments Of Importance, had been
seeking so long, The King was at
once able to issue various proclama-
tions. In London it was even found
impossible to issue writs to fll the
places Of deceased members of parlia-
ment Despite a law condemning to
death a man who might dare to imi-
tate or forge the great SEAL one Mas
ter Symonds, an engraver, ran the
risk of execution for the sake of 100
pounds, ana made an exact copy for
the parliament. This forgery was
used until the establishment OF the
commonwealth when new seal was
made. Charles is seal was taken
during during the capitulation of Ok
ford nl645, brought to London, car
ried to the bar of the House Of Com
mons and there broken to pieces by a
blacksmith.
When James II, fed from Eng-
land after his abdication he dropped
L ltl6 SICdL seal ililQ lAlC nalllCS AAuu
as he was being ferried by night
across the river. Shortly after o, fish
erman brought 1t to light and was re-
warded for returning it to the author
tiles. The great seal held by Lord
Thurlow in George ITIs reign was,
however, really lost in 1884. His house
was stripped by burglars and among
the loot was the seal, which was of
but comparatively small intrinsic
value in those days, as 1t was not till
Waterloo year that it was made of
anything more precious than copper,
On the occasion Of the robbery a
Privy Council was called at once and
the loss was made good in less than
| two days.
The loss of the great seal While
In custody of Lord Chancellor so
impressed Lord Eldon, who was one
Of the great Judges of George Ills
=, reign and man of infinite sense Of
the responsibility Of his position, that
during his Lord Chancellorship he
never went to sleep without the seal
I under his pillow.
But one night, in 1872, Lord Ell
don's house caught fire, and the fam
lily had to make good their escape in
the seantiest attire. The Lord High
| Chancellor thought Of the great seal
before any of his own chattels, and,
rushing into the garden behind his
house, buried his valuable charge. He
confesses with great naivete in his di-
airy that on returning to the house he
was so enchanted with the pretty
sight of the maids, who had turned
out of their beds, and were handing
in buckets Of water to the fire en-