Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-30
OF MASSIVE SILVER AND
IVORY tDSSTEI CTIUN

The seal IS OF massive silver. several
pounds OF the precious metal having
been used IN its construction. The
handle is 81 IVORY and like the seal
itself! is made in substantial proper
ZION a there seems t. have been no
disposition on the part of those in au-
thority TO stint the expenditure ncces-
sary TO give tho young confederaCy a
seal IN keeping with the idea that tn.
new government was to be an cndur-
ire one. The seal was cut III silver
because that metal was less Tia nj. TO
rust than steel The device i a rep
resentation OF the equestrian statue of
WASHINGTON in the Capitol Square of
Richmond Surrounding the staue S
4 wreath composed OF the principal
agricultural products Of the south at
the ,ime-cotton. toba Geo. sugar cane.
corn, wheat and rice. Around the mar
gin are the words, The Confederate
States Of America. twenty-second Feb
ruary, eighteen hundred and sixty
two With the motto. Dec Nindice."
The seal was made by j. :. Wyon. PSI
Regent street. London. whose name
and address appear on ii as the en-
cravers, embedded in the silver. there
be.ns also Il hicroclyphic hallmark
Of four emblems with the initials u.
: w Enclosing the seal is a strong
leather boA. which in turn rests in a
wooden boN. The precious relic is
kept in Il nrcproof vault in the Jeffcr-
son Hotel. It's permanent resting place
has not yet been decided Upon. but il
PROBABLY Will he either the Confederate
Museum or the Battle Abbey.
STORY Or MANUFACTURE
RECALLS HISTORIC PERIOD
The story OF the making of the seal
is intensely interesting. recalling as it
does the historic period of the early
DAYS OF the Confed.racy. Records in the
library OF Congress give the account of
how the device came into existence,
ana follow il from the time of it's
manufacture To the time that ii was
sold to the Richmond men. in whose
u6ssession ii nov is. These records
say that Joint resolution establishing
the seal and indicating what should
appcar ON il was adopted by the Con-
cress of tho Confederate States of
America on April 80. 1868. The records
also show that on May 20. 1868, Judah
p. Benjamin, Secretary OF state of the
ConfedcracN. sent letter to James
Mason. envoy of the Confederate gov
eminent in London, informing him of
the action taken by the Confederate
Congress. giving particulars as to how
the seal should he made, and directing
that he have the work done in England.
The London firm to which the order
was given was evidently crowded with
orders or dilatory about undertaking
the work, OF there was delay some
where else. for il was February is,
1864, before Mr.. Mason was able to
write his government and report that
the seal was being made. On April IL.
1854 Mr.. Mason reported that he had
instructed Mr.. Wyon to pack the seal,
press and other appliances belonging
70 the OUTFIT and put them in charge Of
Henry Hotze. confidential agent in Lon
don of the Confederate government. ON
JuIy s. 1864. Mr.. Mason wrote that he
was sending the seal to America by
Lieutenant Chapman. of the Confed-
crate Navy. The seal was brought by
Lieutenant Chapman from Liverpool TO
Halifax on the Cunard liner Africa, and
from Halifax to the Bermudas on the