HERALDRIC ACHIEVEMENT, in blazonry, an armorial bearing or device, formed ac cording to the rules of heraldry, common ly called Coat of Arms. These armorial bearings appertain to families and nations. The arms belonging to the United States, adopted after the declaration of indepen dence, and in use to the present time, were designed by William Barton, Esq. a gentleman very eminent for his heraldric knowledge and skill.
"The device for an armorial Achieve ment and Reverse of a great seal for the United States in Congress assembled is as follows : " Arms.—Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gales, a chief azure ; the es cutcheon on the breast of the American bald eagle displayed, proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper ; and in his beak a scroll inscribed with this motto, " E pluribus unum." "For the Crest.—Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escut cheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field.
"Reverse.— A Pyramid unfinished.
"In the zenith an eye in a triangle sur rounded with a glory, proper. Over the eye these words " Annuit Ccsptis." "On the base of the pyramid, the nu merical letters MDCCLXXVI, and under neath the following motto : " Novus ordo seclorum.
"Remarks and Explanations of the De. vice.—The escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the two most honourable ordinaries. The thirteen pieces paly re present the several states in the union, all joined in one solid compact, entire, supporting a chief which unites the whole, and represents Congress. The motto al ludes to this union.
"The pales in the arms are kept close ly united by the chief, and the chief de pends on that union, and the strength re sulting from it, for its support, to denote the confederacy of the United States, and the preservation of the Union through Congress.
"The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America. White signifies purity and in
nocence, red hardiness and valour, and blue, the colour of the chief, signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. The olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace and war, which is exclusively vested in Congress.
" The crest or constellation denotes a new state taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers.
" The escutcheon borne on the breast of an American eagle, without? any other supporters, to denote that tl1,e United States of America ought to rely on their own virtue.
" The pyramid on the reverse signifies strength and duration.
"The eye over it, and the motto (' an nuit cceptis,' he prospers our endea vours') allude to the many signal inter positions of Providence in favour of the American cause.
" The date underneath is that of the Declaration of Independence, and the words under it signify the beginning of the New American /Era, which commen ces from that date." The preceding description of arms and device is taken from a copy of the same, inclosed in a letter from Charles Thomp son, Esq. formerly secretary of Congress, to William Barton, Esq. of which letter the following is a true copy : " Sir,—I am much obliged for 'the pe rusal of the Elements of Heraldry, which I now return. I have just dipt into it so far, as to be able to be satisfied that it may afford a fund of entertainment, and may be applied by a state to useful pur poses. I am much obliged for your very valuable present of Fortesque de laudibus legum Anglica, and shall be happy to have it in my power to make a suitable return.
" I enclose you a copy of the device, by which you have displayed your skill in heraldric science, and which meets with general approbation.
" I am, Sir, Your obedient humble servant,