OBVERSE SIDE.
Arms: An escutcheon consisting of a blue border, spangled with thirteen white stars, and divided in the centre.
dicalarly by a gold bar; on each side of this division, the blue border; thirteen bars or stripes, alternately white and red, like the American flag, adopted 14 June I 777. Within the Dark column a gold bar bearing a displayed eagle on its summit.
Crest: A helmet of burnished gold, and engrated with six bars, and surmounted by a red cap of dignity such as dukes wear, with an ermine lining; supporting a displayed cock armed with gaffs, in the sinister talon he held the new ensign of the Confederacy, the stars and stripes — and in the dexter talon a sword, on the point of which was suspended a wreath of laurels. Above the crest this motto: " In Vindiciam Libertatis." Supporters: On the dexter side, the genius of America (represented by a maiden with loose, auburn tresses). having on her head a radiated crown of gold. encircled with • sky blue fillet, and clothed in a long loose white garment, bordered with green. From her right shoulder to her left side a scarf semee of stars, the tinctures thereof the same as in the shield border, and around her waist a blue girdle, fringed or em broidered with silver; her sinister hand rested on and sup ported the shield, and upon her dexter hand was perched a dove argent.
The sinister supporter was an ideal or typical American soldier dressed in a uniform peculiar to an American, with a naked sword in the hilt, on his head a felt hat, distinguishing him as an officer, with his dexter hand resting on the escutch eon, and in his sinister a wrapped roll of paper (evidently the Declaration of Independence). The tenants of the escutcheon stand on a scroll on which is the following motto: " Virtus Sole Invicta." The entire is designated as " Great Seal of the American Confederacy." He proposed as the reverse, the following: An unfinished pyramid. consisting of ten layers of stone. undoubtedly intended that there should be thirteen] In the zenith, the eye of Providence, surrounded with a glory. Over or about the eye the Latin phrase " Deo Pavente " with God's favor. At the base of the pyramid the word " Perennis "; the former motto is the same as on his second design and the latter is taken from the device of the second committee on the Seal.
Secretary Thomson decided he would report the first design of Mr. Barton as the obverse and his fourth design as the reverse, as fol lows: The Secretary of the United States, in Congress assembled to whom were referred the several reports of committees on the device of a Great Seal to take order reports: That the device for an armorial achievement and reverse of a Great Seal for the United States in Congress assembled, is as follows: Arms: Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules. a chief azure. The escutcheon 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 escutcheon, a glory, or breaking through a cloud proper, and surrounding thirteen stars, forming a con stellation, argent on an azure field.
Reverse: A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory proper. Over the eye these words: " Annuit Coeptis." On the base of the pyramid the numerical letters MDCCLXXVI., and underneath the following motto: " Novus Ordn Seclorum." Thomson's report was adopted on 20 June 1782, and Congress instructed him to have the design executed in metal. Accompanying the sketch was the following definition of the Seal; this is the authentic meaning of our emblem: Remarks and Explanations: The escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The pieces poly, represent the several states all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The motto alludes to this Union. The pales in the Arms are kept closely united by the chief, and the chief depends upon that union, and the strength resulting from it for its support to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America, and the preservation of the Union through Congress.
The colors of the pale are those used in the flag of the United States of America; white signifies purity and inno cence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue, the color 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 constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among sovereign powers. The cscutcheoon is borne on the breast of the American eagle, without any other support, to denote that the United States • of America ought to rely on their own virtues.
Reverse: The pyramid signifies strength and duration. The eye over it and the motto, allude to the many and signal interpositions of Providence in favor of the American cause. The date underneath is that of the Declaration of Inde pendence; and the words under it signify the beginning of the new American era which commences from that date.
It has been claimed of later years, that we owe the design for our nation's mark, to Sir John Prestwick of England. That this state ment has been made through carelessness and lack of thorough research on the part of our historical writers, can easily be proved; and in asmuch as we have definite authority to estab lish this proof let us as Americans closely stand by our American patriot, Will Barton, and give him this honor due and preserve his name among the other great benefactors of the Union. The following letter Secretary Thomson wrote Will Barton a few days after the adoption of the Great Seal, and in it there is all the evi dence possible to refute the claims of the royal ists. It is as follows: Philadelphia, Penn.