INDEX

Adams, John, on first committee, [7];
- describes device, [8];
- design of, [9], [10];
- connection with Prestwich, [38].
Alden, Roger, keeper of the seal, [45].
Arms of England, changes in, [50].
Bailey, Banks & Biddle, cut fourth seal, [64].
Barton, Thomas, father of William Barton, [23].
Barton, William, called into consultation on design, [23];
- first design, [24];
- second design, [28];
- claims paternity of arms, [32];
- improves Thomson’s design, [35];
- credit due to, [37].
Boudinot, Elias, on seal committee, [23].
Bradshaw, John, supposed epitaph on, [14], [15], [16].
Champlin, John D., Jr., opinion of, on seal, [48], [54], [59].
Chicago Exposition, illustrations of seal at, [61].
Cincinnati, Order of, eagle on badge of, [65].
Coat of Arms of the United States. See Seal of the United States.
Dwight, Theodore F., Chief, Bureau of Rolls and Library, superintends new seal, [54];
- opinion on designs, [56].
Deane, Silas, complains of want of seal, [18].
E Pluribus Unum, motto, first suggested, [12];
- by whom, [13];
- origin of, [14];
- adopted, [41].
Eagle, first suggestion of, [24], [28];
- Thomson’s treatment of, [33], [34];
- adopted as emblem, [41];
- Franklin’s opinion of, [65].
Ellery, William, recommends that seal be considered, [18].
Franklin, Benjamin, on first committee, [7];
- design of, [9], [10];
- suggests motto, [14], [16];
- criticises eagle, [65].
Frelinghuysen, Theodore F., Secretary of State, seal cut by order of, [51];
- writes about seal, [53].
Flag of the United States, adopted, [18].
Great Seal of the United States. See Seal of the United States.
Gribelin, engraving by, [9], [10].
Hay, John, Secretary of State, fourth seal cut by direction of, [63].
Hollis, Thomas, gives motto, Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God, [14].
Houston, William Churchill, on seal committee, [19];
- writes report, [21].
Jefferson, Thomas, on first committee, [7];
- design of, [9], [10];
- connection with motto, [13];
- suggestion of, [13], [14];
- adopts motto, [14].
Lee, Arthur, acts with seal committee, [24].
Lewis, Samuel, jeweler, keeps seal for treaties, [52].
Lovell Committee, appointed, [18];
- reports, [19];
- report recommitted, [23].
Lovell, James, on seal committee, [19].
Marshall, John, Chief Justice, opinion of, on use of seal, [66].
Mathæis, Paulo de, picture by, [10].
Middleton, Arthur, on seal committee, [23].
Norton, Charles Eliot, opinion of, on seal, [54], [56].
Prestwich, Sir John, connection of, with seal, [38].
Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God, motto proposed, [9], [10];
- origin of, [14], [15], [16].
Rutledge, Edward, on seal committee, [23].
Scott, John Morin, on seal committee, [19].
Seal, Great, of England, [8].
Seal, Great, of France, [7], [8].
Seal of the United States, first committee to design, [7];
- first designs for, [8];
- motto for, [13];
- need of, [18];
- second committee for, [19];
- Barton’s designs for, [24], [28], [35];
- Thomson’s designs for, [34], [37];
- Sir John Prestwich’s connection with, [38];
- adopted, [41];
- cutting of, [43];
- proposed less seal, [44];
- correct name for, [46];
- second seal, [48];
- correction of, [49];
- treaty seal, [52];
- reverse of, [53], [56], [61];
- seal of 1884, [53];
- the fourth seal, [63];
- device criticised, [65];
- uses of, [66].
Secretary of State, keeper of the seal, [45].
Shaftesbury, Earl of, engraving in Treatise, [10].
Simitière, Eugène Pierre Du, consulted by first committee, [8];
- design of, [9], [11], [12], [17].
Snowden, A. Louden, Director of the Mint, seal medal struck by, [50].
Stabler, Edward, cuts second seal, [48].
Thomson, Charles, consults Barton, [31];
- ordered to prepare design, [33];
- submits design, [34];
- design improved, [35];
- credit due to, [37];
- has charge of seal, [44].
Tiffany & Co., submit designs, [57].
Totten, C. A. L., writes about seal, [50].
Webster, Daniel, Secretary of State, seal cut under, [49].
Whitehouse, James Horton, consulted about seal, [54];
- submits designs, [56];
- argument for, [59].
White, Alexander, proposes less seal, [44].
Whitmore, William H., consulted relative to seal, [54];
- opinion on design, [55];
- submits designs, [56].
Winsor, Justin, consulted concerning seal, [54];
- gives opinion, [55].

[1]. Journals of Congress (W. C. Ford, editor), 1906, V, 517.

[2]. Benson J. Lossing, in Harper’s Magazine, 1856, vol. 13, p. 178 et seq.

[3]. It so appears attached to the exchange copy of the treaty of peace with the United States.

[4]. The Great Seals of England, by Alfred Benjamin and Allen Wyon, London, 1888. Review in The Spectator, 61, 173.

[5]. Familiar Letters of John Adams and his Wife, 210.

[6]. Journals of the Continental Congress (W. C. Ford, editor), 1906, V, 690 n.

[7]. Our Great Seal, by C. A. L. Totten, 1, 25, gives a reproduction of the frontispiece.

[8]. Reports of Committees relating to Congress, vol. 23, Continental Congress MSS. All the committee reports bearing on the seal are in this volume.

[9]. See note at the end for a glossary of heraldic terms used.

[10]. Delaware counties.

[11]. Journals of Congress (W. C. Ford, editor), 1906, V, 689.

[12]. See, however, Historic Side-lights, by Howard Payson Arnold, p. 284.

[13]. Writings of Jefferson (P. L. Ford), edition of 1892, I, p. 420.

[14]. The first use of the motto is traced in Preble’s History of the American Flag, p. 694.

[15]. Memoirs of Thomas Hollis, Esq., F. R. and A. S. S.; London: MDCCLXXX; vol. 2, p. 789.

[16]. Randall’s Life of Jefferson, 3, 585.

This would seem to be conclusive, but since the writer prepared his brochure on the great seal in 1892 several people whose opinions are entitled to consideration have expressed a doubt whether the inscription does not, or at any rate did not, exist. Bradshaw died during the closing years of the Commonwealth and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Upon the Restoration his body was disinterred and hanged, when several other regicides were executed, after which the trunk was thrown into a hole at the foot of the gallows and the head publicly displayed, as the custom was in those times. Some members of the court of which he was president are said to have gone to Jamaica, and it was declared by some that Bradshaw spread the report of his death and retired secretly to that island. There is even a surviving rumor that he and his colleagues were in this country, and a well-known landmark near New Haven is the “Regicides’ Cave.” In all of this we see merely an example of one of those myths which so often surround the death of one whose life was peculiarly conspicuous. In Bradshaw’s case his double burial in England would still not render impossible a third burial in Jamaica, and even if he was not buried there an inscription upon a cannon in his commemoration might possibly have once existed. But the whole story was investigated in the beginning of the last century by Bryan Edwards, the historian of the West Indies, whose work is an authority. In the fifth edition (London, 1819) of his History of the West Indies (vol. 1, p. 213) he says:

“Some of these men who sat as judges at the trial of Charles I are said to have become peaceable settlers here, and to have remained after the restoration. * * * It is reported also, that the remains of President Bradshaw were interred in Jamaica; and I observe in a splendid book, entitled ‘Memoirs of Thomas Hollis,’ an epitaph which is said to have been inscribed on the president’s grave; but it is to my own knowledge a modern production.”

It may be added that the author made inquiry of Louis A. Dent, esq., lately Register of Wills of the District of Columbia, when he was United States consul at Kingston, concerning traditions of this epitaph, and he declared he knew of none. As his knowledge of Jamaica was thorough such traditions would hardly have escaped him if existent.

That anyone should seize upon the rumors surrounding Bradshaw’s death and make them the basis of a fictitious epitaph is a cause of wonder, until we remember that the author was Benjamin Franklin, whose unique imagination was amused by constructing epitaphs and kindred compositions. His object in this case may easily have been the very effect of inflaming public opinion which Hollis noticed had resulted. The statement that the epitaph was on a cannon at Martha Bay was presumably attached to the copies Hollis saw and accepted by him in good faith.

[17]. Preble’s History of the Flag, 259 et seq.

[18]. Journals of Congress (W. C. Ford, editor), 1907, VII, 59.

[19]. Austin’s Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. 1, p. 336.

[20]. When the committee was appointed from which emanated in 1782 the seal finally accepted, a memorandum, endorsed “proceedings respect^g. a seal of the United States Mr. Middleton Mr. Boudinot Mr. Lee,” was made by Lovell for the committee’s use, showing from the papers in the office of the Secretary of Congress what had already been done in the matter of the seal. After setting forth the action of 1776 it states that the Lovell committee was appointed March 25, 1779, and the report is given as follows:

“Original Report of May 10 1779

the Seal to be 4 inches Diametre On one Side The arms of the United States as follows The Shield charged on the Field with 13 diagonal Stripes alternate red & white—Supporters, dexter, a Warriour holding a Sword; Sinister a Figure representing Peace bearing an Olive Branch—The Crest a radiant Constellation of 13 Stars—The motto Bello vel Paci—The legend round the Atchievement Seal of the United States

“On the Reverse—The Figure of Liberty seated in a Chair holding the Staff & cap. The motto Semper—Underneath MDCCLXXVI”

The memorandum also says that on May 17 “The Report of the Com^tee. on the Device of a great Seal was taken into Consideration and after Debate Ordered, That it be recommitted.”

Evidently an error was made in the dates by Lovell when he transcribed the memorandum. A committee appointed in 1779, if its report had been submitted May 10, 1779, and recommitted May 17, 1779, could hardly have made a second report May 10, 1780, to have it recommitted May 17, 1780. The MS. journal for March 25, 1780, says:

“Ordered, That the report of the committee on the device of a great Seal for the United States in Congress assembled, be referred to a committee of three:

“The members chosen, Mr. Lovell, Mr. Scott and Mr. Houston.”

The MS. journal for May 17, 1780, says:

“The report of the committee on the device of a seal was taken into consideration; and after debate,

“Ordered, That it be recommitted.”

[21]. Pennsylvania Magazine, X, 414.

[22]. Note by Barton: “In the Arms of Scotland, as marshalled in the Royal Atchievement, the double Tressure which surrounds the Lion is borne flory and counter flory (with Fleurs-de-lis); which is in Consequence of a Treaty that was entered into, between Charlemagne, then Emperor & King of France, and Achaius King of Scotland; to denote that the French Lillies should guard & defend the Scottish Lion.”

[23]. Totten, I, 104, 108; Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, 1866–1867, p. 351.

[24]. Note by Henry Livingston Thomas, late Translator, Department of State.

[25]. Note by Barton: “As the Pales or Pallets consist of an uneven Number, they ought, in strictness, to be blazoned—Arg^t. 6 Pallets gules: but as the 13 pieces allude to the thirteen States, they are blazoned according to the Number of pieces paleways.”

[26]. Vol. II, p. 656.

[27]. For discussion of the Prestwich claim, see Totten, I, 63 et seq.

[28]. Journals of Congress, vol. 4 (ed. 1823), p. 39.

[29]. The Department of State of the United States; Its History and Functions (Hunt), 50, 51.

[30]. See Totten, I, 212.

[31]. Totten, I, 171 et seq.

[32]. Life of Franklin (Bigelow), III, p. 252.

[33]. 18 Stat., 23.

[34]. 18 Stat., 420.

[35]. 25 Stat., 387.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Page	Changed from	Changed to
[12]	the Israelites; Rays from a pillow of Fire in the Cloud	the Israelites; Rays from a pillar of Fire in the Cloud

Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.
Used numbers for footnotes, placing them all at the end of the last chapter.