PARTS OF A COAT OF ARMS.
The parts of arms are the escutcheon, the tinctures, charges, and ornaments. Heralds distinguish nine different points in escutcheons, in order to determine exactly the positions of the bearing they are charged with, as in the figure.
A, dexter chief; B, precise middle chief; C, sinister chief; D, honor point; E, fess point; F, nombril point; G, dexter base; H, precise middle base; I, sinister base. The tinctures mean the variable hue common both to the shields and their bearings; and there are seven tinctures—yellow or gold, expressed by dots; white or argent; red, by perpendicular lines; blue or azure, by horizontal lines; purple, by diagonal lines from right to left; green, by the same from left to right; black by horizontal and perpendicular lines crossing; and orange and blood colors are expressed by diagonal lines crossing each other. The charges are the emblems occupying the field of the escutcheon, or any part of it. All charges are distinguished by the name of honorable ordinaries, sub-ordinaries, and common charges. Honorable ordinaries, the principal charges in heraldry, are made of lines only, which, according to their disposition and form, receive different names. Sub-ordinaries are ancient heraldic figures frequently used in coats of arms, and which are distinguished by terms appropriated to each of them. Common charges are composed of natural, artificial, and even imaginary things, such as stars, animals, trees, ships, &c. The ornaments that accompany or surround escutcheons were introduced to denote the birth, dignity, or office of the person to whom the arms appertain. They are used both by clergy and laity. Those most in use are of ten sorts; namely, crowns, coronets, mitres, helmets, mantlings, chapeaux, wreaths, crests, scrolls, and supporters. The crest is the highest part of the ornaments of a coat of arms. It is called crest from the Latin word crista, which signifies a comb or tuft, such as many birds have upon their heads, as the peacock, &c. Crests were anciently marks of great honor, because they were worn only by heroes of great valor and high rank, that they might be the better distinguished in an engagement, and thereby rally their men if dispersed. They are at present considered as mere ornaments. The scroll is an ornament usually placed below the shield and supporters, containing a motto or sentence, alluding to the bearing or to the bearer's name.
Explanation of the Plate on the following page, taken from Brande's Dictionary of Science, Literature, and Art.
I. Lines.
1. Horizontal or straight. 2. Angled. 3. Bevelled. 4. Escartele. 5. Nowy or Franche. 6. Arched or enarched. 7. Double arched. 8. Wavy or undee. 9. Invected. 10. Engrailed. 11. Battled-embattled, or crenellee. 12. Battled-embattled. 13. Nebuly. 14. Potent. 15. Indented. 16. Dancettec. 17. Dove-tailed. 18. Urdee. 19. Rayonnee, or radiant.
II. Points of the Escutcheon, Colors, and Furs.
20. Escutcheon, points of. 21. Or. 22. Argent. 23. Gules. 24. Azure. 25. Sable. 26. Vert. 27. Purpure. 28. Tenne. 29. Sanguine. 30. Ermine. 31. Ermines. 32. Erminois. 33. Peau. 34. Vair. 35. Varry cuppy.
III. Differences, or Filiations.
36. (First son) Label of three points. 37. (Second) Crescent. 38. (Third) Mullet. 39. (Fourth) Martlet. 40. (Fifth) Annulet. 41. (Sixth) Fleur-de-lis.
IV. Ordinaries, &c.
42. Chief. 43. Pale (between two annulets.) 44. Pallet. 45. Party per pale. 46. Border. 47. Bars. 48. Fess. 49. Bend. 50. Bend sinister. 51. Border. 52. Chevron. 53. Cross. 54. Cross of St. John of Jerusalem, or Malta. 55. Cross patonce. 56. Cross moline. 57. Cross of St. Andrew. 58. Crosses humettee. 59. Cross moline in saltier. 60. Cross bottonee or trefoil. 61. Cross crosslet, fitchee. 62. Cross flory. 63. Cross mascle. 64. Cross fitchee. 65. Lozenge, fleury.
V. Miscellaneous Bearings.
66. Lion, statant guardant. 67. Passant. 68. Passant guardant. 69. Rampant. 70. Rampant guardant. 71. Rampant reguardant. 72. Sejant. 73. Couchant. 74. Stag at gaze. 75. Stag's head caboshed. 76. Tiger, heraldic. 77. Dragon. 78. Griffin. 79. Dragon's head erased. 80. Wivern. 81. Eagle displayed, with two heads. 82. Boar's head erased. 83. Water budgets. 84. Snake, bowed debruised. 85. Quatrefoil. 86. Trefoils. 87. Fleur-de-lis. 88. Clarion, or rest. 89. Mullets.
VI. Crowns, Coronets, &c.
90. Crown of England. 91. Coronet of the Prince of Wales. 92. Coronet of a duke. 93. Marquis. 94. Earl. 95. Viscount. 96. Baron. 97. Mitre of a bishop. 98. Eastern, or antique coronet. 99. Celestial crown. 100. Crown of Edward I. 101. Mortier, or cap of state. 102. Chapeau, or cap of maintenance. 103. Crown of France. 104. Cardinal's hat. 105. Crown triple, or tiara of the pope.
[RATIFICATION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION BY MASSACHUSETTS.]
[The following account of the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts convened at Boston on the 9th day of January, 1788, and continued until the 7th of February, was printed in the Massachusetts Gazette of Feb. 8th, 1788, published by John Wincoll Allen of Boston. It is here inserted as a historical document of those times that tried men's souls, which will, we think, be read with deep interest by those of the present generation. In this way, too, it will be preserved, as it should be, for posterity. It is printed as we find it in the Gazette, with only the addition of the names of the towns, in which the individuals of the Convention resided. Of the Convention, John Hancock was President, William Cushing, Vice-President, and George Richards Minot, Secretary.]
With the highest satisfaction we announce to the publick, that the Convention of this commonwealth, on Wednesday last, at five o'clock, P. M. ASSENTED TO the CONSTITUTION, proposed by the late federal Convention. On this pleasing event, WE DO HEARTILY congratulate the publick, and do express our sincere wishes, that the general joy which it has diffused through all ranks of citizens, may be an auspicious omen of the superiour advantages which will undoubtedly result from the establishment of such a federal government as this constitution provides.
Immediately on the news of this joyful decision being announced, the bells in every publick building in this metropolis began to ring, and continued to sound the glad tydings for two hours. At sun set the Convention adjourned: after which, a multitude of people, from all quarters, moved into State-Street, where they manifested the joy they felt from this event, by incessant tokens of approbation, and loud huzzas. The bells of the North church continued to chime harmonious peals of gratulations the whole night, and part of the next day. Illuminations were made and other insignia of joy exhibited.
The yeas and nays, on the question of adoption, being taken, agreeably to the orders of the day, were as follows, viz.