"1776—page 248.
"July 4. Dr. Franklin, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Jefferson, be a committee to prepare a device for a Great Seal for the United States of America.
"1776—page 321.
"Aug. 10. The Committee appointed to prepare the Device for a Great Seal for the United States brought in the same, with an explanation thereof; ordered to lie on the table.
"No. 1. Copy of a Report made Aug. 10, 1776.
"The Great Seal should on one side have the arms of the United States of America, which arms should be as follows:—
"The shield has six quarters, parts one, coupé two. The 1st or, a rose, enamelled gules and argent for England; the 2d argent, a thistle proper, for Scotland; the 3d verd, a harp or, for Ireland; the 4th azure a flower-de-luce or, for France; the 5th or, the imperial eagle, sable, for Germany; and the 6th or, the Belgic lion, gules for Holland, pointing out the countries from which the States have been peopled. The shield within a border gules entwined of thirteen scutcheons argent, linked together by a chain or, each charged with initial letters sable as follows: 1st, N.H.; 2d, M.B.; 3d, R.I.; 4th, C.; 5th, N.Y.; 6th, N.J.; 7th, P.; 8th, D.E.; 9th, M.; 10th, V.; 11th, N.C.; 12th, S.C.; 13th, G., for each of the thirteen independent States of America.
"Supporters dexter the Goddess Liberty, in a corselet of armor, alluding to the present times; holding in her right hand the spear and cap, and with her left supporting the shield of the States, sinister, the Goddess Justice, bearing a sword in her right hand, and in her left a balance.
"Crest. The eye of Providence in a radiant triangle, whose glory extends over the shield and beyond the figures. Motto: E. Pluribus Unum.
"Legend round the whole achievement. Seal of the United States of America, MDCCLXXVI.