A Miniature of the Face of the great Seal to be prepared of Half the
Diametre, to be affixed as the less Seal of the United States.
The report is endorsed, “Report of the Come^{ee}. on the device of a
great Seal—Delivered May 10, 1780 read—May 17, 1780 Recommitted. N. B.
The within report has been altered since the Recommitment of May 17,
1780,” the endorsement being in the handwriting of Charles Thomson, the
Secretary of Congress, except the note, which is in the same hand as the
report, apparently,[20] that of Houston; but the motto _virtute
perennis_ in the report is in Thomson’s hand. The committee submitted
designs of both obverse and reverse. The more finished of those for an
obverse has the stripes alternate white and red, whereas the report
called for red and white. A second and rougher design shows a slightly
different arrangement of the constellation, a helmet as a crest, which
is struck out as unsatisfactory, and a shield with alternate _red_ and
_white_ stripes. For dexter supporter there is a naked Indian carrying
in his right hand a bow and arrow.
Two drawings were made for the reverse, the differences between them not
being great. In one the figure carries in her left hand a sword instead
of an olive branch, and at the bottom is the date MDCCLXXX, while at the
top the motto, “Aut haec aut nullus,” has a line drawn through it;
another has over the top outside the circle the words “Libertas virtute
perennis,” a line having been drawn through the word “Libertas;” within
the circle is the word Semper struck out and the date is MDCCLXXVI.
Underneath is this fragment of a note: “a rough Sketch of the Design &
Decorations by the ——.”
The report of this committee is important, because it shows for the
first time the use of the constellation of thirteen stars, the shield,
and the white and red and red and white stripes. The stripes and stars
had undoubtedly been adopted from the flag. In these designs appears for
the first time the olive branch as an emblem of peace.
III
WILLIAM BARTON’S DESIGNS
The report of the Lovell committee met with the same fate as the report
of the first committee. It was recommitted, and nothing further was done
until May, 1782, when Arthur Middleton of South Carolina, Elias Boudinot
of New Jersey, and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina were appointed a
committee to design a seal. The two South Carolinians were men of
foreign education, and a cultivated gentleman in those days usually had
some knowledge of heraldry. Boudinot had an interest in coins and
medals, it is presumed, as he was appointed Director of the Mint at
Philadelphia in 1795. This committee did no independent labor of a
serious character, but called into consultation William Barton, A. M., a
private citizen of Philadelphia. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Barton,
rector of St. James Episcopal Church, his mother being a sister of the
famous David Rittenhouse,[21] and in 1813 he published a memoir of
Rittenhouse. He was also the author of a monograph on the nature and use
of Paper Credit, etc. (Philadelphia, 1781). The reasons which prompted
the committee to go to him are not known. It is evident, however, that
he had studied heraldry, and his drawings show that he was ingenious in
the use of his pencil. From the time he first appears in connection with
the seal he is the central figure, until he divides the honors with the
Secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson.
Rutledge’s connection with the committee was never active, and Arthur
Lee, who had recently returned from France, acted with it, although
never formally assigned as a member.
Barton’s first design for the seal was as follows:
A Device for an _Armorial Atchievement_, for the Great Seal of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled; agreeable to the
Rules of Heraldry:—proposed by William Barton, A. M.
Arms.
Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules; on a Canton, Azure, as many
Stars disposed in a Circle, of the first: a Pale, Or, surmounted of
another, of the third; charged, in Chief, with an Eye surrounded with
a Glory, proper; and, in the Fess-point, an Eagle displayed, on the
Summit of a Doric Column which rests on the Base of the Escutcheon,
both as the Stars.
Crest.
On an Helmet of burnished Gold damasked, grated with six Bars, and
surmounted of a Cap of Dignity, Gules, turned up Ermine, a Cock armed
with Gaffs, proper: