Footnote 18:
Journals of Congress (W. C. Ford, editor), 1907, VII, 59.
Footnote 19:
Austin’s Life of Elbridge Gerry, vol. 1, p. 336.
Footnote 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.”
Footnote 21:
Pennsylvania Magazine, X, 414.
Footnote 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.”
Footnote 23:
Totten, I, 104, 108; Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, 1866–1867, p. 351.
Footnote 24:
Note by Henry Livingston Thomas, late Translator, Department of State.
Footnote 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_.”
Footnote 26:
Vol. II, p. 656.
Footnote 27: