_A curious Method of sealing a Letter, so as not to be opened, by
variegating the Seal with different coloured Species of Wax._
Suppose you wish to have your seal of four colours, and that the
cartrage of the escutcheon be _yellow_ or _or_, as well as the crown;
the field of the shield or escutcheon, _red_ or _gules_; the seal
itself _green_ or _synople_, and the supporters, if any, _black_ or
_sable_.
Take off then as many different impressions of your seal as you have
kinds of wax to employ, taking care to make them on a very thin paper;
this being done, with a pair of scissars cut out of each impression
each of the objects that are to be variegated; that is to say, begin
by cutting out the shield or escutcheon; and, by wetting it on the
back with the tip of your tongue, place it on your seal over that
part it represents; then do the same for the cartrage of the shield,
as likewise for the supporters; and when all is well ranged, take the
green wax, which is to represent the ground of the seal, and melt it
as you usually do to seal a letter; then placing the seal on it that
has in the mouldings the different objects which are to vary your seal,
each of these objects will be found placed naturally, and will form a
seal of four colours.
If any body should attempt to break open the letter by heating the wax,
the different colours in melting must mix and discover evidently the
infidelity by their confusion.