lusively vested in Congress. The constellation denotes a new
State taking its place and rank among the sovereign powers; the
escutcheon is borne on the breast of the American eagle, without any
other supporters, to denote that the United States of America ought
to rely on their own virtue.

Reverse. The pyramid signifies strength and duration: the eye over
it and the motto allude to the many and signal interpositions of
Providence in favor of the American cause. The date underneath it is
that of the Declaration of Independence; and the words under it
signify the beginning of the new era, which commences from that
date.

After the ratification of the Constitution, this seal was formally
declared to be the seal of the United States, on September 15, 1789, and
on March 2, 1799, its custody was given to the Secretary of State, who
was empowered to affix it to such commissions, etc., as had previously
received the signature of the President.

Lossing, in his "Field Book of the Revolution," has the following, in
relation to the origin of the device on the seal: "In a manuscript
letter before me, written in 1818, by Thomas Barritt, Esq., an eminent
antiquary of Manchester, England, addressed to his son in this country,
is the following statement: 'My friend, Sir John Prestwich, Bart., told
me he was the person who suggested the idea of a coat of arms for the
American States to an ambassador [John Adams] from thence, which they
have seen fit to put upon some of their moneys. It is this he told
me--party per pale of thirteen stripes, white and red; the chief of the
escutcheon blue, signifying the protection of heaven over the States. He
says it was soon afterwards adopted as the arms of the States, and to
give it more consequence, it was placed upon the breast of a displayed
eagle.'"

But it is far more probable that the colors of the shield were suggested
by the stripes and union of the flag, which was adopted nearly a year
before Mr. Adams's first visit to Europe. Yet it is worthy of note, in
this connection, that the stripes in the flag are arranged alternately
red and white, which gives seven of the former and six of the latter;
while in the arms they are white and red, thus making seven white and
six red pales. In the seal of the Board of Admiralty (now the Navy
Department), adopted May 4, 1780, the stripes are arranged as in the
flag.

The critical reader will not fail to note