[howley] the old royal COAT OF ARMS AT PLACENTIA 41 



of these letters offended the sense of the nation. The coins were design- 

 ated "Godless" or "Graceless" money. The issue was immediately 

 withdrawn and a new issue struck restoring the letters F. D.i 



The throne of Hanover, which had been an appanage of the Eng- 

 lisli Sovereign since the time of George I., became vacant on the acces- 

 sion of Queen Victoria, as, according to the Salic law, women were ex- 

 cluded from the succession. The Crown of this little kingdom was there- 

 fore conferred upon her uncle, the Duke of Cumberland. 



There is no date upon this coat of Arms at Placentia, but it bears 

 the initials G. III. K. The old Staff, however, at the Court House, bears 

 the date of 1772, and it is probable that they are both of the same date. 

 This date is prior to the erection either of the old Court House or the 

 old Anglican Church. According to Judge Prowse (Chronnlo- 

 gical Table, p. 653) the former was built in 1774, two years later than 

 the date of the Staff. Hence it could not have been presented to the 

 Court House. But Prowse tells us (p. 314) that Court was held in 

 Placentia as far back at least as 1749 " in a dingy room in Thomas 

 Kennedy's house." On July 20th, 1786, H. E. H. William, Duke of 

 Clarence, (afterwards William IV.) presided at the Court House in 

 Placentia in his capacity of Surrogate or Magistrate. Prowse also 

 tells us (p. 366) that the building of the Church was ordered by the 

 Prince in 1787. " He contributed handsomely to its erection," continues 

 Judge Prowse, " and furnished the massive Communion Service long in 

 the custody of Dr. Bradshaw's family at Placentia." 



1 This incident fprtiinrls ns forcibly of what has recently occurred in America 

 in the suppression of the words " In (Jud wo trust" from the coins of the realm, 

 and the consequent indiu:natinn of tlio people demandius their restoration. 



