264 



The Correct Arms of the State of New York. 



balance evenly suspended, and of the sword, what were the requisite 

 symbols of her presence. 



Althougli it is now more than three years since under the laws of 

 1875, the copy of the paintmg of the St. PauFs Chapel specimen of 

 the Arms has been suspended in the State Library, yet the knowledge 

 of the fact was not so widely diffused, but that the drawings which 

 served for the State Arms as sculptured in stone over the fire-places 

 in the Assembly Chamber of the New Capitol, have both of the sup- 

 porters seated ; the eyes of Justice are not blindfolded, the figures of 

 Liberty and Justice are each on the wrong side of the shield; their 

 feet are not clad with sandals ; and the two ships and the crown are 

 not there. There are other departures from the original, and yet the 

 picture is much more complete than has been frequently given out for 

 the correct Arms. 



In respect of maintaining correctly the Arms of New York, the 

 military department of the State has made more progress than the 

 civil departments. The painting of the State Arms for the centen- 

 nial of 1876 has apparently led to a change of the picture of the 

 Arms of the State, as displayed in the center of the regimental flag 

 of the N. Y. National Guard. In 1871 the Arms were painted on 

 blue silk on regimental flags of twelve feet by ten, with the evident in- 

 tention to have a complete arms, but both of the supporters were 

 drawn sitting, and respectively on the wrong side of the shield. But 

 in 1878 upon the new flag of white bunting, both of the supporters 

 are drawn standing, as is proper, and Justice is blindfolded, with the 

 balance and sword, as is also proper, though the point of the sword is 

 turned downward and touches the ground. Upon the dexter or right 

 half of the shield are to be found as on the original Arms, water 

 (though without ships), mountains ( four instead of three ) and a 

 rising sun. Upon the left half of the shield are quartered emblems 

 of the United States ; a measure doubtless justified on the ground 

 that since the adoption of the Arms in 1778 the independent State 

 of New York had formed a Union with the United States 

 America ; and conformed in that respect to the usages of heraldry 

 (when done with authority). As the embroidery is worked through 

 and through, the supporters appear on the reverse to be on the pro- 

 per side of the shield. 



I do not pretend to indicate or enlarge upon all the variations, 

 between the original Arms and modern pictures of them ; but there 

 is one symbol which has disappeared from every representation of the 

 State Arms that I have seen of the last ninety years. It is the over- 

 turned royal crown at the left foot of Liberty. I am not aware that 



