The Correct Arms of the State of New York. 2G9 



It is obvious that ihe topic which we have been consideriug is 

 deeply interesting to thousands in this State, and in other States 

 also, from tlie enumeration which I have made of three recent calls 

 for a public exhibition of our State Arms, two at Philadelphia and 

 one at Mount Vernon ; and from the fact that three times successively, 

 in the years 1875, 18T8 and 18T9, the legislature has made appropria- 

 tions of sums of money for correct drawings of the Arms, its mem- 

 bers thus recognizing the importance of the subject. It is evident 

 that the time has now come to give eflfect to these efforts, and that to 

 prevent all whimsical or negligent treatment of the Arms in drawings 

 bv artists or others, which misfht either destrov or disfisfure their si^- 

 nificance, the legislature might wisely adopt measures to reestablish 

 by some declaration the character of the old arms of a century past, 

 as not having been ever changed, if not as being unchangeable. 



Among the measures necessary to be adopted one would be, to 

 secure that a correct blazon or heraldic description of the Arms 

 should be filed in the Secretary of State's office, and embodied in a 

 special act, which should recite that the blazon which Gov. Clinton 

 was directed to file cannot be found as the reason ; and another that a 

 steel plate should be ordered to be engraved and preserved, in the 

 Secretary of State's office or in the State Library, conformed to this 

 blazon.* And further to secure familiarity with the device, a paint- 

 ing of it on canvas should be suspended in the executive chamber, 

 and copies of engravings made from the plate should be suspended in 

 all the public offices of the Capitol, and sent for like publicity to all 

 the county clerks. Copies should bo furnished on application to 

 cities and towns when applied for ; and they might be accompanied 

 with a printed certificate from the secretary that the engraving shows 

 the true Arms of the State as preserved in his office. 



It would be worthy of discussion also, whether it be not possible 

 that the seals of the public offices, at least the great seal, as was 

 originally intended, should ultimately bear these true Arms, each 

 seal having its legend around the border, of the particular office or 

 department using it. Questions relating to title to property may be 

 made to depend upon the impression upon a document of a genuine, 

 well-known and incontestable seal. Before the revolution, the royal 

 arms were impressed upon the pendent seal used in patents and 

 grants.f 



*I am indebted to Mr. De Lancey for this last suggestion, made to me in writ- 

 ing since I read the paper to the Institute. He will also soon publish a paper 

 containing his own more scientific statements on this subject. 



f Addison on Contracts, Art. Seals, Am. Ed. 



