The Correct Arms of the State of New York. 281 



the color of the Liberty cap upon the pole in her hand, is not red, 

 upon any one of the three early specimens of the Arms. The cap 

 has been designated by some as a Phrygian cap, the color of which is 

 historically represented as red. Our Arms were devised however long 

 before the French revolution of 1793 ; and even if the color of the 

 cap had been red, there was nothing in the principles of a govern- 

 ment for the people which Xew York was devising, to suggest a de- 

 structive spirit, or any symbol of a like spirit. 



The emblem of Justice on our Arms does not represent Themis 

 or jurisprudence, into which it has been changed on the letter-heads 

 in most frequent use in the departments at Albany, but represents as 

 near as may be the Greek goddess Astr^a. It was from this figure 

 of the goddess, as a beautiful virgin, was derived also the Justice 

 which originally formed the seal of the Supreme Court of the State 

 of New York down to the year 184G. With the change resulting 

 from the new organization of the court, by which the seal of the 

 county where the court is held is impressed upon such documents as 

 require a seal, that seal is no longer in use. 



A learned member of the bar has kindly suggested to me that it is 

 worthy of mention that the symbol of Justice as here presented, har- 

 monizes both with the Bible and with Shakespeare — with the Bible as 

 in Job, "let him weigh me in the balance of justice," and with 

 Shakespeare who speaks of the sword of justice," and of learning to 



poise the course of justice in equal scales, whose beam stands sure, 

 whose rightful cause prevails." Henry IV also is made to address the 

 Lord Chief Justice thus : * 



. Therefore still bear the balance and the sword. . . .the unstained 

 sword that you have used to bear." * 



Why should such symbols of the god-like principles of single 

 minuedness, impartiality and retribution be allowed to disappear from 

 the figure of Justice, and from our Arms ? I will add but one word 

 more in this connection, which will be excused as appropriate to my 

 argument for maintaining the figure of Justice as one of the support- 

 ers of our Arms. On the last evening which I passed with the late 

 lamented Chief Justice Church a few weeks before his decease he 

 three times successively introduced before a numerous company the 

 topic of the State Arms, and urged me to endeavor to secure the ap- 

 pointment of a commission tore-establish New York's ancient Arms. 



11. The last point which is of the nature of new light upon the 

 Arms, and to which I desire to invite your attention is the results of 



86 



* 2 Henry IV, o; 2. 



