Code of Virginia (1873)
Chapter text
Page 122
Seals of state as re-established.
1. Whereas, the seals of the commonwealth of Virginia, which were adopted in seventeen hundred and seventy-nine, and used until the
*Connected with the scientific researches provided for in the above sections, it may be interesting to present here the resolution of the general assembly, agreed to March 12th, 1872, "in relation to Matthew F. Maury's plan for system of crop reports and meteorological observations—Acts 1871-2, c. 169, p. 221.
"Resolved by the senate and house of delegates of Virginia, That the senators in congress for this state be instructed, and her representatives be requested, to use their influence with the government of the United. States in favor of the plan proposed by Matthew F. Maury for the establishment of a more complete system of crop reports and meteorological observations; and that the governor be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, and to the governor of each of the several states, with a request that they will lend their friendly offices in favor of the plan."
And in this connection reference may be given to the joint resolution agreed to February 3d, 1873, in relation to the death of Commodore Matthew F. Maury.—Acts 1872-3, c. 73, p. 52.
i The convention of 1776 appointed a committee, consisting of Mr. Richard Henry Lee, Mr. George Mason, Mr. Treasurer, and Mr. Wythe, to prepare for the commonwealth a design for a seal, as a symbol of its sovereignty and for the authentication of its public acts. The design was reported to the convention by George Mason, and was adopted on the 5th of July, 1770. This has given rise to the belief by some persons and writers that Mr. Mason was the author of the design. But this is undoubtedly a mistake. The late William Munford, who was a pupil of Chancellor "Wythe and lived in his house for several years, studied law under his guidance and direction, was in habits of great intimacy with him to the day of his death and delivered the eulogy at his funeral in 1806, stated repeatedly and explicitly to the editor that Mr. Wythe always claimed the paternity of this seal. And the convention, who knew to whom the honor belonged, appointed Mr. Wythe and Mr. John Page, the first as the man who designed it, to superintend the engraving and take care that it should be properly executed. The words "Deus nobis hux otia fecit," which were in the original device, were changed by the legislature in 1779, as being at that time inappropriate, inasmuch as war was still prevailing and God had not then vouchsafed repose to the confederation or to "Virginia, and the word "Perseverando" was adopted, as expressive of the resolve to persevere for the attainment of the blessings of liberty and abundance for eternity, as indicated by the devices. The original great seal, executed under the superintendence of George- Wythe and John Page, had been so worn by use as to have become incapable of making an impression, and was substituted by n new seal, the figures for which, according to the original design, were drawn by the late Alexander Gait, the distinguished sculptor, and wore engraved from that drawing by order of the governor, and were in use at the close of the late war by the government at Richmond. At the time of the evacuation of Richmond by General Lee's army, the then secretary of the commonwealth under the government at Richmond, was ordered by the executive to remove the archives of the executive department to Lynchburg, and the seals and records were placed in boxes and shipped by canal. The
