The motto, _Bello vel Pace_. The legend round the achievement, "The Great Seal of the United States." On the Reverse, _Virtute Perennis_, underneath MDCCLXXVII. A miniature of the face of the great seal and half its diameter to be prepared and affixed as the less seal of the United States. But our critical forefathers were still dissatisfied, and exhibited no more disposition to adopt the false heraldry of the committee of 1779 than the allegorical and Biblical monstrosity of that of 1776. Three years more of incubation were needed to hatch the "bird o' freedom," and it is not until 1782 that we hear of a further movement. On June 13 of that year, William Barton of Philadelphia proposed the following for the arms of the United States: Arms, Paleways of thirteen pieces argent and gules; a chief azure, the escutcheon placed on the breast of the American (the bald-headed) eagle, displayed proper; holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the motto, viz., _E Pluribus Unum_, and in his dexter talon a palm or olive branch, in the other a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper. For the Crest, over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation, argent on an azure field. In the exergue of the great seal, "Jul. IV. MDCCLXXVI." In the margin of the same, "Sigil Mag. Repub. Confed. Americ." Mr. Barton proposed also a second device, which needs no notice, as it did not meet with approval. On the same day, the committee of Congress, then composed of Messrs. Middleton (S. C), Boudinot (Penn.), and Rutledge (S. C), reported a modification of Mr. Barton's device. The reports of the several committees were then referred to the Secretary of Congress, and on June 20, 1782, the Secretary reported the following device for an armorial achievement and reverse of the great seal of the United States, which was formally adopted: Arms. Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules, a chief, azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper, and in his beak a scroll inscribed with this motto, _E Pluribus Unum_. For the Crest. Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field. Reverse. A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory, proper. Over the eye these words, _Annuit Coeptis_. On the base of the pyramid the numerical letters MDCCLXXVI. And underneath the following motto, _Novus Ordo Seclorum_.