The whole matter now having by order of Congress come into the hands of Charles Thomson, he took a radical departure from all previous designs. Putting the eagle as the central figure of his design, he specified that it be an American eagle, rising, not displayed. As emblematic of the war power he put in the sinister talon a bundle of arrows, where Barton had put the American flag, introducing the arrows into the seal for the first time. To picture peace he put in the eagle’s dexter talon an olive branch which had figured in the device of the second committee, instead of Barton’s sword and wreath of laurel. For the crest he used the constellation of thirteen stars surrounded by clouds, as in the second committee’s report, and arranged the red and white stripes, which the second committee had made diagonal and Barton horizontal, in chevrons, one side of red and white, the other of white and red. From the report of the first committee he took the motto “E pluribus unum.” He made or had made a rough drawing of his device, which was colored. It was almost 4 inches in diameter. For the reverse he adopted Barton’s device, changing only the mottoes. These were from Virgil, “Audacibus annue cœptis” (favor my daring undertaking), being found in the Æneid, book 9, verse 625 (also in the Georgics, 1, 40), and “Magnus ab integro seclorum nascitur ordo” (the great series of ages begins anew), coming from the fourth eclogue, fifth verse. Although the form “seclorum” was adopted, the more approved spelling is “sæclorum.”[24] The report which follows is entirely in Thomson’s handwriting and is endorsed by him “The Secretary’s device:” Device for an Armorial Atchievement and Reverse of a great Seal for the United States in Congress Assembled. Arms. On a field Chevrons composed of seven pieces on one side & six on the other, joined together at the top in such wise that each of the six bears against or is supported by & supports two of the opposite side the pieces of the chevrons on each side alternate red & white. The shield born on the breast of an American Eagle on the Wing & rising proper. In the dexter talon of the Eagle an Olive branch & in the sinister a bundle of arrows. Over the head of the Eagle a constellation of Stars surrounded with bright rays and at a little distance clouds. [Illustration: CHARLES THOMSON’S DESIGN [Traced from the original] Face p. 34 ] In the bill of the Eagle a scroll with the words E pluribus unum.— Reverse A pyramid unfinished In the Zenith an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory, proper. Over the eye these words Annuit cœptis On the base of the pyramid the numerical letters MDCCLXXVI and underneath these words Novus ordo seclorum. N. B. the Head & tail of the American bald Eagle are white the body & wings of a lead or dove colour.