Regarding the scroll containing the “E pluribus unum” we consider the present form altogether the best to use as the sheet scroll mentioned would interfere with the eagle, while the old form of scroll falls in well with the general design. The dies will be cut in steel. This letter may be said to be the argument for the Whitehouse designs. They were submitted to Mr. Champlin, who wrote, January 7, 1885: It seems to me useless to regret that Congress did not adopt in 1782 a different device for the great seal of the United States. The present device was legally adopted and all we can do is to follow the provisions of the act, having an eye, of course, to general heraldic propriety; but even if the laws of heraldry are transgressed in some minor particulars, I think we still are bound to follow the letter of the law, despite the rules of heraldry. If we must have a strictly heraldic seal, let us go to work ab initio and change the law. If this be, as I believe it to be, the true way of dealing with the question, let us see whether the designs furnished by Tiffany & Co. fulfill the provisions of the law. 1. The law reads “Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules, a chief, azure”. The drawing marked A is correct in this particular. This differs from the order of the stripes on the national ensign. * * * The pales should all be of the same width. 2. “The escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle displayed proper.” In Mr. Barton’s device of June 13, 1782, of which that adopted by the committee is a modification, the American Eagle is expressly called “the bald-headed eagle”, so there can be no question on that point. The eagle must be an American eagle and not the ordinary heraldic eagle. It must be displayed, not with _wings displayed_ (in which case it would be represented perched), but displayed—that is, with both wings and talons extended. In my opinion the drawing is correct, though I would suggest that the treatment, especially the wings, might be a little less realistic, and still comply with the law. 3. “Holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper, and in his beak” etc. The olive branch and arrows should, of course, be of the conventional form as no other is specified. 4. Crest—“A glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field.” This is bad, very bad, heraldically, but I see no way out but to reproduce the original, which I think is done in the drawing. Reverse. “A pyramid unfinished.” The law does not call for a pyramid of thirteen courses of stone. * * *