THE GREAT SEAL OF ENGLAND.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 5283, 28 September 1885, Page 3

THE GREAT SEAL OF ENGLAND.

It is very difficult, if not nnpobsiblo, to say when England first had a Cheat Seal One' retnaikublo circumstance connected with it is its piogiessivo giowth in sue as tune advanced. Ongmally, 800 years ',not laiget thon' the top of an ordinary teacup, it has been gradually enlaigod fiom ago to age, till it offcis now the size and appeaiance of a muffiD, and requires to be inclosed in a tin box foi piotection. Down to 1818, the Gioat Seal itself was made of coppei; since then silver has been the metal employed. Jt is in two halves, eomowhat like two veiy thick blight tin saucepan lids, fitting closely together, then innei surfaces deeply sculptured with tb» loyal do\ices intended to bo formed on the wax when squee/ed between them. Tho Qicat Seal has'<only tlnee tunes been, lost, twice tompoiauly and once peimanently. James 11, on leaving tho kingdom onlis abdicihon, threw 1 tho Seal into the Thames, Ayhonco,, howevoi, it was next morning fished up and biought to Whi'olull. Loid Eldon buuod it in his gaiden in Queen Squaie duiing one night when his house caught fire, and ho thought in tho confusion it, might bo stolen. It was, however, ngam found. -Lord Thurlow, who always kept il during tho night in his bedroom, lad it actually cauiod off by buiglars, tioin whom it was ncvoi lecovoied.